Neurologists verses rheumatologists, who do you decide to see first? You might be faced with this decision, and not be sure which specialist to choose from.
Ideally you would be able to see both specialists, but for some that would be a waste of money, and for others, they might just want to focus on the best specialist first, fearing wasting the other one’s time if they feel their symptoms aren’t relevant.
A neurologist is a medical doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating disorders of the nervous system, comprising the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. They employ various diagnostic tools and examinations to identify conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and strokes.
A rheumatologist is a medical specialist focused on diagnosing and treating autoimmune and musculoskeletal disorders. They deal with conditions like arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, and osteoporosis, which affect joints, muscles, bones, and soft tissues. Using clinical examinations, imaging tests, and laboratory analyses, rheumatologists diagnose these complex diseases. Their expertise lies in addressing the intricate interplay between the immune system and musculoskeletal health to alleviate pain and enhance overall well-being.
So while neurologists focus on disorders of the nervous system, rheumatologists concentrate on autoimmune and musculoskeletal disorders, with each specialty requiring distinct diagnostic and treatment approaches tailored to the specific conditions they manage.
Which specialist you pick first, generally comes down to the symptoms you’re experiencing.
Since rheumatology chiefly deals with the immune system, then they would be looking out for symptoms such as;
- Joint Pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Skin rashes
- Limited motion
For neurology, dealing with the central nervous system, then you might consider them if you have symptoms such as :
- Headaches
- Dizziness / Vertigo
- Numbness / Tingling
- Tremors / Shaking
- Seizures
- Memory and Cognitive issues
- Vision changes
Various symptoms generally overlap heavily between both specialists, such as muscle weakness and sleep issues, and at any rate either specialist can consider any symptom anyway.
In reality it’s not like these specialists are at odds with each other to compete. Instead they complement each other, looking at the problem from similar but different viewpoints.
For example, someone with symptoms that align with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS), they could go to either specialist for a diagnosis. Especially because CFS is a diagnosis of exclusion.
Some people believe that rheumatology deals better with looking at the health issue as a body wide problem incorporating various aspects of multiple systems. Neurology focuses in on the central nervous system and specific tests the indicate a problem with it.
So for a rudimentary comparison, some might say that rheumatologists often throw a wide diagnostic net out to gather information and neurologists might pinpoint and directly target things in their process of diagnosis. But this is generally oversimplifying each specialist’s way of tackling a patient, and both can easily tailor their approach to their patient’s needs.
Ultimately either specialist can be of help when diagnosing complex health problems. In an ideal world, each patient would have a council of different specialists to look at their case. But in our cost laden world of limited medical options, only the very rich can afford such a service. All you can really do is note down what your worst symptoms are, and consider which specialist focuses more on those type of symptoms to make the best informed choice you can. Hopefully the result is that you find a good specialist, who can shed some light on what is causing your health issues. Just don’t be discouraged if you have to go from doctor to doctor to find direction, because with a complex illness, the journey to recovery isn’t always straightforward.
