Neurologist

A neurologist is a medical specialist in diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles. Patients sometimes call this doctor a nerve specialist; in Israel the everyday word is nevrolog. The neurologist sees adults with migraine or frequent headaches, epilepsy, the aftermath of a stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, tremor, memory problems, dizziness of neurological origin, tingling, weakness in a limb, nerve pain or neuropathy. The visit starts with a long and precise history (exactly how the symptoms unfold, their timing, triggers, family history), followed by the neurological examination: reflexes, strength, sensation, coordination, gait, cranial nerves, memory and language. The brain and nerve specialist then decides which investigations are useful (MRI, EEG, EMG, blood tests, sometimes a lumbar puncture), reaches a diagnosis or a plan for further work-up, and starts medication or refers to rehabilitation. Many neurological diseases are chronic, so regular follow-up is a core part of the job.

• ✓Frequent headaches (more than four days a month), headaches that change in character or that no longer respond to usual painkillers.
• ✓A first seizure, a blackout with abnormal movements, or repeated blank spells.
• ✓Tingling, numbness or weakness in a limb that persists or worsens over days or weeks.
• ✓Hand tremor, slowness of movement, stiffness or handwriting that is getting smaller, which may suggest Parkinson's.
• ✓Worsening forgetfulness, trouble finding words or getting lost, in yourself or a relative.
• ✓Double vision, sudden loss of vision in one eye, or prolonged dizziness the ENT specialist cannot explain.
• ✓Follow-up after a stroke or transient ischaemic attack, to fine-tune prevention of a recurrence.
• ✓Electric-shock pain in the face or a limb (neuralgia, atypical sciatica), or suspected diabetic neuropathy.

In Israel, neurology (נוירולוגיה) is a first-tier specialty recognised by the Ministry of Health (משרד הבריאות): the title specialist in neurology (מומחה בנוירולוגיה) is granted after a medical licence, a residency of roughly five to six years in an accredited department and the examinations of the Scientific Council of the Israel Medical Association. It is a protected title that appears in the Ministry's public licence register. Paediatric neurology (נוירולוגיית ילדים) is a separate specialty and should be checked separately. Some subspecialties (epileptology, movement disorders, neuro-immunology, headache) are not regulated titles but skills acquired in fellowships, often abroad; it is fair to ask the doctor where that training took place. For a foreign qualification, the Ministry first recognises the medical degree (a licensing examination for most countries, with exemptions for certain universities), then the Scientific Council assesses the specialty case by case; US board certification or a UK CCT in neurology is not transferred automatically. Not to be confused: the neurosurgeon operates, the psychiatrist treats mental illness, the neuropsychologist (not a physician) tests cognitive function, and « neurotherapists » or neurofeedback practitioners hold no recognised medical title.