Neurologist Joins NLH Team

New London Hospital has added the specialty services of a neurologist to its team of providers. A graduate of Dartmouth Medical School, Lawrence R. Jenkyn, MD completed his internship in Medicine and Residency in Neurology at the Dartmouth Affiliated Hospitals. He most recently served as Associate Professor of Medicine (Neurology) at Dartmouth Medical School.

A neurologist is a medical doctor with specialized training in diagnosing and treating disorders of the brain and nervous system. Specifically, a neurologist manages categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and muscles.

Neurologists address a wide range of issues, among them, memory disorders (dementia, Alzheimer’s disease), gait and balance disorders, Parkinson’s disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain and sciatica, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), multiple sclerosis, headaches and migraines, stroke and seizures.

Effective management of neurological conditions can be accomplished by an experienced neurologist who carefully reviews a patient’s history, conducts a thorough physical exam, recommends appropriate diagnostic procedures, and recommends medical and/or surgical treatment of confirmed conditions.

Among the many diagnostic tools available to the neurologist are MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computed tomography) scans and EMG (electromyography and nerve conduction studies).

MRI is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body. CT scans send x-ray pulses through the body and take a picture of a thin slice of the organ or area being studied. Both MRI and CT scans may be used to diagnose strokes, tumors, herniated discs and brain atrophy which can sometimes cause memory loss.

EMG measures the electrical activity of muscles in the arms, legs, and back, both at rest and while under voluntary contraction. Nerve conduction studies measure how fast and how well the nerves send electrical signals. Measuring the electrical activity in muscles and nerves can help find diseases that damage these tissues such as carpal tunnel syndrome, herniated discs, muscular dystrophy, and Lou Gehrig’s disease, to name a few.  In some circumstances, the tests are negative and reassure the patient and their provider that the nerves and muscles are functioning as they should.

Patients who feel they may benefit from a neurological consultation are advised to speak with their primary provider. Dr. Jenkyn’s New London Hospital office may be reached at 603-526-5172.

Dr. Jenkyn is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Neurology.
Click here to read more about Dr. Jenkyn.

Back to Top