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Neurologist visit
neurologist · nerve doctor · neurology consultation · brain and nerve specialist
A doctor who treats the nervous system: brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They ask questions and check your reflexes, strength, and feeling.
For headaches, dizziness, back and neck pain, numbness, seizures, and sleep or memory problems.
⏱ Duration: usually 20 to 40 minutes
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Diary. For headaches, write down for a few days when it hurts, how much, and what helps.
- Scans. Bring MRI, CT, or EEG results and their reports, if you had them.
What to bring
- Your ID
- Past test results, discharge papers, and reports
- A list of your medicines, or the packs themselves
How it goes
- The doctor asks about your symptoms
- Your reflexes are checked with a small hammer
- You do simple movements: close your eyes, touch your nose, walk
- Strength and feeling in your arms and legs are checked
- The doctor explains the next steps: treatment or tests
What you'll feel
- Nothing unpleasant. The hammer taps do not hurt
- Sometimes feeling is tested with a light pinprick
Afterwards
- The doctor may order an MRI, an EEG, or blood tests
- Do not change your treatment on your own. Ask the doctor
Contact a doctor straight away if
- A drooping face, weakness in an arm or leg, trouble speaking, or a sudden worst-ever headache: do not wait for the visit. Call emergency services
Common questions
Why tap with a hammer?
It checks your reflexes, which shows how your nerves are working.
Do I need an MRI before the visit?
Usually not. The doctor will decide if you need one.