Hi, Jane,
I'll take a crack at this! A movement disorder specialist is a neurologist
with advanced training and experience (hopefully many years!) in treating
patients with movement disorders. The reason that most of us think this is
important is that movement disorders are very easy to misdiagnose and
equally, if not more difficult to manage from the standpoint of medications
prescribed and the frequent need to adjust dosage. Internists and
neurologists in general practice can be terrific, but generally speaking
see only a few PD patients on a regular basis, so it's very hard for them
to acquire as much experience as a movement disorders specialist.
Another factor is that many, though not all movment disorder specialists
are involved in research, especially clinical trials of new drugs. That
means that their patients can sometimes have access to experimental drugs
prior to FDA approval AND that the specialist in a clinical trial has quite
a bit of experience in prescribing that drug by the time it's
approved--sort of a head start.
Finally, as the disease progresses, medical management grows more, not
less difficult and experience can really make a difference. We see a lot
of patients with very advanced disease after the referring physician has
exhausted his or her best efforts. I for one truly admore all docs who
know when to hand off a case! In the current climate, this can be a tough
economic decision and we owe them a vote of thanks for adhering to their
conscience.
Re where to find one, you might try the Cleveland Clinic or the University
of Ohio in Columbus.
Carole Cassidy
At 03:53 PM 8/10/98 -0400, you wrote:
>I have been hearing alot about Movement Disorder Specialists since I
>joined the list last week, and was wondering if anybody could describe
>this occupation to me or how I could go about finding one. My mother
>lives in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, and is starting to see a physical
>therapist, but everyone is recommending an MDS, so I'm trying to find
>out more info.
>
>Thanks,
>Jane (c/g for Ruth 57/2)
>
>
