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Can a neurologist also be an ms specialist?
I was wondering if a neurologist also can be a ms specialist?...It has been suggested to me that this might be a good idea to get a specialist...I really do like my neurologist but I do see the advantage of also having a specialist...Also, I was wondering how many people use their specialist more than their neurologist?.....Also, what does insurance usually say about these so called specialists?
Michael
Michael
I don't have a specialist either.
But, your doc sounds excellent. I vote, keep! Everything you have said since you came on here sounds like your doc is spot on, and treats MS patients. You can always ask how many MSers are seen if you are curious. That shouldn't offend :)
-Shell
But, your doc sounds excellent. I vote, keep! Everything you have said since you came on here sounds like your doc is spot on, and treats MS patients. You can always ask how many MSers are seen if you are curious. That shouldn't offend :)
-Shell
So forget about an ms specialist?...He's good enough since I have no negative things to say?
Thanks again,
Michael
Thanks again,
Michael
He seems to be a general neurologist who sees a great many MS patients. That's good.
I agree with cainer---keep him!
ess
I agree with cainer---keep him!
ess
Ok, this is what I found out when I googled: He works for two clinics?....This is confusing....He originally works for a clinic in Boise but is working full time in a clinic in Spokane...The clinic in Boise states he specializes in ms, stroke, and Parkison's disease...Can a doctor be specialized in that many areas?...He is a young doctor (in his 40's) but he is aggresive and he doesn't leave you on hold...So therefore, I like him...
Michael
Michael
Thanks ess, that is a good idea about googling up my doc...Maybe I can find out without rocking the boat...Like I said (probably a half dozen times), I like my doctor...I'll do that now and let you know what I find out...
Thanks again,
Michael
Thanks again,
Michael
Ok, I want to find about getting a specialist, but I DONT want to upset my neurologist I have because he has treated me well...In other words, I have read about other people's experiences with doctors dropping them because of nonsense related situations...I don't want that to happen....So, what does a person ask?....Should I ask my doctor if he's a specialist?...If he isn't, can he recommend a specialist?....OR if I find my doctor satisfactory, should I just leave it alone even though it might be benefical to get a specialist?
Michael
Michael
I will be going to a neurologist in July. She is in a practice with about 5 other neuros. I spoke with the scheduler at length about why I was coming in and she recommended one of the doctors because she was a MS specialist. She is no different from the other neuros when it comes to billing as a specialist (all neuros are specialist). I also looked her up on the hospital website and she has credentials for MS specialtiy. I don't know what additional education or practice she did to obtain them but I feel more confident knowing she has a little more specialization!
But with any specialty, you will find that not all doctors have the same background. Like Mary said a MD who is an internalist (they usually act as PCPs too) can specialize in MS or diabetes, etc... They usually have additional training that enables them to treat and manage these diseases.
Shannon
But with any specialty, you will find that not all doctors have the same background. Like Mary said a MD who is an internalist (they usually act as PCPs too) can specialize in MS or diabetes, etc... They usually have additional training that enables them to treat and manage these diseases.
Shannon
But there is always at least one exception to the rule. I am seen at a MS health care clinic that provides a range of services exclussively to PwMS. My doctor is the clinic director. He is board certified in internal medicine and a MSCS (Certified Specialist). He is not a neurologist.
Mary
Mary
Hi, Michael. All MS specialists are neurologists, but the reverse is certainly not true.
Some general neurologists are pretty knowledgeable about MS, yet there are so many neurological diseases that the doctors are spread very thin. They tend to adhere very closely to specific assumptions about MS that are not necessarily true for all patients, and they also tend not to read the MS research as much. They really can't.
The thing is, there is no certification out there guaranteeing that a doctor is an MS specialist. Any neuro can call himself that (usually along with several other diseases), but real specialists devote virtually all their time to MS. Many are also university researchers.
Quite a few people here see a general neurologist most of the time and an MS specialist occasionally. This is usually true because they have to travel considerable distances to get to the specialist, and the general neuro is local. Either that or getting a specialist appointment involves such a long wait and they need neuro help more often than that.
I don't think insurance companies do much differentiation when it comes to these doctors, since to them they're all neurologists. Some plans may balk at paying more than one, so this is specific to your insurer.
ess
Some general neurologists are pretty knowledgeable about MS, yet there are so many neurological diseases that the doctors are spread very thin. They tend to adhere very closely to specific assumptions about MS that are not necessarily true for all patients, and they also tend not to read the MS research as much. They really can't.
The thing is, there is no certification out there guaranteeing that a doctor is an MS specialist. Any neuro can call himself that (usually along with several other diseases), but real specialists devote virtually all their time to MS. Many are also university researchers.
Quite a few people here see a general neurologist most of the time and an MS specialist occasionally. This is usually true because they have to travel considerable distances to get to the specialist, and the general neuro is local. Either that or getting a specialist appointment involves such a long wait and they need neuro help more often than that.
I don't think insurance companies do much differentiation when it comes to these doctors, since to them they're all neurologists. Some plans may balk at paying more than one, so this is specific to your insurer.
ess
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That doesn't mean you'd have to keep going to the specialist. You could phrase it as a one-shot deal. But it sounds as if your doc is doing a great job now. He is prescribing exactly what you need, a disease-modifying drug, and you're resisting mightily because of the injections. No doctor can do more than that, other than help you with symptom management.
By the way, you can always Google your current neuro and see what comes up. There are a lot of rate-your-doc sites that aren't very helpful, but you should be able to find out if he lists himself as an MS specialist, though as I said above, that doesn't necessarily make it so. He sounds like a great general neuro to me, and that may be all you need.
ess