Neurology clinics in Germany

Specificity of neurology in Germany

Neurology is one of the fastest growing areas of medicine in Germany. In recent years, many new neurological departments have opened, and beds have been added to the existing ones. This rapid growth is due to the fact that over the past 25 years, neurology in Germany has evolved from a diagnostic discipline to a therapeutic one.

Not so long ago, many chronic neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, could only be diagnosed by doctors. Clinical observation was the only treatment. Currently, effective therapeutic techniques have been found that slow down the progression of the disease, reduce the severity of symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients.

Neurologists in Germany undergo long and varied training, which allows them to study well the mechanisms of development of diseases of the nervous system. They work closely with doctors of other specialties such as psychiatrists, psychotherapists, cardiologists, neurosurgeons and geriatricians. Thanks to this, the patients of German neurological clinics receive comprehensive and effective medical care.

What neurological diseases are treated in clinics in Germany?

Neurologists at German medical centers treat a wide range of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. Most often, medical tourists come to the country for treatment:

• Chronic degenerative neurological pathologies (Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis);
• Stroke and vascular diseases of the nervous system;
• Infectious neurological diseases (meningitis, shingles, tick-borne infections);
• Epilepsy and other convulsive conditions;
• Syringomyelia;
• Neuromuscular disorders;
• Diseases of the spine, spinal cord and nerve roots;
• Headaches and facial pains;
• Tumors of the brain and spinal cord.

Methods for the diagnosis of neurological diseases in Germany

Doctors of German clinics pay great attention to high-quality diagnostics. For early detection of neurological abnormalities and the choice of the best therapeutic tactics, they use the following diagnostic methods:

• Electroencephalogram (including day and night video EEG monitoring) and other electrodiagnostic tests (electromyography, nerve conduction velocity, evoked potentials);
• Ultrasound examination of cerebral vessels (Doppler / duplex);
• Biopsy of nerves and muscles;
• Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid;
• Fiber optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES);
• Visual diagnostics (CT, MRI, scintigraphy).

Methods of treating neurological diseases in German clinics

Medical centers in Germany use a wide range of treatments for the pathology of the nervous system. Many of them were developed directly by German doctors. In addition to standard approaches, German neurologists also apply innovative therapeutic techniques such as:

• Treatment of essential tremor MRgFUS. The method stands for focused ultrasound therapy under the guidance of magnetic resonance imaging. During the procedure, a helmet is put on the patient’s head, which is an ultrasound transducer with over 1000 separate ultrasound sources. It allows you to focus sound waves on areas of the brain that are only a few millimeters in size. At the target point, the directed energy heats up the tissue and destroys the nerve cells responsible for the tremor. In most cases, the results of the treatment are visible immediately after the procedure.
• Treatment of multiple sclerosis with a new drug. More recently, German clinics have begun using a new antibody-based drug for the treatment of recurrent multiple sclerosis. Research has shown it helps patients live longer and significantly improve their quality.
• Laser treatment for epilepsy. Laser ablation of epileptogenic foci is a new technology that has become an alternative to highly traumatic surgical intervention. During the operation, the doctor makes a hole only 3 mm in size in the patient’s skull. A probe is inserted into it, which, under the control of MRI, is directed to the areas of the brain that provoke epileptic seizures. The main advantages of this technique are minimal invasiveness and the ability to target epileptogenic foci without damaging healthy brain tissue.
• Migraine treatment with a new drug. Monoclonal antibodies have found application not only in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, but also in the treatment of severe forms of migraine. They target the neuropeptide CGRP, which dilates blood vessels in the brain and plays an important role in the development of migraine attacks. Unlike other migraine prophylaxis drugs, which take several months to start working, the new drug works immediately after administration, reducing the number of attacks by more than two-thirds.

This is an incomplete list of treatments for neurological diseases in Germany. After a comprehensive examination, German doctors select the therapeutic tactics that are most suitable for the patient and take into account his individual needs.

If you still have questions about treatment in clinics in Germany, leave a request on the MedTour website. The medical coordinator will contact you shortly. He will help you choose the most suitable clinic and doctor.