Neurology Care in Chicago
Last Updated: July 31, 2026
Neurology Care in Chicago: Conditions We Treat, Diagnostic Testing & Treatment Options
If you’re looking for neurology care in Chicago, CNS Brain Center offers comprehensive, in-house neurological evaluation, diagnostic testing, and treatment led by Dr. Lenny Cohen, MD, a board-certified neurologist with 18 years of experience. From migraines and concussion to multiple sclerosis, POTS, and neuropathy, our Chicago and River Forest locations bring diagnostics and treatment together in one place, typically with appointment availability within two to three weeks, faster than many hospital-based neurology departments. Below, we cover the conditions we treat, the diagnostic testing available on-site, and what to expect at your first visit, so you know exactly what to plan for before you come in.
What Does a Neurologist Treat?
A neurologist diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, the body’s entire nervous system. That covers a wide range of symptoms, including headaches and migraines, memory changes, seizures, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, dizziness or balance problems, and tremors. Because many of these symptoms can have more than one underlying cause, a neurologist’s evaluation typically starts with a detailed history and exam, often followed by targeted diagnostic testing to confirm what’s driving your symptoms before building a treatment plan. At CNS Brain Center, that testing and the resulting treatment plan usually happen at the same location, which is part of what sets our approach apart from a typical referral-based neurology practice.
Neurology Conditions and Specialty Care We Offer in Chicago
CNS Brain Center provides focused, in-house care across the following neurology specialty areas. Each links to a dedicated page with more detail on that specific condition.
Headache and Migraine Specialist Care
Chronic headaches and migraines are among the most common reasons patients see a neurologist, and they’re one of CNS Brain Center’s core areas of focus. Our headache specialists evaluate the type and pattern of your headaches, rule out other contributing causes, and build a treatment plan that may include oral or infusion-based preventive medication, Botox for chronic migraine, or occipital nerve blocks, depending on your history and how you’ve responded to prior treatment. Visit our headache and migraine specialist page in Chicago for a full look at our approach.
For patients whose migraines haven’t responded well to standard oral preventives, CNS Brain Center also offers infusion-based options like Vyepti and acute IV migraine cocktail therapy through our on-site infusion suite, giving your neurologist more tools to try before considering more invasive interventions.
Concussion and TBI Treatment
Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can cause symptoms ranging from headache and fogginess to balance problems and light sensitivity, and symptoms don’t always resolve on the typical timeline. CNS Brain Center evaluates concussion and post-concussive symptoms with in-house diagnostic testing and offers treatment options including hyperbaric oxygen therapy and neuro-physical therapy for patients whose symptoms are lingering. Learn more on our concussion and TBI treatment page in Chicago.
Post-concussion syndrome, where symptoms persist for weeks or months after the initial injury, is a particular focus for our team, since patients in this situation often benefit from a coordinated plan rather than a single treatment. Dr. Cohen tailors the mix of diagnostics and therapy to each patient’s specific symptom pattern.
Multiple Sclerosis Neurology Care
For patients diagnosed with or being evaluated for multiple sclerosis, CNS Brain Center offers ongoing neurology management alongside in-house infusion therapy for disease-modifying biologic treatments such as Tysabri, Briumvi, and Ocrevus. Dr. Cohen works with MS patients to monitor disease activity over time and adjust treatment as needed. Visit our multiple sclerosis neurologist page in Chicago for more on our approach to MS care.
Because ongoing MS management often includes regular imaging, infusion scheduling, and symptom monitoring, having neurology, diagnostics, and infusion therapy under one roof can simplify what is otherwise a fairly involved care routine for many MS patients.
POTS and Dysautonomia Specialist Care
POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and other forms of dysautonomia affect how the autonomic nervous system regulates heart rate, blood pressure, and other involuntary functions, often causing dizziness, fainting, and fatigue. CNS Brain Center evaluates suspected dysautonomia with in-house tilt table testing and builds individualized management plans based on the results. Learn more on our POTS and dysautonomia specialist page in Chicago.
POTS in particular can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms overlap with several other conditions, which is why having tilt table testing available on-site, rather than needing a separate referral for it, can meaningfully shorten the path to an accurate diagnosis.
Neuropathy Treatment
Neuropathy, nerve damage that can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain, often in the hands and feet, has many possible underlying causes, from diabetes to autoimmune conditions to unknown origins. CNS Brain Center diagnoses neuropathy with in-house EMG and skin biopsy testing, then builds a treatment plan that may include medication, IVIg infusion for autoimmune neuropathy, or mPNS therapy for neuropathy-related pain. Visit our neuropathy treatment page in Chicago for more detail.
Identifying the underlying cause matters because treatment can differ significantly depending on whether neuropathy is related to diabetes, an autoimmune process, or another source, which is why diagnostic testing is typically the first step before any treatment plan is finalized.
mPNS Therapy for Neuropathy Pain
mPNS (peripheral nerve stimulation) is a treatment option for patients with persistent neuropathy pain that hasn’t responded adequately to medication alone. It works by delivering targeted stimulation to specific peripheral nerves to help interrupt pain signals. CNS Brain Center offers mPNS therapy as part of a broader neuropathy pain management plan for appropriate candidates. Learn more on our mPNS therapy for neuropathy pain page in Chicago.
Because mPNS is generally considered after more conservative options haven’t provided enough relief, candidacy is determined through an in-depth evaluation of your neuropathy history, prior treatments, and pain pattern.
Neurology Diagnostic Testing in Chicago (EEG, EMG, VNG, Tilt Table)
Accurate neurology treatment starts with accurate diagnosis, which is why CNS Brain Center performs the majority of its diagnostic testing in-house rather than referring patients out. EEG (electroencephalogram) testing measures electrical activity in the brain and is commonly used to evaluate seizures and epilepsy. EMG (electromyography) and nerve conduction testing assess how well nerves and muscles are communicating, and are a key tool for diagnosing neuropathy and conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. VNG (videonystagmography) testing evaluates inner-ear and balance function for patients with vertigo or dizziness. Tilt table testing monitors how blood pressure and heart rate respond to a change in body position, and is central to diagnosing POTS and other forms of dysautonomia. Having all four tests available on-site means most patients can complete diagnostic testing and follow up on results without being referred to a separate facility.
For most patients, testing is scheduled as a follow-up to your initial evaluation once Dr. Cohen has identified which test, or combination of tests, is most likely to clarify what’s causing your symptoms. Results are then reviewed together with you at a follow-up visit, where your treatment plan is built around what the testing shows. Not every patient requires neurological testing. The specific studies recommended depend on your symptoms, medical history, and examination findings.
Meet Dr. Lenny Cohen, MD
CNS Brain Center is led by Dr. Lenny Cohen, MD, a board-certified neurologist with 18 years of experience treating patients with conditions including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS, stroke, headache, and neuropathy. After seeing the limits of a purely conventional approach during his own father’s Alzheimer’s journey, Dr. Cohen built an integrative, research-driven model of care that combines standard neurology care with evidence-based treatments, including advanced diagnostic testing, IV infusion therapies, and other individualized neurological treatments when appropriate. He leads Chicago’s only standalone medical hyperbaric center, bringing that same evidence-based, whole-patient approach to neurology care at CNS Brain Center.
What to Expect at Your First Neurology Appointment
Your first visit typically starts with a detailed conversation about your symptoms, medical history, and any prior testing or treatment you’ve already tried. Dr. Cohen will perform a neurological exam and, based on what he finds, may recommend on-site diagnostic testing such as EEG, EMG, or tilt table testing to help confirm a diagnosis. Because most testing happens in-house, many patients are able to complete diagnostics and discuss results without being referred elsewhere, which can shorten the time it takes to get from first appointment to an actual treatment plan. Plan for your first visit to run longer than a typical follow-up, since there’s more history to cover.
If your evaluation points toward a treatment that CNS Brain Center offers on-site, an infusion therapy, Botox for migraine, TMS, or physical therapy, for example, your care can often continue with the same team that diagnosed you, rather than being handed off to a different provider for treatment.
Why Patients Choose CNS Brain Center for Neurology Care in Chicago
CNS Brain Center describes itself as more than a typical neurology practice, and that’s largely a function of how much is handled in-house. Diagnostic testing, infusion therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, TMS, and physical therapy are all available at the same Chicago and River Forest locations where you see your neurologist, which means fewer referrals out to other facilities and, often, a faster path from first appointment to treatment. CNS Brain Center is also open seven days a week, making neurological care and diagnostic testing more accessible for patients with busy schedules or symptoms that shouldn’t wait several weeks for evaluation. Appointments are available at both our Chicago and River Forest locations, helping patients access neurological care without having to navigate multiple facilities.
That integrated model is a direct reflection of Dr. Cohen’s own approach to care: pairing conventional neurology with evidence-based complementary therapies, and keeping a patient’s full picture, diagnostics, treatment, and follow-up, within one coordinated team rather than scattered across multiple health systems.
When to See a Neurologist
It’s worth scheduling a neurology evaluation if you’re dealing with headaches or migraines that are worsening or not responding to over-the-counter treatment, numbness, tingling, or weakness that doesn’t resolve, dizziness or fainting episodes, memory changes, tremors, or symptoms following a head injury that haven’t fully cleared up. Many of these symptoms have relatively common, treatable causes, but a proper evaluation is the best way to find out what’s actually going on and rule out anything more serious.
Some symptoms deserve prompt attention rather than a wait-and-see approach: sudden severe headache, sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, or confusion. If you experience any of these suddenly, seek emergency care right away rather than waiting for a scheduled neurology appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need to see a neurologist?
If you're experiencing ongoing headaches, numbness, weakness, dizziness, memory changes, or symptoms following a head injury, it's reasonable to schedule a neurology evaluation. Your primary care doctor may also refer you, but a referral isn't required to schedule with CNS Brain Center.
What diagnostic testing does CNS Brain Center offer in-house?
CNS Brain Center performs EEG, EMG, and nerve conduction studies, VNG, tilt table testing, and skin biopsy on-site, along with in-house IV infusion therapy for conditions like MS and autoimmune neuropathy. Having these services in one location generally means fewer outside referrals and a faster path to a treatment plan.
What should I bring to my first neurology appointment?
Bring a list of your current medications, previous imaging or test results if available, and information about your symptoms, including when they started and how they've changed over time. This information helps your neurologist perform a thorough evaluation.
Does CNS Brain Center treat both adults and older patients?
Yes. CNS Brain Center treats a broad range of adult patients, including conditions more common later in life such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and stroke recovery, alongside conditions that often affect younger adults, like migraine, POTS, and MS.
Do I need a referral to see a neurologist at CNS Brain Center?
No referral is required. You can schedule a neurology evaluation directly with CNS Brain Center online or by phone, though you're welcome to bring records or a referral from your primary care physician if you have one.
If you're ready to talk to a neurologist in Chicago, call CNS Brain Center at 773-904-7101 or schedule an appointment online to get started. Our team can help you find the right first step, even if you're not yet sure which specialty area fits your symptoms.