What is Neurology?
Neurology is a clinical specialty devoted to the diagnosis and management of diseases that affect the nervous system. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system (the nerves that go to muscles and innervate the skin and sensory organs). Listed below are just a few of the kinds of disorders that neurologists manage:
| Part of nervous system | Diseases |
| Brain & spinal cord | Stroke, dementia including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, migraine, epilepsy |
| Spine | Herniated disc, spondylosis |
| Peripheral nerves | Plexopathy, peripheral neuropathy |
| Muscles | Myopathy, muscular dystrophy |
The nervous system controls all of our sensation and behavior, and therefore the kinds of symptoms that may result from disorders of the nervous system are almost without limit. Symptoms of neurological disease include poor memory, poor balance, headache, blackouts, seizures, speech disorders, trouble swallowing, numbness or loss of sensation, spasticity, tremor, difficulty controlling urination, and a host of other symptoms. Neurologists work with your primary care physician to diagnose and manage your neurological symptoms. The neurological problems of infants and young children are often different from those that affect adults. Pediatric neurologists manage neurological problems in patients less than 18 years of age.
Patients who have neurological conditions that require surgical treatment are referred to neurosurgeons. Neurologists do not perform surgery.
MBI Web-Mail