Doctors Who Treat Parkinsons Disease
Primary care physicians are often the first to see patients with symptoms of Parkinsons disease. Symptoms of Parkinsons disease mimic those of other conditions, and Parkinsons disease is widely misdiagnosed. Since early and expert intervention can ensure proper diagnosis and effective treatment, it is important to be evaluated at an advanced brain center as soon as possible.
The multidisciplinary team at the Weill Cornell Medicine Brain and Spine Centers Movement Disorders service expert neurosurgeons along with their team of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, physical therapists, and pain management specialists provide comprehensive, integrated care for patients with Parkinsons disease and many other conditions of the brain. Patients receive a complete continuum of care, from diagnosis to treatment and recovery.
We generally begin with nonsurgical, non-invasive options to treat Parkinsons disease, usually managed by one of our expert movement disorders neurologists . For patients who do need surgery, we offer the latest in minimally invasive and non-invasive surgical techniques using state-of-the-art equipment. Patients respond faster, have less pain, and get back to their normal daily activities sooner than they could with older surgical methods.
At the Weill Cornell Medicine Brain and Spine Center, patients with Parkinsons disease may also be seen by:
- Associate Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery 718-780-5176
Look For A Parkinsons Specialist
Both general neurologists and movement disorders specialists care for people living with Parkinsons. It takes about 12 years in the U.S. to become a general neurologist a doctor who works with brain and central nervous system conditions. This includes a four-year undergraduate college degree, four years in medical school and three to four more years of specialized training in a neurology residency. General neurologists typically work in a hospital, or private or group practice. Some neurologists treat many people with Parkinsons and are knowledgeable about the disease. However, most neurologists have diverse practices, of which PD represents only a small percent.
Most movement disorders specialists are neurologists who have completed another one or two years of movement disorders training, a neurology sub-specialty. Movement disorders specialists may see patients in a private practice or at university medical centers. They often perform clinical or basic science research in addition to caring for patients. They may also teach doctors who are becoming specialists.People with Parkinsons may constitute 50 percent or more of a specialists practice. With this level of experience, a movement disorders specialist will be more familiar with the range of available Parkinsons medications, how they work and possible side effects. A movement disorders specialist is also more likely to discuss the role of clinical trials.
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What Is A Movement Disorder
Movement disorders are complex neurological conditions that cause involuntary or abnormal movements or affect your ability to control movements. Most movement disorders cant be cured, but we can treat your symptoms to improve your quality of life.
We offer expert diagnosis and treatment of:
- Parkinson disease
- Wilsons disease
How To Find The Right Healthcare Providers For Parkinson’s Disease
When you’ve been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, you’ll need to find the right care team. Ideally, you’ll want a team of clinicians who will manage your medical care over the course of the next few years. This team should be headed by a neurologist with expertise in treating Parkinson’s patients.
While you can always change members of the team, putting some amount of thought and planning into assembling the initial team will pay dividends for you down the road if that team can rapidly and effectively address your early symptoms and needs.
The following suggestions will help you to assemble the care team that is best for you, and will also provide some ideas on how best to interact with your care team.
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Fort Myers Neurologist Doctors And Specialists For Parkinson’s Disease
Type of Physician: Neurologist
What is a Neurologist? A certification by the Board of Psychiatry & Neurology practitioners focus on the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease or impaired function of the brain, spinal cord, muscles and nervous system, as well as the blood vessels that relate to these structures. The neurologist is often the primary physician but also serves as a consultant to other physicians and may render all levels of care, including the continuing care of outpatients and/or inpatients. The neurologist will often perform and interpret tests that relate to the nervous system or muscles.
Specialty: Neurology
* Provider Directory Terms of Use:
The WebMD ‘Provider Directory’ is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval.
You are prohibited from using, downloading, republishing, selling, duplicating, or “scraping” for commercial or any other purpose whatsoever, the Provider Directory or any of the data listings or other information contained therein, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever.
General Strategies For Getting The Most Out Of Your Care Team
It’s important to be an active partner in your care. Try to resist adopting the role of a passive patient who just follows the orders of the healthcare providers. Ask questions. But ask them in a cordial way in order to learn. Ask questions so that you can maximize the benefits of any treatment you undergo. Try also to avoid the opposite danger of asking too many questions and of taking over the role of healthcare provider yourself. You will have to learn to accept the care of others. Let them do their job. Learn from them. Partner with them. If you can establish this kind of partnership with your care team you and your family will find it easier to cope with all the challenges that PD will throw at you over the years.
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Preparing For The Initial Visit
- Laboratory or other test results from previous treatment for Parkinsons symptoms.
- Films or CDs of brain imaging.
- Names and contact information for all doctors you see .
- Lists of your movement and non-motor symptoms .
- List of all medications you take and the actual pills, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements .
- Your insurance or Medicare card.
- Perhaps most importantly, bring a family member or friend who can take notes and help ask and answer questions. You will receive a lot of information during this visit. Later, it may help you to talk it over with the person who went with you.
Finding The Right Doctor
Managing Parkinsons disease well can be challenging. Finding a doctor whos well-versed in PD and will help guide you on the journey makes it easier.
Its natural to begin by discussing initial symptoms with your family doctor or internist, who may refer you to a general neurologist or one specialized in movement disorders to rule out Parkinsons.
The Parkinsons Foundation recommends people diagnosed with PD seek out a movement disorders specialist one who can become a key player on your healthcare team. For people living far from an academic medical center or a specialist in private practice, we recommend a knowledgeable, nearby general neurologist for most of your care and then traveling a longer distance two to three times each year to see a specialist. Finding a specialist can seem like a daunting task, but it doesnt have to be. The Parkinsons Foundation can guide you step by step through the process of finding one.
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Preparing For Your Visit
Please review the following list of medications. If you are taking any of these medications, please stop these medications at least 12 hours prior to your first appointment.
Carbidopa/Levodopa, Sinemet, Stalevo, Parcopa, Azilect, Atamet, Mirapex, Amantadine, Requip, Parlodel, Comtan, Stalevo, Apokyn, Zelapar, Selegiline, Eldepryl, Tasmar these medications should be stopped 12 hours prior to your visit.
Sinemet CR, Sinemet ER and Requip XL these medications should be stopped 24 hours prior to your visit since they are the longer-lasting versions.
If you are not taking any of the medications listed, please continue to take your medications as directed by your local physician. You should take all other medications and eat a normal breakfast or lunch before your visit.
- Please ensure you bring your completed questionnaire with you to your appointment. This will streamline your first visit and allow the physician more time to discuss your medical history and evaluate your movement disorder.
- Please bring ALL of your current medications with you to your visit, in the appropriate bottle as given to you by your pharmacy.
- Please come prepared to discuss the following:
- Past medications you have taken and why you stopped them.
- Past surgical procedures relevant to your movement disorder.
- Any family medical history that may be relevant to your movement disorder.
What Is Deep Brain Stimulation
Deep brain stimulation uses electrical stimulation in the brain to help control abnormal body movements. The specialists at Miami Neuroscience Institute are pioneers of DBS treatment and will work closely with you every step of the way.
During DBS surgery, a neurosurgeon places an electrode in the area of the brain thats causing abnormal movement and tests it while you are awake to see if it successfully controls your symptoms. A small device that generates electrical pulses along a thin wire is then placed under your skin near your collarbone. The surgical team uses imaging technology to feed the wire through the skin to the electrode in the brain. The device will control the electrical impulses sent to your brain and can be adjusted to deliver more or less stimulation if your symptoms change.
DBS is a minimally invasive procedure that takes approximately four to six hours. An overnight stay in the hospital is rarely needed. After surgery, your symptoms should immediately improve, and you may be able to reduce the number of medicines you take to control symptoms.
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What To Look For In A Parkinsons Disease Neurologist
Here is a checklist of basic questions for your prospective neurologist:
- How long have you worked in the field? How many Parkinson’s patients do you see a year?
- Do you have special training in movement disorders? Are you board-certified in neurology?
- Who do I see when you are not available?
- What hospital do you use for treating patients?
It’s important to understand that the online rating systems for healthcare providers are not very accurate. Or they are, in some ways, and it is not the information you are looking for. For example, many of these ratings rank a healthcare provider high if he is always on time and never backed up. If you think about the clinic setting and the inability to really control what happens in a typical day, and the healthcare provider who is always time may be the healthcare provider who never has that extra minute to give you when you need it. These ratings also often include how easy it is to get an appointment.
Of course, the healthcare provider who is exceptional that everyone wants to see ranks poor on this measure, and the healthcare provider who doesn’t have a strong following ranks high. If you do look at these rankings, make sure to read the comments, and realize that one bad comment could simply represent one patient having a bad day after being given a diagnosis he didn’t want.
Boca Raton Neurologist Doctors And Specialists For Parkinson’s Disease
Type of Physician: Neurologist
What is a Neurologist? A certification by the Board of Psychiatry & Neurology practitioners focus on the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease or impaired function of the brain, spinal cord, muscles and nervous system, as well as the blood vessels that relate to these structures. The neurologist is often the primary physician but also serves as a consultant to other physicians and may render all levels of care, including the continuing care of outpatients and/or inpatients. The neurologist will often perform and interpret tests that relate to the nervous system or muscles.
Specialty: Neurology
* Provider Directory Terms of Use:
The WebMD ‘Provider Directory’ is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval.
You are prohibited from using, downloading, republishing, selling, duplicating, or “scraping” for commercial or any other purpose whatsoever, the Provider Directory or any of the data listings or other information contained therein, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever.
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The University of Florida Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration was created in July 2002 and remains one of the most vibrant, most collaborative, and most rapidly growing Centers in the McKnight Brain Institute and College of Medicines enterprise. Since the launch of the center the growth has been exponential. It now forms the core of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases.
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How Is Parkinsons Disease Diagnosed
Parkinsons Disease is typically diagnosed by a neurologist, which is a medical doctor who specializes in neurological disorders. There isnt a specific test that neurologists can use to confirm whether a patient has Parkinsons disease, so they rely on multiple sources of information. A neurologist will ask about a patients symptoms, perform an exam, and possibly order tests when diagnosing a patient. The tests they might order include MRIs, ultrasounds of the brain, and PET and SPECT scans.
What To Expect From The Doctor
At your first visit, a PD specialist will take a thorough medical history and also ask about your family medical history and symptoms. He or she will conduct a physical examination and a neurological exam. The doctor will ask you to sit, stand and walk to observe your balance and coordination. The doctor may also order a brain imaging test to rule out other conditions.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease
Although the signs of Parkinsons vary from person-to-person, the disorder has four key motor symptoms, including:
- Tremors in the hands, arms, legs, or jaw
- Muscle rigidity or stiffness in the arms, legs, or trunk
- Bradykinesia, or slowness of movement
- Postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination
Patients with Parkinsons disease may also be affected by a range of other symptoms, such as:
- Severe fatigue or sleep disturbances
- Chronic pain
- Constipation or urinary problems
Working With Your Care Team
Once you have chosen members of your care team how can you best interact with them? You and your team want the same thing: They want to give you the best possible care they can and you want to receive the best care available. Why then do so many persons with PD not get the best possible care available? One reason is that communication between patient and care team breaks down.
How can you keep the communication lines between you and your healthcare team open? Here are a few tips.
For every visit to a health professional try to have the following information written down so that you can hand it over to the secretary instead of having to repeat it ad infinitum:
- Your name
- Insurance information and member number
- Date of birth social security number
- Current medications, including over the counter medications and any nutritional supplements you use, the dose you take, and the purpose of the medication
- Known allergies or adverse reactions to medications or common medical equipment
- Current health problems and dates of onset
Don’t forget that medication errors are all too common. You should learn a few ideas to reduce the chance of a medication error.
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