NYU Langone Neurologist – Brooklyn – Queens – New York – NY

General Neurology Practice and Online Services

Neurology Site Overview

This site is a collection of articles about disorders managed by neurologists. Neurology is a diverse field of medicine, so it is not practical for one person to cover everything. Since I’ve got a high level of expertise in headache diagnosis and management, headaches types and treatment options for each of them are described in great detail. The second most common complaint in general neurology practice is dizziness. Both of them are diagnosed exclusively on the basis of symptoms and neurological examination. The vast majority of headaches and dizziness are manageable with the right approach. They are either controlled with preventive treatment – like migraine, or cured in a couple of minutes – like positional vertigo.

Epilepsy is another tricky disorder. Epilepsy is not a single disease. There are numerous genetic epilepsy syndromes; each with individual set of seizure types, age of onset, prognosis and treatment options. Besides, any person may acquire secondary epilepsy as a result of brain damage caused by injury, stroke, infection, or any other insult on the brain tissue. “Epilepsy” set of articles is a bit complicated for general public, since I could not figure out how to simplify this type of information. I will try to make it more digestible in the future.

Fibromyalgia is a controversial disorder characterized by chronic generalized body ache associated with multiple additional symptoms. Fibromyalgia is often taken with a grain of doubt in medical community. In my opinion, it is a valid diagnostic entity.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease with often vague initial presentation and unpredictable prognosis. This sense of uncertainty is likely the main driver of wide-spread anxiety about having this condition among people with anxiety disorder. To make the matter worse, up to date, any MS treatment is only directed to decrease of relapse rate but no treatment has been proven to alter prognosis on long-term disability.

Brain tissue does not regenerate. Despite recent advances in acute stroke management, stroke prevention remains the best available approach. There are multiple types of strokes and multiple causes of ones. Each of them requires an individual prevention strategy and carry different prognosis.

This site also covers conditions like sleep disorders, trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathies. I am also planning to address other neurological disorders in the future.

Site visitors can obtain free of charge neurological consultations online. Please, make sure that you read all the instructions and limitations before submitting any questions.

My goal is to describe neurological disorders from a practicing neurologist point of view in order to prepare neurology patients for their office visits.

When to see neurologist

Neurology is a diverse field of medicine. Most of neurological disorders involve brain, spinal cord, muscles, and nerves and are managed by neurologists. Here are the most common reasons for neurological evaluation.

Pain syndromes have to be specifically addressed. Neurologists do take care of multiple pain syndromes but not all.
Headache diagnosis and management is a special field of neurology requiring certain level of expertise even for neurologists.
There are multiple nerve related pains. Trigeminal neuralgia, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, or pain caused by polyneuropathy are the examples. Pain produced by nerve damage or irritation is called neuropathic pain. This pain is hard to describe because it’s a mixture of burning, shooting, numbness, and aching. It is also hard to pinpoint.
On the other hand, pain related to arthritis, whether it is spine or limbs, pulled muscles and tendons is normally managed by Physical Medicine and Rehab doctors or orthopedists.
Chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, are managed by multiple specialties, neurology included
Sensation of spinning or rocking, lack of coordination, chronic sensation of imbalance belong to the scope of neurology field
Lightheadedness and sensation of near fainting with or without loss of consciousness are often seen by neurologists but they rather have to be evaluated by cardiologist first
Epilepsy, tremor, memory loss, difficulty speaking, face/limb weakness or loss of sensation always require neurology input.
Depression and anxiety are meant to be managed by psychiatrists. Since mood disorders commonly present with headaches, insomnia and other neurological complains, they end up being managed by neurologists pretty often.
ADHD/ADD, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, behavioral issues, learning disability, delusions, paranoia, schizophrenia, substance abuse are beyond the scope of neurology field

About the author

My name is Andre V. Strizhak. I am an ABPN* certified neurologist affiliated with NYU Langone Medical Center. At NYU Langone my primary responsibility is providing neurology services to a large multi-specialty group in Rego Park, NY. Besides, I have a solo practice in Brooklyn, NY.

Biography key points:

Graduated from Moscow State Medical University in 1986
Trained and practiced as pediatric neurologist in Moscow for a few years
Competed Adult Neurology training at NY St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan in 1997
Solo general neurology practice until
Joined NYU Langone Medical Center in 2005

Philosophy:

Medicine, and especially neurology, is an “operator-dependent” field. People believe that getting an MRI or other work up is going to solve the diagnostic challenge. In reality, the diagnosis is made during interview and neurological examination. Machines don’t have brains; they don’t diagnose; they don’t treat; they DON’T THINK! Diagnostic testing is only meant to confirm or to clarify a suspected diagnosis.
I do not believe in “doctorless” medicine, such as substitution of human intelligence for some sophisticated hard/software.

Scope of Practice:

General neurology with special attention to the diagnosis and treatment of all types of headaches and dizziness.

Credo

Common sense and “moderation in everything including moderation”

Patient Approach:

Everyone suffers differently. I must have “wisdom to know the difference”.

*American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certify both neurologists and psychiatrists, even though, each of these specialties has an individual scope of professional expertise. Please make a note of it in order to avoid confusion.

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