Neurology in Seoul

Neurology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and the treatment of diseases of the nervous system. The nervous system is a complex and sophisticated system that regulates and coordinates our body activities. It is divided into two major parts:

• The central nervous system: the brain and spinal cord
• The peripheral nervous system: all nerves branching out from the brain and spinal cord, and extend to other parts of the body, including organs and muscles.

Since the nervous system is complex, there are numerous subspecialties within the field of neurology, including:

• Neurodevelopmental disabilities
• Pediatric or child neurology
• Neuromuscular medicine
• Pain medicine
• Hospice and palliative care neurology
• Headache medicine
• Vascular Neurology (stroke care)
• Sleep medicine
• Autonomic disorders
• Brain injury medicine
• Neuropsychiatry
• Epilepsy
• Neurointensive care

A doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the nervous system is called a neurologist. Symptoms that often require a neurologist help may include coordination problems, muscle weakness, confusion, dizziness, and a change in sensation. People who are having problems with their senses, such as vision, touch, or smell, may also require to see a neurologist since problems with senses are sometimes caused by disorders of the nervous system.

A neurologist may also treat patients with:

• Stroke
• Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy
• Migraines and headaches
• Brain aneurysms
• Brain tumors
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Infections of the nervous systems, such as meningitis, encephalitis, or brain abscesses
• Neuromuscular disorders, such as myasthenia gravis
• Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Lou Gehrig’s disease
• Sleep disorders
• Spinal cord disorders, such as autoimmune and inflammatory disorders
• Speech and language disorders

Keep in mind that neurologist does not perform surgery. If you need surgery, you will be referred to a neurosurgeon.

What does Neurology Involve?

A wide variety of different tests and procedures are used to diagnose and treat neurological conditions. On your first appointment with a neurologist, a physical and neurological exam is likely to be performed. A neurological exam is done to test muscle strength, coordination, and reflexes.

Because different diseases can have similar symptoms, more than one testing may be required for your neurologist to make a diagnosis.

Some of the procedures that fall into the field of neurology may include:

Electromyography

Electromyography (EMG) is used to measure how well your muscles react to electrical stimulation from motor neurons, which are specific nerves controlling muscle movement. It can help neurologists diagnose general muscle or nerve dysfunction, as well as spinal cord disease.

During an EMG, small needles called electrodes are inserted into the muscle by a specially trained technician. The electrodes can measure the different electrical activity occurring in muscle tissue during periods of movement and rest.

Electroencephalogram

Electroencephalogram (EEG) is performed to assess and record electrical activity in your brain. Neurons in our brain communicate with other neurons through electrical impulses, which an EEG can record. Brain wave patterns can also be tracked by an EEG. It is used to help diagnose conditions of the brain, including tumors, inflammation, injuries, as well as psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, and seizures.

During an EEG, electrodes are placed on your head. The electrodes are connected to a computer, which converts electrical signals into patterns that can be seen from a screen or printed on a piece of paper.

Lumbar puncture

Lumbar puncture is done to test your spinal fluid. It involves inserting a needle into your spine after numbing it with an anesthetic. Using the needle, a sample of your spinal fluid is taken.

A lumbar puncture can help diagnose the following conditions:

• Meningitis
• Encephalitis
• Leukemia
• Myelitis
• Dementia
• Autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Bleeding in the brain

The procedure can also be used to treat conditions affecting the spinal cord. Your neurologist may inject anesthetics, cancer treatments, or antibiotics using a lumbar puncture needle.

Tensilon test

To help diagnose myasthenia gravis, your neurologist may perform a tensilon test. It involves the injection of a medicine called Tensilon. Then, your neurologist observes how medicine affects your muscle movements.

Sleep study

Chronic sleep problems are diagnosed in a Sleep Study. Also known as a Polysomnogram (PSG), this procedure involves monitoring patients during sleep and physiological data is recorded electronically.

Other tests

Other types of tests may be used by your neurologist to make a diagnosis. These may include:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan)
• Computed tomography (CT scan)
• Positron emission tomography (PET scan)
• Biopsy
• Genetic testing
• Angiography

Botox injections

Botox injections can be done to treat some neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, that can cause your limbs to pull in toward your center. Sometimes, these contracted muscles can be relaxed with Botox injections.

Botox injections involve injecting tiny amounts of botulinum toxin into your skin of muscles using a thin needle.

Brain tumor treatment

A range of treatments can be done to treat a brain tumor. If your neurologist believes that you need surgery, you will be referred to a neurosurgeon who will remove as much of the brain tumor as possible through surgery.

A brain tumor may also be treated with radiation therapy, which uses high-energy beams to kill tumor cells.

Brain tumor treatment may be integrated between the departments of neurology and oncology.

Brain rehabilitation therapy

Brain rehabilitation therapy is used to help you relearn functions that are lost as a result of a brain injury. Brain rehabilitation therapy is usually integrated between specialty teams in the departments of neurology, sports medicine, psychiatry and psychology, neuroradiology, and the vestibular/balance laboratory.

Deep brain stimulation

During deep brain stimulation, electrodes are implanted within certain areas of the brain. The electrodes generate electrical impulses that can regulate abnormal impulses. These electrical impulses may also affect certain chemicals and cells within the brain.

Deep brain stimulation can be done to treat numerous conditions, including dystonia, essential tremor, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease. It is also being studied as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis and stroke recovery.

Spinal stenosis treatment

Spinal stenosis is a condition that occurs when the spinal canal narrows and pinches the nerves, leading to back and leg pain. Spinal stenosis may be treated with pain medications, physical therapy, steroid injections, decompression procedure, or surgery. Surgery is usually performed if other treatments have not helped.

How Long Should I Stay in Seoul?

Your length of stay depends on the type of procedure you have, you may be allowed to leave the hospital on the same day or you will stay for several days. For diagnostic procedures, you should be allowed to leave the hospital on the same day. However, you should wait until the results of the test are ready before you can fly home, which may take as long as 7 days, sometimes even longer. If you undergo brain tumor treatments or other types of treatment, especially treatments that involve surgical intervention, you should aim to stay in Seoul at least for 10 days.

What's the Recovery Time?

The recovery time can be different for each procedure. It may also depend on the reason why you are having the procedure and your overall health. Your neurologist and neurosurgeon will give you a recovery timeline for each procedure. The recovery period for diagnostic procedures is typically short and you may be able to resume your normal activities within a week or so. For surgical procedures, you may need to wait 4 weeks or months until you can go back to your daily routine, including work and exercise.

What About Aftercare?

A detailed aftercare instruction will be given to you following your procedure. While the instructions will be different for each procedure, they typically include a diet plan, exercise, restrictions, and wound care (if any surgical intervention is involved). You should follow these instructions carefully in order to have a speedy and smooth recovery.

You may also need to attend follow-up checkups to monitor your overall condition and healing. For brain tumors, you may need to attend regular checkups to ensure the tumor has not come back.

What's the Success Rate?

The field of neurology is constantly advancing. The success rate of each procedure is typically high, particularly when performed by highly skilled and experienced medical professionals. Still, some procedures may carry some risks, such as bleeding, infection, and nerve injury.

Are there Alternatives to Neurology?

Since neurology is the branch of medicine to diagnose and treat problems of the nervous system, there are no other alternatives. However, if your doctor found that your disease or illness is found to be caused by other problems unrelated to the nervous system, your doctor will recommend you to see the relevant doctor.

Neurology in and around Seoul

About Seoul

Seoul is the capital city of South Korea and is one of the most affluent cities in Asia with high per capita income. Seoul is a city of differences as you can find anything from ancient monuments and palaces to modern skyscrapers. Every year the city attracts over 10 million tourists from different parts of the world. While some visit Seoul to enjoy its rich culture, others come to experience the fascinating metropolitan vibe, large numbers of medical tourists visit this busy city to undergo various medical procedures for cheaper prices and to enjoy the Korean hospitality. As per reports from the South Korean Ministry of Health & Welfare, the number of medical tourists in 2016 increased to 364,000, which is 23% more than in 2015. Some of the more popular procedures sought-after in Seoul are gynecology related treatments, stem cell therapy, treatments in neurology & endocrinology, laser treatments, transplants, and cardiology.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, most medical tourists are from China, Uzbekistan, UAE, Japan, and Canada. Seoul is dynamically emerging as one of the most preferred destinations for medical tourism. The city proudly houses one JCI accredited hospital. The other top-rated medical hospitals include the Severance Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, MizMedi Women's Hospital. The world-class hospitals comprise of VIP rooms, exceptional medical facilities, and highly-reputed physicians. Doctors are fluent in English, Korean, Japanese, and French.

Popular Areas in Seoul

The beautiful River Han flows through the heart of the city. It divides Seoul into North and South and you will find most of the ancient palaces and historical sites in the North. The Southside is quite modern and trendy with neighborhoods like Gangnam which is also the business hub of the city. It is also the residential part of the city with many apartments, and shopping malls.

• River Han: Is the favorite location for both locals and tourists. Here, you can enjoy indulging in exciting water activities such as windsurfing, water skiing, fishing, sailing, and swimming. The banks of the river are the perfect place to lounge and see the lights of the city at night.
• Banpo Bridge: Connects the districts Seocho and Yongsan and It was the first double-deck bridge built in South Korea and is covered with 10000 lights and the  Rainbow Fountain's colored water rains down the side of the bridge.
• Gangnam: It is the most trendy neighborhood and is home to Asia's largest shopping mall, COEX, and several high-end restaurants.
• Hongdae: Four Korean Universities lie close to the neighborhood. Hongdae houses a number of theme-based restaurants and an array of boutiques that cater to the needs of college-goers. Several music venues and glitzy nightclubs make it a perfect place to enjoy the vibrant nightlife.
• Myeongdong: Is the best and the largest shopping destination in Korea. It is a shopping mega where you can find clothes, cosmetics, stylish handbags, shoes and accessories, and Jewelry at affordable prices.

Weather and Climate in Seoul

As Seoul lies close to the coast of the Yellow Sea, the climate is continental. Summer and Winter are the two distinct seasons in Seoul. Summer is sultry, hot, and rainy, whereas winter is cold and sunny. The transitional periods are the spring and autumn, which are mild and pleasant.

1. Winter: November to February. The average temperature is around 0°C during winter. The cold air blows in from Asia and during the night time, the temperature can drop to -20°C but it rarely snows during winter.
2. Spring: March to May. Spring is mild and it rains occasionally.
3. Summer: June to August. Seoul receives about 80 mm of rainfall during the summer season. July is the wettest month of the year. The temperature can rise to 35°C during the hot summer days.
4. Autumn: September-October. Autumn is pleasant and rainfall gradually decreases during these months.

Getting around in Seoul

Incheon International Airport lies 48 km west of Seoul. It is the largest in the country and one of the busiest airports in the world. The airport is luxurious with an ice-skating rink, casinos, and spas. The airport operates several domestic and international flights to varied parts of the world.

Seoul has one of the finest public transportation systems in the world.

• Seoul Metropolitan subway: It is the fastest and cheapest mode of transportation. There is a total of 22 lines in operation and it costs 0.44$ for a single journey. You can buy tickets at the vending machines found in all subway stations.
• Seoul public buses: There are four different types of buses running in Seoul, each one covering different routes. The cost varies from 0.92$ to $1.63, depending on the bus type and the distance traveled.
• Taxis: Are expensive and are ideal for a large group of people. Regular, deluxe, jumbo, and International taxis are available. The major differences being the size and fare.

Tourist visa in Seoul

South Korea exempts the citizens of 117 countries from obtaining a valid tourist visa to enter the country. Australia, Chile, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Switzerland, UK, US are some of the visa-exempted countries. They can stay visa-free for a maximum of 90 days.

Citizens of countries like India, China needs to apply for a tourist visa with all the required documents. The visa fee comes to around $30.

Additional Information

1. The official currency of South Korea is the Korean Republican Won (KRW). One US dollar is approximately equivalent to 1149 KRW.
2. You can find ATMs across the City. Some accept foreign cards and dispense cash. You can exchange your currencies to KRW in banks and money exchange booths.
3. Hangul is the national and official language of South Korea. Koreans who are under the age of 40 years understand and speak English better than the rest of the locals.
4. Most people in Korea are not affiliated with any religion. The same holds true in Seoul. Though, a small number of people practice Confucianism and Buddhism.
5. Some of the public holidays in Seoul include New Year's Eve, Korean New Year, Buddha's birthday, Constitution day, Harvest festival, Hangeul day and Christmas.