I've experienced several periods of depression throughout my adult life, and while prescription drugs have proved helpful, I've been keen to explore drug-free ways to manage and treat my depression. I started this blog to share my personal experience battling this illness and the alternative treatment options I've tried, including dietary supplements, talking therapies, meditation, relaxation exercises, massage and acupuncture. I also post about current research on the effectiveness of holistic therapies at treating depression, and the blog contains guest posts written by others with depression who have tried drug-free treatments. I hope you find the information on this blog useful.
If you develop some symptoms and visit your doctor, and he or she suspects you have a problem with your brain, further tests will be done to confirm the suspicions. Some of the problems that can be identified may include tumours or cancer in the brain, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, seizures, movement disorders, aneurysms etc. You may also be referred to a neurologist or a neurosurgeon.
What Are Some of the Tests You Can Expect?
The first set of tests will be simple. You may be given memory tests or simple arithmetic as a form of brain exercise. Pinpricks may be carried out to test your sensation, and you may also be required to walk in a particular manner so that the doctor can examine your coordination and balance. The practitioner may also test the movement of your pupil or eye. This will not be painful. He or she will use an ophthalmoscope to inspect your optic nerve and check for any evidence of swelling. These tests will mainly be to assess your nervous system. The nervous system is responsible for how different functions of your body and brain work (movement, speech, vision and hearing).
Other tests that can be carried out may include blood tests, CT scan, MRI scan, genetic tests, lumbar puncture, biopsy, MR tractography, MRS scan, PET scan etc. You may, however, not undergo all these tests. The determining factor of what tests you will undergo will be the type or severity of the problem you have.
Neurologist and Neurosurgeon
These two specialists differ. A neurologist can diagnose and treat health problems related to the brain, spine and nervous system. He or she cannot perform surgery. This is where the difference comes in. The neurosurgeon will perform the same work as the neurologist but can perform surgery to treat brain, spine and nervous system diseases.
What to Do After You Are Diagnosed
If your test results indicate that you have a particular problem, you will have to discuss the next steps with your doctor, neurologist or neurosurgeon. The specialist will be trained to avoid overwhelming you with too much information at once and will take you through it on a step-by-step basis. You will be presented with treatment plan options with details on what to expect from each plan. You may also be informed to take a day or week to think about the treatment plans or discuss them with your loved ones to figure out which one is best. At times, it may not be up to you, but your condition may necessitate a particular treatment plan.
Understanding these aspects will help you know what to expect during the diagnosis of your brain problem.
Share20 May 2019
