Frequently Asked Questions

Neurologists carry out a range of different procedures and tests to make a diagnosis. Some of these include a lumbar puncture, an electromyography, an electroencephalogram and a Tensilon test. Blood and urine tests, imaging tests and genetic tests may also be undertaken, as well as a biopsy and an angiography.

This procedure is used to collect a sample of spinal fluid. It can help to diagnose a range of conditions that include meningitis, encephalitis, inflammation of the spinal cord, leukaemia, autoimmune diseases, dementia and bleeding in the brain. A lumbar puncture needle can also be used to inject anaesthetic, antibiotics or cancer treatments.

While both treat individuals who have conditions that affect the nervous system, a Neurosurgeon will perform surgery, while a Neurologist will not.

What Makes Up The Nervous System?

There are two parts of the nervous system: the central nervous system (CNS), which refers to the spinal cord and brain, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) which relates to all the nerves outside of the CNS.

There are many sub-specialisms of neurology. These include headache medicine, neuro-oncology, geriatric neurology, autonomic disorders, vascular, child neurology, interventional neuroradiology and epilepsy.

Neurologists treat conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Examples of these include stroke, epilepsy, headache and migraine, brain tumours, brain aneurysms, sleep disorders and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease. Multiple Sclerosis, neuromuscular disorders (such as muscular dystrophy) and infections of the nervous system may also be treated by a Neurologist.

Such symptoms include muscle weakness, coordination problems, changes in sensation, dizziness and confusion.

Aspiring Neurologists must first attend the standard four years of medical school required to become a physician and then complete another four-year residency that includes one year of general internal medicine or paediatrics training. Once this has been undertaken, there follows three years of neurology training. For Neurologists wanting to practice in a sub-specialism, they will usually need to attend additional training, typically lasting between one and three years.