Neurology is the field of medicine concerned with the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of problems in the nervous system.
A doctor who specialises in this field is a Consultant Neurologist. The nervous system comprises the brain, spinal cord and nerves. It is an extremely complex system, made up of many different parts with hugely varied functions.
It is responsible for transmitting electrical impulses around the body in order to generate a specific response. If anything stops your nervous system working correctly, it can have a huge impact on any and every part of your body, affecting your health and, ultimately, your enjoyment of life.
The Consultant Neurologists at The Meriden Hospital treat a wide spectrum of neurological conditions and symptoms, and they would be delighted to help you too.
Your nervous system is spread extensively through your body and can affect every part of it. This means that neurological symptoms can occur anywhere in the body.
Some of the reasons people visit our neurologists for help include:
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Facial pain
- Dizziness/unsteadiness
- Sensory symptoms – numbness, tingling or pins and needles in any part of the body
- Motor symptoms – weakness of muscles, limbs, joints, or any part of the body
- Loss of consciousness –faints, epileptic seizures(fits)
- Increased forgetfulness
- Abnormal movement – tremors or slowing down
- Vertigo
- Change in sense of taste and/or smell
- Bladder and/or bowel problems
- Walking difficulty – abnormal gait
- Cognitive changes – altered behaviour, intellect, confusion, delirium
- Difficulty with speech
- Visual problems – where caused by the brain and not a problem with the eyes themselves (this is known as neuro-opthalmology). These may be things like blurring of vision or double vision (diplopia).
Neurological symptoms are often quite worrying to experience. It can be a sensible course of action to seek expert advice if you do experience any of them.
Many nervous system problems will often have overlapping symptoms, which makes an accurate diagnosis extremely important. The Neurology team at The Meriden Hospital are highly experienced at investigating symptoms like these in order to reach the correct diagnosis.
Some of the conditions that affect the nervous system include:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – a lifelong condition. There is no cure, but treatments can often help manage symptoms
- Parkinson’s Disease – a brain disorder, causing symptoms like shaking and stiffness. Usually, these symptoms get worse over time
- Epilepsy – seizures caused by unusual electrical activity in the brain
- Dementia – a decline of brain functioning
- Motor Neurone Disease – caused by the motor neurones (cells found in the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves) not working. Symptoms include slurred speech and muscle weakness, and usually get worse over time
- Myasthenia gravis – a long-term autoimmune condition causing muscle weakness
- Neurosarcoidosis – a form of sarcoidosis (a multi-organ inflammatory disease) affecting the central nervous system
Many conditions are best treated when they’re diagnosed at the earliest possible stage. Earlier diagnosis means that you’ll receive any appropriate treatment sooner.
We can provide you with quick, easy access to an experienced neurologist at The Meriden Hospital for comprehensive investigation and treatment.
For any neurological complaint, an accurate diagnosis is crucial to formulating the best possible treatment plan.
When you first meet with your neurologist here in the hospital, they will take a medical history and will talk with you in detail about your symptoms. They will want to know things like:
- What symptoms do you have?
- When did your symptoms first appear/become noticeable?
- Have your symptoms have been getting worse?
- Does anything in particular (food, drink, activity, bright light etc.) make your symptoms worse?
- Are your symptoms affecting your enjoyment of life?
- Have you received any treatment already, such as prescribed medication?
A physical examination may also be carried out.
These will all help your neurologist to choose the most appropriate investigations to refer you for if required. These may include:
- MRI of brain and/or spine
- Neurophysiology test:
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Nerve conduction test (NCS) – tests for nerve damage in the peripheral nerves (those outside your brain and spinal cord)
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) – measures electrical activity in the brain. This can be helpful when investigating epilepsy and encephalitis
- Ultrasound scan of Carotids – to screen the blood flow to brain through main arteries
- Blood tests
Any tests and investigations required will be arranged for you by your neurologist.
Once the results of any tests are back, you will meet with your neurologist again in order to talk through the results and diagnosis and to explore suitable treatment options.
Your neurologist works closely with specialists in many other fields, like ophthalmology, oncology, ENT, cardiology, rheumatology and neurosurgery. If your results suggest you would benefit from referral to another specialist, this is easily arranged at The Meriden Hospital.
Treatment for neurological condition may include:
- Medication
- Injections for headaches/migraines– such as greater occipital nerve block or Botox injection or Ajovy (fremanezumab)/ one of the new CGRP antagonists
- Physiotherapy
- Surgery
Many conditions, particularly when in more advanced stages, may require a combination of treatments to provide the necessary symptom relief.
Your neurologist will always make certain that you have the information you need about treatment options in order to make an informed choice about treatment.
If you have any questions or concerns at any time, they will always be very happy to talk with you about these.
Many people are referred to a Consultant Neurologist at The Meriden Hospital by their GP, optician, another specialist (including ENT surgeons, ophthalmologists and other neurologists) or their private medical insurance provider. Others self-refer to avoid delay.
We treat private medical insurance and self-pay patients.
While many of our patients live in Coventry or other parts of Warwickshire, people also travel from Birmingham, Chester and Oxford and further afield to benefit from treatment by our neurologists.
When you visit a Consultant Neurologist at The Meriden Hospital, you will benefit from:
- Rapid access to expert assessment – Many neurological symptoms can be concerning, and you will want to get clarity about the cause as soon as possible. An experienced neurologist will be able to see you without delay, so that your symptoms can be investigated and diagnosed at the earliest possible stage.
- Personalised care – Investigations and treatments of the nervous system should always be tailored to your specific symptoms and whatever may be best for you. Your neurologist will be involved in every aspect of your care, and with regular follow-up, they will be able to monitor and adjust your treatment plan if needed.
- Flexible appointments – Neurology appointments are easy to book online or by telephone. We can also provide remote consultations by telephone or video call if required (and where clinically appropriate).
- A whole team approach – With quick, easy access to a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals on-site, you will always see the most appropriate specialist for your condition.
Whether you’ve only just started experiencing neurological symptoms that are causing you concern or are struggling with a flare-up of a pre-existing condition, we would be delighted to see you.
For peace of mind and known expert care, why not book your Neurology appointment today?
We very much look forward to welcoming you to The Meriden Hospital soon, where we always offer a superb service.
