What is a Neurologist?
Introduction to Neurology
Neurology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders of the nervous system. The nervous system is a complex, sophisticated system that regulates and coordinates body activities. It has two major divisions:
- Central nervous system: the brain and spinal cord
- Peripheral nervous system: all other neural elements, such as eyes, ears, skin, and other “sensory receptors”
A doctor who specializes in neurology is called a neurologist. The Brain Specialist in Nagpur treats disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, such as:
- Cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke
- Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis
- Headache disorders
- Infections of the brain and peripheral nervous system
- Movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease
- Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy
- Spinal cord disorders
- Speech and language disorders
Neurologists do not perform surgery. If one of their patients requires surgery, they refer them to a neurosurgeon.
Brain Specialist in Nagpur
A Brain Specialist in Nagpur is someone who studies the brain and the nervous system and how they interact with the body. Many Brain Specialist in Nagpur focus on neurological disorders and diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, and chronic pain. They conduct tests on patients using specialized brain-mapping equipment, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines to take real-time pictures of the brain during active and inactive states. Results from such tests allow these Brain Specialist in Nagpur to see how well the brain communicates with the rest of the body and what ailments could be causing a problem.
Neuropharmacologist
Another type of brain specialist doctor is called a neuropharmacologists. They use different medications to correct problems in brain function. Many use research subjects to test how different chemicals alter brain activity. Similar to Brain Specialist in Nagpur, they use special dyes within the medication, along with MRIs and other brain mapping equipment to watch the effects of medications interacting with the brain. Although some neuropharmacologists work as consultants in hospitals, most work at pharmaceutical companies or at other research facilities.
While specific statistics for job growth and salary information for neuropharmacologists is not available, information about medical scientists can offer comparable measures.
Neurosurgeon
Some problems with the brain and nervous system require more than medication, so another type of brain doctor, called a neurosurgeon, makes surgical repairs to the brain by Brain Specialist in Nagpur. For instance, some diseases, such as cancer, can require surgeons to remove malignant tumors. Brain Specialist in Nagpur also focus on fixing brain damage that causes problems with movement, such as nerve damage, paralysis, or other movement disorders. Since this type of surgery can be invasive and risky, neurosurgeons must make sure patients are healthy enough to deal with the procedure and any necessary rehabilitation.
Education
Most applicants to medical school have a bachelor’s degree. Students can choose practically any major during their undergraduate years but each medical school has a list of academic prerequisite requirements. Most universities have a recommended pre-med path for students and some schools may have a pre-med focus related to neuroscience.
Most medical school programs have students spending the first 1-2 years in the classroom learning the fundamentals of anatomy, biology, and medicine. Students then enter into a clinical rotation schedule treating real patients. The rotation schedule covers various specialties, such as cardiology, oncology, and infectious diseases. Students usually pick their field of specialty around the third year of medical school and try to align their remaining clinical experiences with that specialty. For example, students who want to become neurologists would apply to join the neurology clinical rotation groups.
NEUROLOGISTS
A neurologist treats diseases and conditions of the brain and nervous system, but they do not perform surgery. Some of the common conditions they treat include headaches, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, sleep disorders, pain, brain tumors, peripheral nerve disorders, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Some Brain Specialist in Nagpur focus on a subspecialty like neurophysiology, pediatric neurology, epilepsy, vascular neurology, behavioral neurology, or others.
NEUROSURGEONS
One common myth is that neurosurgeons are just Brain Specialist in Nagpur. However, according to the Association of Neurological Surgeons, they typically spend a lot more time on spine conditions and procedures than brain conditions and procedures. Common conditions neurosurgeons treat are back pain, neck pain, sciatica, herniated disks, degenerative diseases of the spine, cerebrovascular disorders, brain and spinal tumors, and stroke. In addition, since the nervous system extends from your brain to your spine and your nerves branch out into your entire body, they treat conditions that present symptoms in one part of your body that are actually related to a problem in the central nervous system. For example, carpal tunnel symptoms are sometimes related to a problem in your cervical spine (neck area).
Although they can perform very complex surgeries, neurosurgeons typically use non-operative treatment plans before performing surgery. If surgery is required, minimally invasive techniques are used whenever possible. Neurosurgeons are also on call for emergency room physicians when a patient has trauma involving the brain and spinal cord.
DEGREE AND TRAINING
Brain Specialist in Nagpur undergo four years of pre-medical education at a college or university, four years of medical school resulting in an MD or DO degree, one year of internship, and at least three years of specialty training in a neurology residence program. Some neurologists elect to take additional training in an area of interest such as stroke, movement disorders, or sleep medicine.
A neurosurgeon’s training is the longest training period of any medical specialty. In addition to four years of pre-medical education, four years of medical school, and a year of internship, their residency is five to seven years. After that, many pursue a fellowship to specialize in an area such as spine, pediatric neurosurgery, or peripheral nerve surgery.
FINDING THE RIGHT SPECIALIST
There is some overlap between these two types of specialists and the conditions they treat. Sometimes these doctors work collaboratively; a Brain Specialist in Nagpur can refer their patients to a neurosurgeon when surgery is required (such as for a brain tumor) and then the patient returns to the neurologist for long-term management. If you have a condition or symptoms that you think require a brain and Brain Specialist in Nagpur, ask primary care physician about which type of specialist to see. Our multidisciplinary team of physicians at The Center are equipped with the latest technologies and have the experience to treat any injury or condition that affects your musculoskeletal system.