Neurology at Viva Medical Center is the diagnosis and long-term management of conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles — delivered from our office in Doral, FL. We see adults across Miami-Dade for migraine and chronic headache, peripheral neuropathy, dizziness and vertigo, seizure disorders, post-stroke care, tremor and movement disorders, memory concerns and cognitive decline, and complex chronic pain. About 1 in 6 US adults experiences a severe headache or migraine each year (CDC, National Health Interview Survey 2022), and roughly 20 million Americans live with some form of peripheral neuropathy according to the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke — these are not rare problems, and they deserve real diagnostic depth, not a five-minute primary care drive-by. Our neurology team coordinates imaging review (MRI, CT, EEG), nerve studies, lab work, and specialist referrals under one bilingual roof. We accept Aetna, Oscar Health, Humana, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage for neurology visits, and we welcome second-opinion patients. Whether you are newly symptomatic or have been chasing a diagnosis for years, we offer a structured workup, an explainable plan, and a clinician who actually returns your messages.
Comprehensive Neurological Evaluation & Care
Accurate neurological care starts with a thorough evaluation — not pattern-matching on a single symptom. We use modern imaging, neurophysiological tools, and structured history-taking to build a complete picture before treatment begins. A typical new-patient neurology visit at our Doral, FL clinic is scheduled for 60 minutes and includes a focused neurological exam (cranial nerves, motor and sensory testing, reflexes, coordination, gait), a review of any existing MRI/CT/EEG studies you bring with you, and a written care plan you can take home:
- Interpretation of MRI, CT scans, and EEG results from your existing imaging studies — second-opinion reads welcome
- Neurophysiological assessments and monitoring (EMG/NCS referrals for nerve conduction)
- Customized treatment plans built around your medical history, lifestyle, and goals
- Medication management — adjusting preventive and abortive therapies based on your response and side-effect profile
- Specialist coordination with neurosurgeons, pain medicine specialists, physical therapists, and rehabilitation providers in Miami-Dade
- Cognitive screening (MoCA, MMSE) for memory complaints — with structured follow-up if abnormal
Neurological Conditions We Treat in Doral, FL
We provide targeted, evidence-based care across a broad range of neurological conditions. Our approach follows guidance from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS):
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders — comprehensive management with anticonvulsant therapy, seizure tracking, and safety planning to improve seizure control and daily independence
- Parkinson's disease — supportive therapies, dopaminergic medication adjustment, and physical therapy referrals to preserve movement, balance, and quality of life
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) — disease-modifying therapy coordination, symptom management, and relapse-frequency reduction in partnership with MS specialists
- Stroke and cerebrovascular disorders — post-stroke care, secondary prevention, blood pressure and lipid optimization, and rehabilitation coordination
- Migraines and chronic headaches — preventive and abortive treatment, trigger identification, and advanced options including CGRP-targeted preventive therapies and onabotulinum injections for patients who haven't responded to first-line treatment
- Peripheral neuropathy and nerve damage — diagnostic workup (EMG/NCS, labs for B12, glucose, autoimmune markers), and symptom management
- Dementia and cognitive decline — evaluation, dementia subtype differentiation, planning, and family support
- Tremor, balance disorders, and movement conditions — essential tremor, dystonia, restless legs syndrome
- Dizziness and vertigo — including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, and central causes that warrant imaging
Migraine Care — Beyond "Just Take Something for It"
Migraine is the second leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide (Global Burden of Disease 2019), and yet most patients are still treated as if it were a glorified tension headache. Our migraine care follows the American Academy of Neurology and American Headache Society 2021 guidelines — start with a real diagnosis, then build a layered plan:
- Headache history and diary review — frequency, duration, location, associated symptoms, triggers, and prior treatment response
- Differential diagnosis — distinguishing migraine from tension-type headache, cluster headache, medication-overuse headache, and secondary causes that need imaging
- Acute (abortive) therapy — triptans, NSAIDs, antiemetics, and newer abortive options matched to your pattern and comorbidities
- Preventive therapy when migraines occur 4+ days/month — beta-blockers, antihypertensives, CGRP monoclonal antibodies, anticonvulsant preventive medications, or onabotulinum injections per AAN/AHS criteria
- Lifestyle and behavioral interventions — sleep regularization, hydration, caffeine tapering, trigger journaling, and stress-reduction referrals (proven to lower frequency by ~30% per Cochrane reviews)
- Red-flag screening — sudden severe headache, new headache after age 50, neurologic deficit, or systemic symptoms get same-week imaging and escalation
Surgical Neurology — Minimally Invasive Approaches
For conditions requiring surgical intervention, our team coordinates with neurosurgeons and spine specialists. We offer evaluation and referral for both traditional and minimally invasive approaches with faster recovery times:
- Peripheral nerve procedures — carpal tunnel release and trauma-related nerve repair referral
- Brain tumor evaluation and referral for surgical management
- Herniated disc and spinal stenosis surgical evaluation
- Spinal deformity correction referral
- Minimally invasive spine surgery coordination — smaller incisions, faster recovery, less pain
Chronic Pain Management
Chronic pain is one of the most undertreated conditions in South Florida and one of the most life-altering. According to the CDC (2023), an estimated 21% of US adults live with chronic pain and 7% with high-impact chronic pain. We take it seriously and we treat function, not just pain scores:
- Chronic back and neck pain — comprehensive evaluation and multimodal treatment (medication, physical therapy, injections, behavioral support)
- Joint and musculoskeletal pain management
- Nerve block and targeted injection therapy referrals
- Non-opioid pain management strategies — anticonvulsant nerve-pain medications, topical agents, and behavioral therapies before opioids are considered, in line with CDC 2022 opioid prescribing guidance
- Rehabilitation program coordination for post-surgical and post-injury recovery
- Fibromyalgia and widespread pain syndrome management — evidence-based pharmacologic and exercise-based protocols
Diagnostic Workup — Tests We Order and Why
Patients often want to know what to expect from their neurology evaluation. Here is a typical diagnostic toolkit and what each test answers:
- MRI of the brain or spine — gold-standard imaging for structural causes (tumor, demyelination, stroke, herniated disc). We coordinate prior authorization with your insurance
- CT scan — faster than MRI, used for suspected acute bleed or in patients who cannot have MRI
- EEG (electroencephalogram) — measures brain electrical activity, ordered for suspected seizure or unexplained episodes of altered awareness
- EMG/NCS (electromyography / nerve conduction study) — referred out to a peripheral nerve lab for suspected neuropathy, radiculopathy, or carpal tunnel
- Blood work — B12, folate, thyroid function, autoimmune markers, blood glucose, and HbA1c when neuropathy or cognitive change is in the differential
- Cognitive testing — MoCA or MMSE in office; formal neuropsychological testing referral when needed
Focused on Function, Not Just Symptom Relief
Our goal isn't just to reduce your pain score on a chart. We measure success by how well you're actually living — work, sleep, relationships, hobbies:
- Return-to-daily-function planning as a primary treatment goal
- Physical and occupational therapy referrals in Miami-Dade
- Long-term neurological support and follow-up care — typical follow-up cadence is 4-12 weeks depending on diagnosis
- Mental health coordination — chronic pain and neurological conditions frequently overlap with anxiety and depression, and addressing both improves outcomes
- Bilingual communication — English and Spanish, so nothing about your diagnosis or medications is ever lost in translation
Sources
- American Academy of Neurology (AAN) — Patient and Caregiver Resources — American Academy of Neurology
- NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) — Disorders A-Z — National Institutes of Health
- Migraine and Severe Headache in US Adults — National Health Interview Survey 2022 — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Chronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2019-2021 (MMWR 2023) — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- AAN/AHS 2021 Guideline Update — Preventive Treatment of Migraine — American Academy of Neurology / American Headache Society
- CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain — 2022 — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a neurologist instead of my primary care doctor?
See a neurologist when symptoms are recurring, worsening, or affecting daily function — frequent migraines (4+ days/month), persistent numbness or tingling, unexplained dizziness, memory problems, seizures or spells of altered awareness, tremor, gait or balance changes, or chronic head/back pain that hasn't responded to initial treatment. Per the American Academy of Neurology, red flags requiring same-week neurology evaluation include sudden severe headache, new headache after age 50, neurologic deficit (weakness, numbness on one side), vision loss, or a first-time seizure. Your primary care doctor can also refer you, but PPO patients can usually self-refer.
What conditions does Viva Medical Center treat in Doral, FL?
Our neurology services address migraines and chronic headaches, peripheral neuropathy, dizziness and vertigo (including BPPV), memory concerns and cognitive decline, seizure disorders, post-stroke care, Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, multiple sclerosis follow-up, chronic back and neck pain, and complex chronic pain syndromes. We work with subspecialty neurologists for cases requiring advanced procedures (deep brain stimulation, intrathecal therapy, surgical evaluation).
What treatment options are available for chronic migraine?
Treatment is layered. Acute (abortive) options include triptans, NSAIDs, antiemetics, and newer abortive therapies — taken at the first sign of migraine. Preventive options, used when migraines occur 4+ days/month, include beta-blockers, certain antihypertensives, anticonvulsant preventive medications, CGRP monoclonal antibodies (a newer class with strong evidence per AAN/AHS 2021 guidelines), and onabotulinum injections for chronic migraine (15+ headache days/month). Lifestyle interventions — regular sleep, hydration, trigger journaling, stress reduction — reduce frequency by about 30% in controlled studies. Most patients need a combination, adjusted over 8-12 weeks.
How is peripheral neuropathy diagnosed and managed?
Diagnosis starts with a focused exam (sensation, reflexes, strength) plus lab work to find treatable causes — B12 deficiency, uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, and certain medications can all cause neuropathy. EMG and nerve conduction study (NCS) confirm the diagnosis and define the pattern (length-dependent, focal, demyelinating). Management has two arms: treat the underlying cause if found (tight glucose control, B12 repletion, immune-modulating therapy) and treat symptoms — anticonvulsant nerve-pain medications, certain antidepressants approved for nerve pain, topical agents, and physical therapy. Per NINDS, about 20 million Americans have peripheral neuropathy, so this is common ground for us.
What tests does a neurologist run during an evaluation?
The neurology exam itself — cranial nerves, motor and sensory testing, reflexes, coordination, gait — is the core diagnostic tool. From there, common tests include MRI (for suspected stroke, tumor, demyelination, herniated disc), CT (faster, for suspected acute bleed), EEG (for suspected seizure activity), EMG and nerve conduction studies (for neuropathy or radiculopathy), and targeted blood work (B12, thyroid, autoimmune markers, glucose, HbA1c). We only order what your symptoms justify — no shotgun panels.
I have vertigo — what's causing it and how is it treated?
Most vertigo is peripheral (inner ear) rather than central (brain). The most common cause is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), triggered by head position changes and treated with simple bedside repositioning maneuvers (Epley) that often resolve symptoms in one visit. Other causes include vestibular neuritis (viral inner ear inflammation, treated supportively over 2-6 weeks), Meniere's disease, and rarely central causes like stroke or MS — these warrant urgent imaging. We perform bedside vestibular testing, prescribe a brief course of vestibular suppressants if needed, and refer to vestibular physical therapy for persistent imbalance.
How do you interpret an MRI or EEG that another clinic ordered?
Bring the imaging on a CD or via a patient portal share, plus the official radiology report. We review the actual images, not just the report — radiology reports are written for clinicians and often note 'incidental findings' that need a neurologist to put into clinical context. We will tell you what the imaging shows, what it does not show, whether additional sequences or follow-up imaging is warranted, and how it fits with your symptoms. Second-opinion reads are a core part of our practice.
Do you welcome second-opinion patients?
Yes — actively. About a quarter of our new neurology visits are second opinions, often for chronic migraine, neuropathy of unclear cause, or a recent MRI finding that wasn't fully explained. Bring your prior records, imaging, lab results, and the treatments you've already tried. A good second opinion either confirms the prior plan (which is reassuring) or finds something that was missed — either way, you leave with a clearer path forward.
Do I need a referral, and what insurance do you accept?
For PPO insurance plans, you can typically schedule directly without a referral. HMO plan holders will generally need a PCP referral. Our primary care physicians at Viva Medical Center can provide the referral if needed, keeping your care coordinated under one roof. We accept Aetna, Oscar Health, Humana, Cigna PPO, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage. Call +1 305 209 0001 to verify your specific plan.
Do you offer bilingual neurology care in Spanish?
Yes. All neurology visits are available in English or Spanish — including the exam, the patient-education portion, written care plans, and after-visit messaging through the patient portal. For neurological conditions where precise symptom description matters (vertigo character, headache quality, cognitive complaints), language matching changes diagnostic accuracy, not just comfort.