Chronic Neurological Conditions
Chronic or long-term health conditions are some of the most commonly recognized disease patterns in the medical community. Of these, a significant percentage is made up of cases involving chronic neurological conditions. In fact, in some countries, as much as 30% of patients currently diagnosed as “disabled” actually have some form of chronic neurological condition. More alarmingly, the number of chronic neurological conditions cases is expected to increase even more with the growing population of elderly patients in society.
While the actual treatment methods of patients may differ according to the specific type of medical condition, patients with chronic health issues all share a common concern: the debilitative effects that the condition has on their lives. And in this category are patients suffering from chronic neurological conditions.
Treatment options for chronic neurological conditions
There are three major components of treatment for patients suffering from chronic neurological conditions. These are:
- Primary care
- Person-centered care
- The holistic approach
Primary care
The first component of the treatment of chronic neurological conditions is primary contact with a general practitioner. This medical professional will be tasked with coordinating with other health care professionals on the primary level. These include occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and nurses, all of whom will initiate management and rehabilitation of the disease.
Person-centered care
General practitioners will also be tasked with the responsibility of communicating prognosis of neurological issues to the patients in a straightforward manner. It is particularly important for such medical professionals to communicate these concerns with tact and truthfulness, especially to patients suffering from incurable chronic neurological conditions that have a high likelihood of resulting in disablement. Such is the case with patients suffering from Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.
Person centered care also involves a fair degree of compassion and sensitivity to the patient from the part of the medical practitioner. They should also work on the assumption that patients suffering from chronic neurological conditions will require continued medical care.
The holistic approach
General practitioners should be aware that neurological issues often occur while the patient is in what is supposed to be the most productive years of a person's life. In many instances, such conditions may result in varying degrees of disability. This in itself may have a significant effect on various aspects of the patient’s life, including finances and emotional state. For this reason, physicians should strive for a more holistic approach to treating neurological issues, one that aims to address as many of the related issues as possible.
New advances in the treatment of neurological issues
Even today, scientists are still finding new ways to treat chronic neurological conditions. In particular, conditions such as those resulting from strokes and retinal degeneration benefit considerably from new advances in medical technologies and increased understanding of neurology.
That being said, “true” cures for the host of chronic neurological conditions remain undiscovered. In spite of the many advances in neuroscience, the best approach appears to be in the realm of rehabilitative therapy.