Diagnosis of Neurological Disorders
Dr. Masood practices general neurology. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in disorders of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. Properly diagnosing neurological disorders is heavily dependent upon carefully listening to you and a thorough neurological examination. Dr. Masood’s first priority is to identify the location in the nervous system that is responsible for your symptoms. For example, if you have weakness and pain in the leg, the problem may lie within the brain, spinal cord, or nerves. Once the “where” is determined, the “why” comes next. If the problem is found to be within the spinal cord, the cause then needs to be ascertained. There are many potential causes to such a problem including, but not limited to, inflammatory, nutritional, and infectious conditions. Various diagnostic tests such as imaging procedures or blood tests are often ordered to determine the nature of the problem.
Management of Neurological Disorders
Following diagnosis of the neurological problem, a wide range of treatment options will be discussed with you. Although there are many neurological disorders with disease modifying treatments, several simply involve symptom management. At our clinic, we understand that educating a patient about the nature of the problem and treatment options allows for collaborative decision-making and a more satisfied patient. Treatment options often include medications, infusions, device-based therapies such as nerve stimulators, and physical therapy. Appropriate referrals to neurosurgeons or other medical specialties may be made as needed.