Comprehensive Guide to Neurological Care

Neurological Care focuses on diseases and conditions of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. It’s led by expert teams that focus on patient-centered care throughout your treatment and recovery journey.

Depending on your condition, your neurologist may order blood and urine tests to help diagnose and understand your condition’s severity. He or she may also order imaging studies of your brain, spine and nerves.

Diagnosis

A neurologist is trained in the diagnosis and medical treatment of disorders involving the brain, spinal cord and nerves. A neurologist will usually examine you and order tests. They may refer you to a neurosurgeon if they believe surgery is needed.

During your visit, make sure to tell your neurologist about all of your symptoms and their duration. Describe how your symptoms are triggered and what relieves them. Consider keeping a symptom diary and bring it to your appointment.

Your neurologist will likely order blood, urine or cerebrospinal fluid tests to help diagnose your condition and understand its severity. They will also use imaging tests to examine your brain, spinal cord and nerves. These include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-rays and ultrasound. They may also request a positron emission tomography scan, which can show tumors, herniated disks, degenerative spine disease and pain syndromes. They might also request a biopsy, which involves the removal of muscle, nerve or brain tissue to look for abnormalities.

Treatment

Neurological care is the diagnosis and medical treatment of diseases that affect your brain, spinal cord and nerves. Your neurologist will order tests, make a diagnosis and treat your condition. If your condition requires surgery, he or she will refer you to a neurosurgeon like Dr. Olivera or Dr. Lefler.

Your neurologist can treat many conditions with medications, physical therapy and other nonsurgical methods. He or she can also recommend a specialist to treat certain neurological conditions, such as a neuro-oncologist or spine surgeon.

Neurologists are constantly working to improve the treatment of neurological disorders. Future treatments are likely to include less invasive surgical techniques, more effective drug therapies and new methods for identifying the root causes of symptoms. When you meet with your neurologist, it is helpful to bring a list of all the medicines you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter and herbal supplements. It is also a good idea to bring a friend or family member for support and to help take notes during your appointment.

Prevention

The four pillars of neurological care need to be accompanied by an integrated and preventive approach. This is reflected in the WHO IGAP strategic objectives and targets that envision “a world where brain health is valued, promoted and protected across the life course, and people living with neurological disorders have access to equitable quality diagnosis, treatment and care, without stigma, discrimination or exclusion”1.

The huge direct and indirect costs of neurological diseases underscore the need for a focus equivalent to that given to cancers and heart disease. However, compared to other non-communicable diseases, there are few established modifiable risk factors for neurological conditions; more investment in translational research is therefore necessary. More information can be found on https://universalneurocare.com/.

Prevention programmes should include smoking and substance abuse prevention; adequate perinatal care to prevent hypoxic-ischaemic perinatal injury; vaccination; nutrition interventions to promote healthy diets and tax unhealthy food; physical activity promotion, including recreational facilities that are accessible to people with disabilities; and mental health counselling.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation aims to optimize functioning and reduce disability by providing services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. It complements and supports other health interventions, such as medical and surgical care. It mitigates the risks of ongoing complications that burden the health system, and increases people’s capacity to participate in work and community life with greater independence (WHO 2017).

The needs for rehabilitation are increasing globally, but much remains unmet. In low- and middle-income countries, limited health service capacity and inadequate referral pathways mean that more than half of those who require rehabilitation services do not receive them.

A person-centred approach is key to effective rehabilitation, with treatment individualized according to goals and preferences. This requires a multifaceted approach, incorporating a variety of different health professionals and the involvement of the individual and their family or support systems. In addition, the success of rehabilitation is influenced by a range of factors that are unique to each individual — including culture, ethnicity, language, age, developmental level, gender, residence and geographic location, social network, and relative visibility and assumption of disability — which must be taken into account in designing and implementing services.

Please visit us at:
Universal Neurological Care, P.A.
8823 San Jose Blvd Ste. 209, Jacksonville, FL 32217
(904) 404-7044