Neurologists Located In Miami Fl
Parkinsons disease is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting about 1 – 1.5 million people in the United States. Roughly 65,000 Americans are newly diagnosed each year, and its estimated that thousands of cases go undetected. The team of neurologists at The Neurology Group in Miami offer comprehensive care for Parkinsons patients, specializing in advanced therapies and, research-driven treatment. If you or someone you love has Parkinsons disease, call the office or book your appointment online today.
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Is The Doctor Benefiting From Pharmaceutical Payments
While I would not judge the quality of treatment provided by a doctor solely on the fact that they have taken money from pharmaceutical companies, I believe the potential exists that a doctor might be swayed to recommend certain treatments over others.
One doctor I visited received payments from pharmaceutical companies averaging over $200,000 for a two-year period. That doctor received the second-largest payment from the pharmaceutical company that produced the medication I was prescribed during those two years.
New Formulations For Motor Symptoms And New Treatments For Nonmotor Symptoms Provide More Options
Zehra Farzal, MD Guillaume Lamotte MD, MSc and Laxman B. Bahroo, DO
In recent years, there has been a groundswell of new treatment options for movement disorders. Therapies extend beyond motor symptoms of Parkinsons disease . Uniquely, recent therapies target nonmotor issues that have had limited treatment options and often been relegated to the sidelines in favor of motor symptoms of PD. New treatments can be broadly divided into 2 components. First is extended-release or other new formulations of existing medications. Second is newer products studied for specific indications in areas where no prior approved therapy was available.
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Parkinsons Foundation Center Of Excellence
Mount Sinai Beth Israel is designated as a Center of Excellence by the Parkinsons Foundation, specialized team of neurologists, movement disorder specialists, physical and occupational therapists, mental health professionals and others who are up-to-date on the latest Parkinson’s disease medications, therapies, and research to provide the best care.
Referral To A Specialist
If your GP suspects Parkinson’s disease, you’ll be referred to a specialist.
This will usually be:
- a neurologist, a specialist in conditions affecting the brain and nervous system
- a geriatrician, a specialist in problems affecting elderly people
The specialist will most likely ask you to perform a number of physical exercises so they can assess whether you have any problems with movement.
A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is likely if you have at least 2 of the 3 following symptoms:
- shaking or tremor in a part of your body that usually only occurs at rest
- slowness of movement
- muscle stiffness
If your symptoms improve after taking a medication called levodopa, it’s more likely you have Parkinson’s disease.
Special brain scans, such as a single photon emission computed tomography scan, may also be carried out in some cases to try to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
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The Beauty Is In The Balance
I now realize that symptom relief is not achieved with an all or nothing scenario.
After much trial and error, I have come up with a combined naturopathic and allopathic approach that works for me. This solution allows me to accept and adjust to my new normal with no side effects and some symptom relief. This is the list that works for me and may not be appropriate for you. Always consult your doctors before making any changes to your health regimen.
My list includes:
My way of thinking may have hindered my progress to reach this point. After all the therapies I had done, I expected to feel like I did before I was diagnosed. Because I have a disease of the brain, that is unlikely to happen. Plus, as one ages , sometimes it is difficult to determine if a symptom is age-related or caused or accelerated by Parkinsons disease.
Of course, this current regimen will need tweaking as time goes by. Dosages may have to be increased, not because the drugs lose their efficacy, but because Parkinsons is a progressive disease.
Specialized Neurology And Neurosurgery Services In At Bwh
Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and treatment are administered by the Department of Neurology at BWH, which integrates a diverse array of specialized services for patients with neurological disorders. The BWH Boston neurology campus partners with our community locations at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain and with Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Health Care Center in Foxborough and South Shore Hospital in Weymouth to offer state-of-the-art facilities and the largest neuroscience intensive care unit in the New England region.
Neurosurgical treatment for Parkinson’s disease is provided by specialists in our world-class BWH Department of Neurosurgery. Our expert Boston neurosurgeons deliver comprehensive neurosurgery treatment through many innovative techniques to improve outcomes for our neurosurgery patients. The Department’s Boston neurosurgery staff of more than 13 clinical faculty and over 100 department members strives to provide patient-focused, world-class medical treatment across the spectrum of neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s disease.
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An Effective Treatment Option For Post Concussion Syndrome
At Cognitive FX, were not going to tell you your symptoms are imaginary or that you have to wait it out any longer. Weve successfully treated thousands of patients with PCS from all over the United States and around the world. And while we cant guarantee you an immediate, 100% end to all of your symptoms, we can tell you that 95% of patients who complete our Enhanced Performance in Cognition Treatment program show statistically verified improvement of brain function.
How do we know that? Through the results of patients pre- and post-treatment fNCI scans . The average patients improvement after one week is 77.5%.
Our unique, multidisciplinary, week-long treatment program is designed to find and target the source of each patients post concussion syndrome symptoms. Our active rehabilitation method leverages the brains natural neuroplasticity, which is the ability of the brain to change, grow, and form new connections.
In this section, well explain what causes post-concussion symptoms, how we image patients brains, and how we approach treatment.
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How Was The Study Performed
Willis et al. reviewed Medicare data to explore 2 questions. First, what characteristics determine whether a patient with Parkinson disease sees a neurologist? Second, are patients who see a neurologist likely to live longer than patients who do not see a neurologist? The Medicare data for this study data came from insurance claims. When a doctor sees a patient, he or she provides some basic information on forms sent to Medicare as reasons for payment, such as the diagnosis being treated. This type of data is powerful due to the large number of patients with these data. However, insurance claim-based data sources lack detailed information, so reaching definite conclusions is difficult. For example, an insurance claim just records that a patient has a diagnosis of PD, but does not record symptoms, how long he or she has had the disease, or how severe the symptoms are.
What Is Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons Disease is a chronic and progressive movement disorder, which is the result of a loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Over 1,000,000 people in the United States have Parkinsons Disease and 50,000-60,000 new cases of Parkinsons are diagnosed every year. There is no known cure for Parkinsons Disease, but a number of medications, therapy and surgery may provide patients with relief from some symptoms.
The most common type of Parkinsons Disease is known as late-onset disease which begins after age 50. If signs and symptoms begin before age 50 the condition is described as early-onset disease. Early-onset cases that begin before age 20 are sometimes referred to as juvenile-onset Parkinson disease.
If you would like to learn more, read on or schedule a consultation with our Los Angeles Parkinsons specialists.
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What Is A Neurologist
A neurologist is a medical doctor that specializes in the study, diagnosis, treatment, and management of injuries, diseases, and disorders of the nervous system. The nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord and is made up of two parts: the central and peripheral nervous system. Illnesses, disorders, and injuries that affect the nervous system often require a neurologists treatment.
Neurological Symptoms After Recovering From Covid
Doctors are still learning about COVID-19 and studying the effects it can have on people. Its been observed that some people whove had COVID-19 experience neurologic symptoms that linger even after theyve been treated. These lingering symptoms can include:
- headaches
- trouble sleeping
- stroke
At the time of this article, its unclear how long these symptoms might last in a person who had COVID-19. As doctors learn more about COVID-19 and its effects on the body, they might be able to see more patterns in these symptoms or determine a normal timeline for complete recovery.
No matter how long these symptoms last, a neurologist can help. They can make sure theres no other cause for the symptoms and can help patients manage them. They can also record and track these symptoms to help the healthcare community understand how to better treat them.
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Bwh: Comprehensive Treatment For Patients With Parkinson’s Disease
The Movement Disorder Program at BWH provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for patients with movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, tremor, and dystonia . The Program’s team of physicians, nurses, and researchers is dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. The Program is a collaboration between BWH and Massachusetts General Hospital working with the national Parkinson Study Group. In addition to Parkinson’s disease, the Program provides comprehensive care for patients with other movement disorders such as Tourette syndrome, tremor, and dystonia .
Does The Doctor Feel Threatened By My Questions
Self-education in Parkinsons and being current in new treatment options are critical. They help me to formulate intelligent questions and allow me to challenge my doctor about something they might suggest that I dont feel right about. I will not continue with a doctor that gets defensive when I ask them questions, or if a treatment suggestion must be their way or the highway.
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What Do The Study Findings Mean For Patients With Pd
These findings suggest the importance of neurologist care for patients with PD. However, it is too early to make decisions on the impact of neurologist care on PD outcomes from this study alone. Observational studies based on insurance claims have drawbacks and conclusions should be made with care. Many factors that the authors were not able to measure could explain the relationship between neurologist care and apparently better outcomes in PD. The authors, for example, were unable to measure the severity of PD in this population. If patients seen by neurologists had less severe PD than patients not seen by neurologists, the apparently better outcomes in neurologist-treated patients could be a reflection of disease severity instead of better care.
While these findings are new and point to new ways to improve the care of patients with PD, further research to confirm and explain these findings is needed.
What Looks Like Parkinsons But Isnt
Dr. Fernandez describes two main Parkinsons mimics:
Essential tremor. Also known as benign essential tremor or familial tremor, this movement disorder causes brief, uncontrollable shaking.
It most often affects your hands, but can also affect your head and neck, larynx and other areas. In rare cases, it affects your lower body as well.
But one clue can help distinguish essential tremor from Parkinsons.
This is not an absolute rule, but if shaking occurs at rest, it often is Parkinsons. And if shaking occurs in action, such as when youre writing or eating, it is essential tremor, Dr. Fernandez says.
About half of those with essential tremor have a family history of the condition.
Unlike Parkinsons, essential tremor is generally not perceived as a progressive disorder, and, if mild, may not require treatment.
Doctors can prescribe medications to reduce shaking, but they are not the same drugs used to treat Parkinsons, he says.
Drug-induced Parkinsons. Along with shaking, this condition may cause many symptoms similar to Parkinsons disease, including stiffness, slow movement, a decrease in facial expression and a change in speech.
As the name suggests, taking certain drugs, most commonly antipsychotics and mood stabilizers, can trigger this condition. How long it takes to develop can vary greatly, depending on which drug youre taking, how long you take it and the dosage.
Your doctor likely will treat drug-induced Parkinsons by adjusting your medication.
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Can A Neurologist Treat Post
Ultimately, theres very little a neurologist can do for postconcussive syndrome besides managing some of your symptoms with medication.
The authors of a Practical Neurology article about concussion admit that even though neurologists know some concussion symptoms can linger for years, most neurologists assume the symptoms are benign and that they will eventually resolve over time. They dont really have any treatment options and instead try to reassure patients their symptoms arent harmful and will eventually go away on their own.
As youre likely aware, this isnt a satisfying answer. Post-concussion syndrome isnt harmless: the symptoms can keep you from work, socialization, and even family life if theyre bad enough.
The good news is that many neurologists are starting to research concussion mechanisms, diagnostics, and treatment in academic research or in collaboration with treatment clinics like ours. Just because many neurologists dont know how to treat post-concussion syndrome effectively at the moment doesnt mean they wont a few years from now.
In the meantime, weve made significant strides in understanding and treating post-concussion syndrome. In the next section, well explain what causes lingering concussion symptoms and what you can do to start recovering.
What Can A Neurologist Do For Concussion Patients
A patient might initially encounter a neurologist if theres any possibility theyve sustained a traumatic brain injury .
For example, if theyve been in a car accident, had a bad fall, or had a serious sporting injury and are experiencing symptoms such as loss of consciousness, bleeding, seizures, or vomiting, then their injury warrants a trip to the emergency department . A neurologist might be called in to examine the patient and to determine the severity of the injury.
However, not all incidents that cause a concussion call for a trip to the ED. Its more typical for a patient to go to an urgent care facility or to their family doctor within a day or two of the injury. They might never see a neurologist unless their doctor refers them to a specialist.
If a patient does see a neurologist after head trauma, the neurologist will perform a neurological exam checking mental status, speech, balance, reflexes, and vision for indications of a mild TBI or a more severe brain injury.
The neurologist might order a computerized tomography scan to check for skull fractures or bleeding that could become life threatening and require surgical intervention. Concussions, however, cant be detected by a CT scan or a regular MRI because those tests only show structural damage, which is not the type of damage a concussion causes in the brain.
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Who Are The Top
Our top-rated Neurologists in South Miami include:
Victor Barredo, MD specialties include Electromyography, Epilepsy, Headaches/Migraines, and Neurology.
Bruce Kohrman, MD is board certified in neurology and is fellowship-trained in neuro-ophthalmology. He evaluates and treats adults and teenagers for a wide variety of neurologic problems and has special interests in migraines, seizures, neuro-ophthalmology, Parkinsons disease, and dementia.
Javier Lopez, MD practices General Neurology in the South Miami Area. He sees patients with a wide range of neurological problems with a special interest in migraines, movement disorders, and multiple sclerosis.
Ajay Pandey, MD sees a wide variety of patients with different neurological disorders including, but not limited to Migraine & Headache syndromes, Spine disorders, Dizziness/Vertigo, Head injury, Attention Deficit Disorder, Stroke/TIA/Aneurysm, Dementia, Parkinsons disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Seizures/ Epilepsy, Syncopy, Muscle disorders, Gait & Balance disorder, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Sciatica, Brain & Spine tumor, Bells palsy, Neuropathy/Neuralgia, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain.
Simon Starosta-Rubenstein, MD practices general neurology. Dr. Starosta-Rubinstein received his subspecialty fellowship in movement disorder and his subspecialty fellowship in neuro-oncology from the University of Michigan.
To Guide Your Expectations Of Therapy
There are many impressive success stories with DBS. Over 200,000 people worldwide have gone through DBS, and a majority of them have been for Parkinsons disease. Some of these stories are highlighted in news outlets and in patient-oriented brochures. While it’s important that we celebrate these successes, it is also important to know that some people will not experience that same level of benefit. A lot of research has been performed that has improved our ability to guide expectations about the amount of benefit you can have with DBS. We have a very good base of knowledge, but it is still an imperfect science. This is why a DBS neurologist, neurosurgeon and team, who are up to date on the latest research, and who take time to get to know you, are probably in the best position to help provide you the information you need to decide whether this treatment is right for you.
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