"All illnesses stem from nerves"—this popular saying of unknown origin has led people to consult a neurologist with all sorts of complaints. The logic goes: if it hurts, see a neurologist! But is it really true that you should see a neurologist for any kind of pain? What specific problems do they address, and what tools do they use? We asked Margarita Prokhorova, a neurologist at the Bersenev Medical Center, to shed some light on this.
We’re used to the fact that most medical fields wholeheartedly advocate for prevention. Gynecologists and dentists, dermatologists and cardiologists, mammologists and ophthalmologists encourage us to come in for checkups at least once a year to prevent negative processes and not miss the early stages of a disease, should it occur. Neurologists, however, won’t suggest you visit them for preventive care, because there are no preventive tests, screenings, or measures in this field. However, there are certain symptoms that, if you experience them, should never cause you to delay a visit to a neurologist. We’ve compiled a list of ten important questions that are most frequently asked of a neurologist.
1. I feel dizzy—which doctor should I see?
Dizziness is just a symptom, so if you experience it, you should look for the cause. To figure this out, a thorough medical history is needed, specifically: when the dizziness occurs, what makes it go away, and whether there are any other symptoms (nausea, vomiting, headache, etc.). You should see a neurologist for a more detailed evaluation of your symptoms and to determine if additional tests are needed.
2. How can you tell if you have frequent headaches?
For people who experience frequent headaches, doctors recommend keeping a headache diary where they can note the intensity, location, and additional symptoms (nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, dizziness, etc.), how long the pain lasted, and what helped alleviate it. This way, the doctor can assess how many days a month you experience headaches. If they occur more than 14 days a month, it is considered chronic pain. You should consult a neurologist and not attempt self-treatment.
3. Can you become dependent on painkillers?
If you take painkillers every time you have a headache and this turns into haphazard use of various painkillers, you may develop what is known as a medication-overuse headache. This type of headache is difficult to treat and worsens when you stop taking the painkillers you’re used to. To prevent this, you should see a doctor promptly.
4. Why does a neurologist ask you to touch your nose?
The nervous system is very extensive and is responsible for many processes in the human body. If its function is impaired, a person may experience not only pain syndromes but also motor disorders; therefore, one of the tests is a coordination test (touching the tip of the nose with the index finger while keeping your eyes closed).
5. Why do my hands go numb?
Very often, numbness in the hands is associated with a forced posture: sitting at a computer, a long phone conversation, an uncomfortable sleeping position, or feeding a child, etc. Each nerve follows a specific path and passes through specific channels lined with bone structures and muscles. If a nerve is compressed, you may experience numbness, pins and needles, or a prickling sensation. Usually, these symptoms disappear when you change your posture. If you notice numbness while at rest—meaning it’s not related to your posture and doesn’t go away when you move or change the position of your limb—you should see a doctor.
6. Do I need to have tests done before seeing a neurologist?
In the 21st century, there are countless diagnostic options, so you shouldn’t undergo tests in advance that you’re likely unsure about. A patient visits a neurologist with symptoms; the doctor carefully reviews them and the medical history, performs a neurological examination, and only then, if necessary, orders tests.
7. How can you train your brain?
When we learn, receive new information, or memorize something, new connections are formed, and when we repeat something, these connections are strengthened. Thinking is the brain in an active state. Every day, the brain generates more electrochemical impulses than all the cell phones on Earth combined. Every time we change something, our brain changes too. This is called neuroplasticity.
8. Do nerve cells regenerate?
They say stress kills nerve cells—is this a myth or a fact? Throughout our lives, the brain undergoes a constant restructuring of neural connections, with neurons being born and dying, and we need stimulation from various factors to maintain healthy brain function. In humans, neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons) is most intense during childhood. At the same time, neurons die primarily not because of stress, but due to poor nutrition, alcohol, smoking, environmental pollution, and many other environmental factors.
9. Is an online consultation with a neurologist possible?
Anyone has the right to receive a consultation from a neurologist online: the doctor can communicate with the patient, learn about their symptoms, and review the treatment the patient may be undergoing or has undergone. However, in an online setting, via a phone screen, the doctor cannot always fully understand and assess the patient’s objective condition and make an accurate diagnosis. In any case, an in-person consultation is more informative, because it is said for a reason that a neurologist must not only see but also feel with their hands.
10. Why does a neurologist need a reflex hammer?
A neurological hammer is an indispensable tool for a neurologist. It is used to test tendon reflexes, helping to determine whether there are any abnormalities and the possible extent of damage to the nervous system.
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