Why Your Primary Care Physician May Refer You to a Neurologist
If you’ve suffered any type of trauma to your head or neck in a car accident, workplace mishap or slip and fall, your first visit should be to your primary care physician. Your doctor will have the tools, resources, knowledge and experience to conduct a thorough assessment and determine the best course of treatment. Your primary care physician may choose to treat you directly, or may refer you to a specialist, such as a neurologist. In such a situation, it’s common for your doctor to continue to provide care, working in tandem with the neurologist.
What Does a Neurologist Do?
Neurologists are medical specialists who focus on disease and injury to your brain and nervous system. It’s common to come under the care of a neurologist if you’ve had any type of concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI), or if you suffer from diseases that affect or compromise your nervous system or brain, such a dementia, MS, Parkinson’s or any type of stroke. Neurologists typically employ a wide array of sophisticated medical tools and procedures to diagnose and manage diseases or disorders involving your brain and/or nervous system.
How Will a Neurologist Help after a Concussion?
The first thing a neurologist will do is conduct a thorough exam, determining whether there has been any impact on your balance, reflexes, speech, vision or mental status. A neurologist can help pinpoint the causes of any head or brain injury or discomfort by ruling out other reasons for your symptoms. Your neurologist can prescribe medications that help reduce pain, minimize swelling or inflammation, and control neuromuscular disorders.
A neurologist can further diagnose any conditions you have, and can then refer you to other types of specialists, such as a vestibular therapist, if you have an imbalance in your inner ear as a consequence of your injury.
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer any type of concussion, TBI or traumatic brain injury. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio.