Neurology is a field of medicine that focuses on disorders of the nervous system, including both the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system.
These disorders can reduce our physical and cognitive abilities and, in some cases, make everyday functioning difficult or impossible. They may be temporary, resulting from infections, poisoning, or injuries, but they can also indicate a developing disease process in the body.
A thorough neurological examination, together with appropriate diagnostic tests, allows for the early detection of degenerative changes, tumours, neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, vitamin deficiencies, and other conditions, enabling the introduction of effective treatment.
Symptoms that should be evaluated by a neurologist include:
- dizziness,
- migraines,
- severe, sudden headaches,
- muscle weakness, tremors, or muscle spasms,
- neuralgia (nerve pain),
- disturbances of consciousness, speech, spatial orientation, vision, sensation, and hearing (such as ringing or buzzing in the ears),
- difficulties with concentration, logical thinking, balance, and motor coordination.
- paresis and paralysis,
- sudden fainting or loss of consciousness,
- hallucinations, delusions, and sleep disturbances,
- severe pain in the spine, back, neck, and limbs,
- hand tremors,
- increased fatigue,
- tics and hyperactivity,
- a feeling of stiffness or numbness in the limbs, neck, and possible tingling sensations.
During a neurological consultation, the neurologist:
- collects a detailed medical history, including previous illnesses, current medications, diet, lifestyle, occupation, and diseases occurring in the patient’s immediate family,
- gathers detailed information about the symptoms and discomfort reported by the patient,
- performs an examination assessing physiological reflexes, such as the knee jerk, ankle reflex, and Babinski reflex, and evaluates issues such as difficulties with movement or speech.
In cases where serious neurological conditions are suspected, the neurologist may order additional tests, such as:
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
- computed tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET),
- X-rays of selected parts of the body,
- cerebrospinal fluid examination,
- electroencephalography (EEG).
A neurologist treats conditions such as:
- stroke,
- sciatica,
- degenerative changes of the spine,
- migraines,
- Alzheimer’s disease,
- epilepsy,
- Parkinson’s disease,
- brain tumours,
- hydrocephalus,
- myopathies,
- neurosis,
- Huntington’s disease (Huntington’s chorea),
- meningitis and encephalitis,
- Wilson’s disease,
- multiple sclerosis,
- myotonia,
- myasthenia gravis,
- neuralgia,
- Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease,
- dystonia.