What’s Up Doc?

Awareness and understanding of the differences between doctors is essential for individuals with epilepsy. Due to the specialized care required, it is important to find the appropriate  physician suited to your needs. Neurologists, Epileptologists, and even primary care physicians all play a role in management. A primary care physician can provide general health oversight, but is not qualified to treat more specialized disorders. You should see a Neurologist for any disorder affecting the nervous system, such as the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. A neurologist has more specialized training than primary care physicians. To become a neurologist in the United States, you are required to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, then go to medical school  (osteopathic medicine), then complete a residency. (One year of internal medicine, two years for child neurologists, and four years of specialized residency training in neurology.) Additional subspecialized training is referred to as a fellowship. A fellowship typically lasts one to two years and requires the physician to pass a written exam administered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Once the exam is sucessfully passed, the individual is granted board-certification in neurology. Once certified, a subspecialty may be further pursued. Although not as common, and more difficult to find (I had to travel eight hours every time to see one!) for those with drug resistant epilepsy, an epileptologist is a better option than a neurologist. An epileptologist has advanced knowledge in epilepsy, and is typically able to give specialized care to those with diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles, stroke, pain, neuromuscular disease, and movement disorders. This physician can alter medications, as well as supervise surgical procedures and diagnostic tests. An epileptologist completes all the schooling a neurologist completes, along with a specialization in epilepsy management, surgical procedures and research, ensuring prolific knowledge in the field of epilepsy.  Knowing which doctor to consult ensures effective management of epilepsy tailored to individual needs.