Have you noticed marked changes in how you move, communicate, or think of late? Strange symptoms impacting mobility, cognition, or senses could indicate a neurological issue requiring evaluation by a neurologist.
A neurologist is a medical specialist focused on diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles.
Your neurologist may work with your primary care physician or perhaps take over as that physician, depending on your symptoms and diagnosis.
The sooner a diagnosis is made and treatment is initiated, the better the outcome. This is why you ought to consult a neurologist if you have any of the following neurological symptoms.
Persistent And Severe Headaches
If you experience frequent, severe headaches that do not improve with over-the-counter medications, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. They may refer you to a neurologist in New Jersey, especially if the headaches cause nausea, vision problems, or weakness.
Migraines or cluster headaches that disrupt your life could require prescription medication or other treatments that a neurologist can provide.
Loss Of Sensation Or Weakness
Feeling numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms, legs, or face can be a sign of a neurological issue and should be evaluated by a neurologist. Conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or stroke can cause these symptoms.
See a doctor right away if you experience facial drooping, arm weakness, or difficulty speaking, as these can indicate a medical emergency.
Problems With Balance Or Coordination
Difficulty walking, loss of balance, or impaired hand-eye coordination are red flags for a neurological problem. See a neurologist for issues like clumsiness, frequent tripping or stumbling, or the inability to do normal physical tasks. Dizziness or vertigo that persists for days or weeks also requires neurological evaluation.
Changes In Memory Or Thinking
Noticeable changes in your memory, thinking, speech, or mood can be signs of a neurological disorder and should be checked by a neurologist.
Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other cognitive conditions are diagnosed through memory testing, problem-solving evaluations, brain scans, and spinal fluid tests.
Early diagnosis and treatment of thinking or memory problems are critical to managing and slowing these conditions.
Seizures
If you experience an apparent seizure, loss of consciousness, uncontrolled jerking or twitching of the legs or arms, see your doctor right away for a referral to a neurologist.
Epilepsy or other seizure disorders are diagnosed and treated by neurologists using neurological exams, blood tests, MRIs, and EEGs. They can also provide medications and lifestyle changes to help control seizure activity.
Sleep Problems
A neurologist is unlikely to be able to help you if your snoring is keeping your family up at night (an indication you might have obstructive sleep apnea), but a sleep expert might.
However, other sleep disorders, such as idiopathic hypersomnia and narcolepsy, are neurological in nature, frequently accompanied by neurological diseases, or are unintended side effects of drugs used to treat neurological diseases.
Feeling Clumsy Or Confused
Both physical clumsiness and mental bewilderment are symptoms of a problem with the brain’s ability to send instructions to the body. Similar to numbness, there are a variety of causes for this, including Parkinson’s disease and stroke.
Therefore, it may be time to contact a neurologist if you have suddenly started to become more clumsy than usual or discover that you are easily confused.
Injury In The Brain Or Spinal Cord
Both kinds of injuries, which can happen from auto or sports accidents and induce a variety of neurological symptoms, are possible. Headaches, vertigo, loss of consciousness, memory loss, seizures, and modifications in thought and behavior are all common signs of brain injuries.
A spinal cord injury may result in paralysis, numbness, or even weakness. However, depending on where and how severe the damage is, the symptoms related to both injuries can change.
