Neurologists specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. From common conditions like migraines and epilepsy to more complex diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, neurologists help manage the health of the nervous system for both acute and chronic conditions.
For some patients, a neurologist can be the difference between tolerating their chronic illness and managing it while retaining control over their lives. While some neurological conditions do not have cures, there are preventive treatments that can drastically improve quality of life.
Discover what conditions neurologists treat to see if a neurologist could be the right doctor for you. If you are near the DMV, you can schedule a consult with our neurologists at Neurological Medicine, P.A., located in Greenbelt, MD and Laurel, MD.
Understanding Neurology: The Brain and Nervous System
What is Neurology?
Neurology is the study and treatment of the nervous system, which is made up of the brain, spine, nerves, and muscles. Neurology contributes to the treatment and understanding of illnesses that affect the brain and movement of the body.
What Do Neurologists Do?
Neurologists are medical doctors who have studied neurology and the role the nervous system plays in the body. They help diagnose, treat, and manage neurological illnesses that may affect how the muscles, nerves, and brain operate.
Common Neurological Disorders
Neurologists treat common neurological disorders that most patients are lightly familiar with. This can include headaches, seizures, strokes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases. They help both patients and their loved ones manage these common neurological disorders with treatments, procedures, and lifestyle recommendations for overall management.
Headaches and Migraines
One of the primary conditions that neurologists treat are headaches and migraines. This could be cluster headaches, headaches as a side effect of an underlying condition, chronic migraines, and more.
Neurologists treat headaches by looking at the symptoms of the headaches, the onset, the duration, and correlating conditions that may affect the headaches. Based on personal medical history, they may recommend pain medications, anti-inflammatory medications, procedures, injections, or infusions to treat the headaches.
- Cluster headaches
- Migraines
- Tension headache
- Post-traumatic headache
- Exertion headache
- Spinal headache
- Rebound headache
- +More
Seizure Disorders and Epilepsy
Many patients are familiar with neurologists because they diagnose and treat seizure disorders and epilepsy. They help diagnose the disorder, find the trigger, and prescribe lifestyle adjustments and/or medications to help manage the seizures and side effects.
While some seizure disorders, like epilepsy, do not have a cure, treatments for management have come a long way in recent medical history. Neurologists can help prescribe the right medication regimen, lifestyle adjustments, and sometimes procedures to help manage the seizures and keep them under control to resume a normal quality of life.
You may find yourself referred to a neurologist for treatment of common seizure disorders:
- Tonic seizure
- Tonic-clonic seizure
- Absence seizure
- Grand mal seizures
- Complex seizure
- Generalized seizure
- Epilepsy
- +More
Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases
A stroke is otherwise known as a “brain attack.” It is when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted and this can cause brain damage. Other types of cerebrovascular diseases that disrupt the blood flow to the brain include aneurysms, brain bleeds, and carotid artery disease.
When blood flow to the brain is disrupted, it can have catastrophic effects on the patient. However, neurologists are trained in treating cerebrovascular diseases and their side effects. Neurologists will help with medication management, procedures, lifestyle changes, and monitoring the condition(s) for pivoting treatment as needed.
- Stroke
- Brain aneurysm
- Brain bleed
- Carotid artery diseases
- Carotid stenosis
- Vascular malformations
- Clot formations
- Blockages
- +More
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurodegenerative diseases are conditions that affect the nervous system and damage it over time, more specifically the brain. These conditions can be very alarming for both the patient and their loved ones. Neurologists treat neurodegenerative diseases with care, compassion, and medical experience so they can provide support while navigating and managing the disease.
While many neurodegenerative diseases do not have cures, neurologists can help manage and track the disease’s progression. This can allow patients and family members to take control and manage the quality of life for all involved. It helps with medications, procedures, lifestyle adjustments, and clear expectations as the disease moves forward.
Neurodegenerative Diseases Include:
- Alzheimer’s
- Dementia
- Parkinson’s
- Huntington’s
- Motor neuron disease
- Multiple system atrophy
- Progressive supranuclear palsy
- Spinal muscular atrophy
Movement Disorders
In addition to common neurological disorders, neurologists also treat movement disorders. Movement disorders affect the nerves of the body and can alter how the body moves, body weakness, spasms or twitches, and voluntary movement response. While alarming for patients, with the right neurological care, movement disorders can be managed for a long, positive quality of life.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis, most commonly known as MS, is a condition that affects the brain, spinal cord, central nervous system, and immune system of the body. It is a chronic condition that worsens over time. For some patients, they may never know they have MS. Others, however, experience worsening symptoms over time that are affected by stress, illness, temperature, and other exterior factors.
Neurologists treat MS by evaluating how the disease affects each person’s specific body and lifestyle habits. For some patients, MS is treated by lifestyle changes like reducing stress, avoiding hot temperatures, lowering everyday stimulation, and dietary restrictions. Others may treat their MS with medications and procedures that can help reduce the worse symptoms.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal condition that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Patients with ALS experience muscle weakness, cramping, body stiffness, and twitching. As the disease progresses, it may be difficult to move and breathe.
With ALS, nerve cells break down, causing the primary symptoms. Although there is no cure, neurologists can treat ALS with management care. Physical therapies, select medications, and some surgeries can all slow the progression of ALS and help to maintain a functional quality of life.
Nerve and Muscle Conditions
Neurologists treat nerve and muscle conditions as well, which is a primary focus of neurological medicine. This includes disorders and diseases that may affect how the nerves and muscles respond to stimulation and commands. Some conditions cause nerve degeneration or muscle degeneration over time. Neurologists treat these conditions by tracking the progression, suggesting lifestyle adjustments, and recommending procedures or medication to help control or slow the symptoms of the diseases.
Neuropathies
Neuropathy is extensive nerve damage that affects the body. It may result in pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the limbs or extremities of the affected area. It is often a side effect of an underlying condition, such as diabetes, cancers, autoimmune diseases, some medicines, and long-term alcohol abuse.
Neurologists treat neuropathy by looking at both the underlying condition and the symptoms of the neuropathy. They may prescribe medications, creams, and/or physical therapy. Working with a neurologist for neuropathy treatment will help track the symptoms and manage how the underlying condition is progressing.
Muscle Weakness Disorders
Neurologists focus on both nerves and muscles, so they also treat muscle weakness disorders. This could be primary muscle weakness disorders or muscle weakness caused by underlying diseases or disorders. Patients suffering from muscle weakness may experience tremors, loss of ability to control their muscles, spasms, and weakness and fatigue.
When evaluating muscle weakness disorders, neurologists treat both the symptoms and the underlying cause. They will look at medications, procedures, and physical therapies to help manage the condition and improve it where possible. Working with a neurologist for long-term care helps track muscle weakness to determine improvement, weakness, relapse, and long-term care plans for management.
When to See a Neurologist for Neurological Treatment
When any medical conditions start to interfere with your quality of life, it is important to visit a neurologist. Your primary care doctor can offer consultations and referrals based on symptoms, previous diagnoses, and past medical history.
Consider seeking a neurologist if you experience any of the following:
- Persistent and chronic headaches
- Unexplained muscle weakness
- Involuntary movements or spasms
- Memory problems
- Vertigo
- Balance issues
- Difficulty speaking
- Personality changes
- Disorientation and confusion
- Damage to the brain or spine
- Injury to nerves or muscles
Neurologists Treat Brain, Nerve, and Muscle Health for Better Quality of Life
Neurologists treat many conditions, primarily those that affect the brain, nervous system, spinal cord, or muscle control. These can be as common as headaches and seizures, to more rare conditions like ALS.
Working with a neurologist for treatment can help with long-term disorder management. Neurologists can track disorders, diseases, underlying causes, and symptom progression. They offer testing, evaluations, and treatment solutions like medications, lifestyle changes, dietary recommendations, and medical procedures.
If you’re curious about neurological treatment, reach out to Neurological Medicine, P.A. today. We offer comprehensive neurological services in Maryland at two primary locations: Greenbelt and Laurel. We are open to taking on new patients, so you can find help, relief, and management today.
Neurological Medicine, P.A.
Neurological Medicine, P.A., provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services to patients with conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. We have been serving the Prince George’s and Montgomery County area since 1975, with two offices: Greenbelt and Laurel. We offer complete adult neurological care as well as in-office neurodiagnostic studies.
