M3 looking for some advice

[Ilovelamp]

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Hello
I am an M3 and I am extremely interested in neurology but unfortunately I enjoy procedures. I was thinking neurosurgery but the lifestyle is bad. So I want to do a subspecialty in neuro where I can do procedures and still have a life. How is the lifestyle for interventional or endovascular neuro? How about pain and movement disorders? Also now with deep brain stimulation are neurologists specializing in movement disorders able to do more? And lastly since I have quite a bit of debt which subspecialties pay well and still let you have a life?
Any response will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Head]

As you state, there aren't many procedure based subspecialties in Neurology. The big one is neuro-interventional. Their life style isn't nearly as good as a general neurologist, as they often have cases in the middle of the night. That said, this is highly dependent on the volume at their particular hospital. At a private hospital where I work in a major city I would guess they only do around 3 emergent cases per week. They will typically be on call for a couple of weeks at a time, so if things get busy they're not getting much sleep. Keep in mind they're also making more money than a general neurologist.

Neurologists do not perform DBS surgery. They make adjustments to the settings on the device, but implantation is only performed by Neurosurgeons. I don't see that changing ever given the complexity of implantation.

Pain is a subspecialty where you would do many procedures. This field is dominated by the anesthesiologists. I think it is ripe for Neurologists to get more involved, but it is more difficult for neurologists to get those fellowships. Many headache specialists do a great deal of botox and other injections, but it dims in comparison to an actual pain specialist. Pain specialists are also compensated very well. That said, they have to deal with hundreds of patients with chronic pain. More power to them in my opinion.

If you are thinking private practice you would have no problem paying off your loans even as a general neurologist. I would not let this factor into your decision unless you are thinking academics.

 

[95439]

Hello
I am an M3 and I am extremely interested in neurology but unfortunately I enjoy procedures. I was thinking neurosurgery but the lifestyle is bad. So I want to do a subspecialty in neuro where I can do procedures and still have a life. How is the lifestyle for interventional or endovascular neuro? How about pain and movement disorders? Also now with deep brain stimulation are neurologists specializing in movement disorders able to do more? And lastly since I have quite a bit of debt which subspecialties pay well and still let you have a life?
Any response will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Neurophysiology - EMG's and EEG's. Lots of procedures and readings there and it pays well (supposedly) to do them.

 

[undecided3yr]

Dont forget about neurointensive care. As an intensivist, you manage intracranial hemorrhages, large strokes, SAH, status, as well as perioperative assistance with the neurosurgeons. Plenty of ICU type procedures such as lines, intubations/extubations, bedside trachs. Lifestyle is better than neurosurg.

 

[Ilovelamp]

Thanks for the responses. I was thinking Intensive care or interventional/endovascular. They seem to be competitive fellowships but I am not too worried about that. How are work hours after fellowship?