Consultation with a neurologist

Before the consultation (both face-to-face and remote), you are asked to prepare and present to the specialist at least the following examination results and medical records:

• a list of the health problems you have experienced, with the approximate onset and intensity of symptoms;
• family medical history if any family member has a history of neurological disease;
• blood test results (preferably including previous blood tests to assess changes in dynamics);
• the results of previous examinations of the nervous system, head or back;
• previous investigations related to the vascular system, lungs, abdominal organs, thyroid or nervous system;
• a list of medicines you take on a daily basis (exact name, dosage, route of administration);
• previous hospital discharge summaries.

A neurologist provides consultations both in person and remotely via video call. Initial consultations, which require a neurological examination and assessment of the patient, are face-to-face only.

Although remote consultations are becoming increasingly popular nowadays, research shows that a neurological consultation, especially a first visit, is preferable to a face-to-face one, as it allows the specialist to better assess the patient.

If you would like to have a preventive check-up or a neurological consultation to confirm your diagnosis and develop a treatment plan, we recommend that you book a face-to-face consultation.

Remote consultation may be an option if you have met with a neurologist before and the specialist is monitoring and monitoring your health. Remote consultation may also be an option if you are undergoing treatment with another doctor and want to get another specialist’s opinion. In this case, all examinations and previous reports by other specialists must be available electronically.

During the consultation, the neurologist will ask you about your complaints, review previous tests and a list of medications you are taking, and clarify a possible diagnosis. If necessary, your doctor may refer you for further tests.

In a face-to-face consultation, you will usually additionally:

• neurological examinationExplanation: It includes assessment of cranial nerve function (eye movements, orientation, facial sensory disturbances, mimic and tongue muscle function, voice and speech function); muscular function (muscle strength, coordination accuracy, gait, stability); whole body sensory disturbances. In addition, the accuracy and comprehension of the instructions given, thinking and memory function are assessed during the conversation, and in some cases the patient is asked to perform additional actions to check certain functions.

• testing certain bodily functionsExplanation: to assess the function of certain body functions or organs, blood pressure and pulse may be taken, oedema of body parts (legs) may be checked, and the condition of veins may be assessed. In case of complaints, the abdominal organs may be examined by palpation (feeling and knocking out), and the patient may also be questioned about the genitourinary system.

If necessary, the neurologist will refer you for additional tests such as neurography, quantitative sensory testing, autonomic nerve fibre testing, head and neck Doppler, electroencephalography, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging to get the most accurate information about the health of the nervous system, brain and spinal cord, their coverings and blood vessels.

After the examinations, the neurologist will diagnose the disease and its severity, and create the most appropriate prevention or treatment plan. The neurologist works closely with other specialties and, if necessary to improve your overall health (or if the condition is non-neurological), will offer to involve other specialists in your care, including a cardiologist, vertebrologist, neurosurgeon, manual therapist, rehabilitation therapist or physiotherapist. Depending on the situation, your neurologist may prescribe one of the following methods of medical rehabilitation: physiotherapy, therapeutic exercise, physical therapy treatments, therapeutic massage.

The results of a neurological consultation depend on your health condition, symptoms and the purpose of your visit. The consultation will result in a diagnosis, answers to your questions and a personalised treatment plan. During the consultation, you will learn about the prevention of diseases of the nerves, brain and spinal cord, their membranes and blood vessels.