Specialty Area: Neurology

Description of Specialty: Neurology is the medical specialty devoted to diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerve roots, nerves and muscles.

1. Diagnosis: Headache

Questions that should be asked:

  1. What are the causes of this illness and can any test help with the diagnosis?
  2. What are the short and long-term outlooks with or without treatment?
  3. What can I expect medicine to do for my symptoms?
  4. Do symptoms like mine usually come and go, do they progress or do they reoccur at all?
  5. Is this condition likely to provide long-term physical or mental disability?
  6. Do I need to have a special diet or a prescribed exercise program?
  7. Are other members of my family likely to be afflicted a with similar illness?
  8. If this illness is progressive, may I eventually need long-term nursing care?
  9. Can I continue my regular work and/or recreational activities?
  10. Is there any type of surgery for now or in the future?

2. Diagnosis: Epilepsy (convulsions)

Questions that should be asked: See above

3. Diagnosis: Stroke

Questions that should be asked: See above

4. Diagnosis: Parkinsonism

Questions that should be asked: See above

5. Diagnosis: Dementia (Alzheimer's disease)

Questions that should be asked: See above

6. Diagnosis: Backache

Questions that should be asked: See above

7. Diagnosis: Sciatica

Questions that should be asked: See above

8. Diagnosis: Neck Pain

Questions that should be asked: See above

9. Diagnosis: Peripheral Neuropathy

Questions that should be asked: See above

10. Diagnosis: Myopathy and Muscular Dystrophy

Questions that should be asked: See above

11. Diagnosis: Multiple Sclerosis

Questions that should be asked: See above

12. Diagnosis: Infections of the Brain

Questions that should be asked: See above

13. Diagnosis: Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors (diagnosis)

Questions that should be asked: See above

14. Diagnosis: Intractable Pain

Questions that should be asked: See above

William M. Landau, M.D. Professor of Neurology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO.

                                                                                   

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