The answers are already
in your nervous system.
We help you read them.
A clinic where neurologists trace the electrical map of the human brain to find the short circuit behind the migraine, the tremor, the memory that won't hold. We sit down, close the laptop, and say — tell me everything from the beginning.
Recognize
Something has been happening in your body and you have been trying to name it. The table below maps what you are experiencing to what it may mean — not to diagnose you, but to give language to what has been wordless.
| What you're experiencing | What it might mean | When to see us |
|---|---|---|
| “Headaches that arrive on one side, pulsing, with light sensitivity — you know one is coming hours before it hits” | Classic migraine pattern. Likely involves cortical spreading depression and trigeminal nerve activation. | Routine |
| “Clusters of stabbing pain around one eye, sometimes waking you at 2 a.m. for weeks at a stretch, then nothing for months” | Cluster headache cycle. One of the most painful conditions known — and one of the most treatable with the right protocol. | Soon |
| “Your hands shake when you reach for something or hold a cup — but not when your arm is at rest” | Action tremor pattern. Commonly essential tremor, which is distinct from Parkinson's and responds well to targeted treatment. | Routine |
| “A resting tremor — your hand moves on its own when you're sitting still, stops when you reach for something” | Resting tremor pattern. Warrants evaluation for basal ganglia involvement. Early assessment changes long-term outcomes. | Soon |
| “You forget a word mid-sentence, lose your keys in the same week you forget an appointment you'd written down” | Subjective cognitive decline. May reflect normal aging, sleep disruption, or early small vessel changes — all worth mapping. | Routine |
| “A brief episode where you stared blankly, couldn't respond, and don't remember the 30 seconds after” | Possible absence or focal impaired-awareness seizure. Requires EEG and neurological evaluation before driving or high-risk activities. | Prompt |
| “Numbness or tingling that travels down one arm or leg, comes and goes, sometimes with weakness” | Radiculopathy or demyelinating pattern. Nerve conduction studies help locate and characterize the signal interruption. | Soon |
| “Dizziness that feels like the room is spinning — not lightheadedness, but true rotational vertigo” | Vestibular system involvement. Could be BPPV, vestibular migraine, or central cause — each has a different treatment path. | Routine |
You just saw yourself in one of those rows.
That recognition is the beginning. The next step is a conversation — not a test, not a form. Just a neurologist, a quiet room, and time.
Consult
What happens in the room, minute by minute. Because the unknown is often more frightening than the thing itself.
90 minutes
No rushing. No clipboard in the waiting room. Just a conversation that goes wherever it needs to go.
Arrival & settling in
You check in at the front desk. No clipboard of forms waiting — your intake was completed online at your own pace. Someone offers you water. The waiting room is quiet. There is no television.
We schedule 90-minute first appointments. You will not be rushed.
The history — in your words
Your neurologist comes to the door, introduces herself by first name, and leads you to a consulting room. She closes the laptop. She asks: "Tell me what's been happening — start wherever feels right." She listens without interrupting. She writes almost nothing down at first.
The clinical examination
A structured neurological exam follows — reflexes, coordination, eye movement, sensation, gait. Each part is explained as it happens. Nothing is done without telling you what it's for and what she's looking for.
Making sense of it together
She shares what the history and exam suggest. Not a diagnosis yet — a working picture. She draws it out if it helps. She names the possibilities honestly, including the ones you were afraid to ask about. She asks if you have questions. She waits.
The diagnostic plan
If tests are indicated — EEG, MRI, nerve conduction — she explains what each one is looking for, what it involves, and what it will feel like. You decide together which ones make sense to do now.
Most diagnostic tests can be scheduled within the same week.
Before you leave
A printed summary of the visit — what was discussed, what was found, what comes next — is ready at the front desk when you walk out. You know what happens next. You have a direct number for questions.
Diagnose
The tools we use are precise but they are not frightening — not when someone explains what each one does, how long it takes, and what you will feel. Here is that explanation.
| Test | What it measures | Duration | What it feels like | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EEGElectroencephalogram | Electrical activity of the brain — patterns, rhythms, and abnormal discharges | 45–60 minutes | Small sensors are placed on your scalp with a water-based gel. You lie still with your eyes closed. There is no electricity entering your body — the machine only listens. Some patients fall asleep. Most describe it as relaxing. | Seizure disordersAbsence episodesSleep-related eventsUnexplained spells |
| MRIMagnetic Resonance Imaging | Structure and tissue of the brain and spine — lesions, atrophy, vascular changes, tumors | 30–60 minutes depending on sequences | You lie still in a scanner that uses magnets, not radiation. It is loud — most patients use earplugs or listen to music. There is no pain. Claustrophobia is common; we discuss options including open MRI or mild sedation before the appointment. | Headache with red flagsMemory concernsMultiple sclerosis workupStroke evaluation |
| NCSNerve Conduction Study | Speed and strength of electrical signals through peripheral nerves | 30–90 minutes | Small electrodes are placed on your skin. Brief, mild electrical pulses are sent along the nerve — most people describe it as a light snap or tapping sensation. It is not painful in the way the word "electrical" might suggest. The neurologist reads the waveforms in real time. | Numbness and tinglingHand tremorCarpal tunnelPeripheral neuropathy |
| EMGElectromyography | Electrical activity within muscles — distinguishing nerve from muscle disorders | 30–60 minutes (often combined with NCS) | A very fine needle electrode is inserted into specific muscles to record their activity at rest and during contraction. There is mild discomfort — similar to a blood draw. Most patients find it manageable. The neurologist explains each step before it happens. | WeaknessMuscle wastingALS evaluationRadiculopathy |
No test is ordered without a conversation first.
Every diagnostic decision at Synapse is made together with you. We explain what we are looking for, what we expect to find, and what the results will mean for your care — before the test is scheduled, not after.
Treat
Treatment paths laid side by side, not to overwhelm, but because knowing your options is the first step toward choosing them. Every path here begins with a conversation.
| Condition | Treatment path | Approach | Timeline | Ongoing monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Migraine | Medication management | Acute rescue medications (triptans, gepants) combined with preventive agents (topiramate, propranolol, CGRP monoclonal antibodies). Trigger mapping and lifestyle protocol. | 6–12 weeks to assess preventive efficacy | Headache diary, quarterly check-ins |
| Cluster headache | Interventional + medication | High-flow oxygen therapy, subcutaneous sumatriptan for acute attacks. Verapamil or lithium as cluster-period prophylaxis. Sphenopalatine ganglion block for refractory cases. | Acute relief within minutes; cycle prevention 2–4 weeks | Cycle tracking, cardiac monitoring if on verapamil |
| Essential tremor | Medication management | Propranolol or primidone as first-line agents. Titrated slowly to minimize fatigue and cognitive side effects. Occupational therapy referral for adaptive strategies. | 4–8 weeks per medication trial | Tremor rating scale, functional assessment |
| Parkinson's disease | Multidisciplinary care pathway | Levodopa/carbidopa as cornerstone therapy, adjusted for motor fluctuations. Physical therapy, speech therapy, and DBS referral assessment at appropriate disease stages. | Long-term — optimized at each stage | Motor diary, UPDRS scoring, medication timing log |
| Epilepsy / Seizure disorder | Anti-seizure medication ± intervention | Seizure type and syndrome classification guides medication choice (levetiracetam, lamotrigine, valproate, etc.). Drug-resistant cases evaluated for surgical candidacy or VNS. | First medication trial 3–6 months; surgical evaluation 12–18 months | Seizure log, annual EEG, medication levels |
| Peripheral neuropathy | Cause-directed treatment | Treatment targets the underlying cause (glycemic control for diabetic neuropathy, IVIG for inflammatory types). Symptomatic relief with gabapentin, duloxetine, or topical agents. | Variable — depends on reversibility of underlying cause | Nerve conduction studies, symptom scale, HbA1c if diabetic |
You have read through everything.
Now let's meet.
The first appointment is 90 minutes. No rushed decisions, no unanswered questions. Just a neurologist, your history, and the time to understand it properly.
Download our New Patient Guide
A 12-page guide explaining what to expect, what to bring, and how to describe your symptoms clearly. Yours to keep, no obligation.