Dr. Ryan Crooks, MD is a Neurology specializing in the care of older adults. He is dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive neurological care at his clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and is committed to being a trusted partner in your senior's health journey. Dr. Crooks is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practices under Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). He understands the unique needs of seniors and proactively collaborates with primary care physicians and other healthcare providers to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Neurologists provide specialized expertise in diagnosing and managing complex neurological conditions like dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke, and neuropathy, which are frequently encountered in older adults (65 and above). Dr. Crooks, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Florida and a neurologist at the UF Health Neuroscience Institute, has extensive experience in vascular neurology, having earned his medical degree from the University of Toledo and completing his residency in neurology at the University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville. He is board-certified in neurology and vascular neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, further underscoring his expertise. Dr. Crooks is currently welcoming new patients and can be reached at (904) 383-1022 to schedule an appointment. He provides consultations primarily in English.
A cornerstone of effective senior care is a strong patient-doctor partnership. Dr. Ryan Crooks is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on holistic strategies to protect health and enhance quality of life.
Dr. Ryan Crooks is a compassionate partner in your senior's health journey, offering comprehensive neurological care with a focus on understanding each individual's unique needs. He expertly diagnoses and manages complex conditions like dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's, collaborating closely with primary care physicians and other specialists to create a personalized plan that maximizes comfort and independence.
By working together, you, your family, and Dr. Ryan Crooks can create a clear, actionable plan that respects your individual needs and healthcare goals.
Specific Plans Accepted
Cigna
Also Accepts These Carriers
- Aetna
- Ambetter
- Anthem
- Blue Card PPO
- Blue Choice HMO
- Blue Choice Option POS
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia
- CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Choice Plus POS II
- Curative
- Curative EPO
- Curative PPO
- Curative PPO Plus
- First Health
- First Health (Coventry Health Care) PPO
- HealthyBlue 2.0
- Humana
- MultiPlan
- MultiPlan PPO
- National (BlueCard) PPO
- Preferred PPO
- Select HMO
- Superior Health Plan
Effective management of health is key to well-being in later life. Dr. Ryan Crooks provides expert, compassionate care for a range of conditions common in older adults, with a focus on managing symptoms and maintaining function. Common areas of focus include:
- Cerebral Edema: Managing cerebral edema often involves careful monitoring and specific treatments aimed at reducing the swelling and supporting brain health, potentially preventing long-term disability and preserving a person's ability to live independently.
- Cluster Headache: Cluster headaches are severe, recurring headaches that cause intense pain, usually around one eye, and can significantly impact your daily life, but with proper management, you can find relief and improve your comfort.
- Hemispacial Neglect: Hemispacial neglect is a condition affecting awareness of one side of space, often after brain injury; specialized therapies can help improve their safety and ability to participate in daily life, improving overall quality of life.
- Hemiplegic Migraine: Hemiplegic migraine is a type of migraine with added neurological symptoms like weakness or paralysis on one side of the body; fortunately, medications are available to help reduce the frequency and intensity of these debilitating attacks and support your well-being.
- Transverse Myelitis: Experiencing muscle weakness, numbness, or paralysis in parts of your body might indicate transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord. Fortunately, treatments and therapies exist to reduce inflammation, manage pain, and help you regain as much function as possible.
- Myoclonus: Experiencing involuntary muscle twitches? Myoclonus might be the cause, and thankfully, there are approaches that can lessen the severity of these movements, helping maintain your daily routines.
- Confusion: While confusion can be frightening, it's important to remember that many causes are manageable, allowing seniors to maintain their cognitive function and participate more fully in life.
- Difficulty With Walking: Trouble walking can be a sign of several health issues, and understanding the cause is the first step toward finding ways to improve mobility and maintain independence.
- Seizure Disorders: Seizures are episodes of abnormal brain activity that can affect anyone, including seniors. Fortunately, treatments like medication and lifestyle changes can greatly reduce the frequency and severity of seizures, allowing for a more comfortable life.
- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition where the pressure inside your skull is too high, often causing headaches and vision problems, but thankfully, treatment can help lower this pressure and improve your comfort.
- Cervical Stenosis: Experiencing numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms or legs? It could be cervical stenosis, a narrowing in your neck's spinal canal. Treatment options are available to reduce symptoms and allow you to continue enjoying your daily activities.
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP): CIDP is a long-term nerve condition causing gradual muscle weakness; specialized therapies and ongoing medical care can help people with CIDP significantly improve their quality of life and keep active.
This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes. An accurate diagnosis and a personalized care plan can only be developed through a direct consultation with a qualified medical professional based on your specific health history.
To provide comprehensive and person-centered care, Dr. Ryan Crooks offers a range of services designed to diagnose, manage, and support the health of older adults:
- EMG (Electromyography): If you're experiencing muscle weakness or other neuromuscular symptoms, an EMG test helps determine the underlying cause, enabling effective management and improving your quality of life.
- Evoked Potential Test: To determine the extent of nerve damage and inform treatment decisions, an evoked potential test measures the electrical activity of the nervous system in response to external stimuli, crucial for managing conditions like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.
- Wada Test: This specialized test helps neurologists assess brain function before surgery, allowing for a more personalized and safer approach to treating conditions like epilepsy in older individuals.
- Dementia or Depression Screening: This screening helps assess mental health and cognitive function, enabling the development of a tailored care plan for seniors experiencing memory loss or mood changes.
- Grip and-or Muscle Group Pull Test: As part of a comprehensive neurological assessment, the grip and muscle pull test helps determine the need for assistive devices and physical therapy, improving a senior's independence.
- Evaluation and Treatment of Sleep Disorders: Addressing sleep problems is a crucial part of a comprehensive care plan for seniors, improving quality of life and potentially preventing further health decline.
- Nerve Conduction Studies: This test helps doctors diagnose nerve problems that might be causing weakness, numbness, or pain, leading to more effective management of your symptoms.
- Deep Brain Stimulation Evaluation: A deep brain stimulation (DBS) evaluation helps doctors determine if this advanced treatment is right for managing your movement problems, like those from Parkinson's disease.
- Sudoscan: This painless test assists doctors in distinguishing between different types of neuropathies, helping to tailor treatment approaches for seniors experiencing nerve pain or discomfort.
- Functional Movement Screening: By evaluating your balance, coordination, and gait, functional movement screening helps create a safer and more appropriate care plan to prevent falls and other injuries.
- Dementia Evaluation: Through a dementia evaluation, healthcare professionals can diagnose the underlying cause of memory loss and other cognitive difficulties, paving the way for effective interventions.
- ImPACT Testing: ImPACT testing assists in the diagnosis and management of mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) in older adults, providing objective data to support treatment decisions.
Service availability can change. To understand which services are appropriate for your specific health needs, please schedule a consultation to develop a personalized care plan.
All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Neurology in Florida.
Dr. Ryan Crooks is dedicated to partnering with older adults and their families to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how compassionate care can make a tangible difference in a patient's life:
- Following a neurology consultation, a senior felt a noticeable improvement in their symptoms, allowing them to resume their beloved hobby of playing the piano, a cherished part of their daily life.
- With the neurology's guidance, the senior was able to resume her beloved evening walks, a cherished activity previously disrupted by the debilitating cluster headaches. The family felt a renewed sense of peace and security knowing their loved one was experiencing significant symptom reduction.
These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results vary and depend on many factors specific to each person. He will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.
- Primary Location:
Practice
3801 E Highway 98 Ste 100100, Port St. Joe, FL, 32456
Phone: (850) 229-5752
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- HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital Port St. Lucie (Residency Hospital)
- American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Neurology)
- American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Vascular Neurology)
Here are answers to some common questions about Neurological care with Dr. Ryan Crooks:
- What is a Neurologist, and when should a senior see one?
- A neurologist is a doctor specializing in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. If you or a loved one are experiencing significant memory loss, Parkinson's disease symptoms, stroke concerns, persistent dizziness, or nerve pain, a neurologist can provide expert diagnosis and treatment.
- My parent seems confused and is forgetting things. How can Dr. Ryan Crooks help?
- Dr. Crooks specializes in evaluating memory and cognitive changes to determine the cause. He can diagnose conditions like Alzheimer's or other dementias, rule out other medical reasons, and create a comprehensive management plan to support you and your family.
- What can I expect during a neurological exam?
- During a neurological exam with Dr. Crooks, expect a series of simple, painless tests to check your strength, coordination, reflexes, balance, and memory. This helps Dr. Crooks understand how your nervous system is functioning.
- Can family members be involved in the appointments and care planning?
- Dr. Crooks welcomes family members' involvement in appointments and care planning. With the patient's permission, we find that family participation is vital, especially for neurological care, particularly when cognitive issues are present. This helps ensure everyone understands the diagnosis and treatment plan.
- How do you manage Parkinson's disease in older adults?
- Dr. Crooks and his team manage Parkinson's in older adults with a holistic approach focused on quality of life. Medications are used to address motor symptoms like tremors and stiffness. We also coordinate closely with physical and occupational therapists to improve balance, mobility, and home safety.
- What can be done for 'essential tremor'?
- Essential tremor, while bothersome, is different from Parkinson's disease. We can often manage it effectively with medications like beta-blockers or therapies, aiming to reduce the tremor and improve your ability to perform everyday tasks.
- How are chronic migraines treated in seniors?
- Dr. Crooks and his team carefully evaluate each senior's situation to identify and avoid migraine triggers. Preventive medications are often used to reduce migraine frequency, and safe rescue medications are available for when a migraine occurs. Crucially, we prioritize medications that don't interact with other prescriptions.
- Does your practice manage sleep disorders like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome?
- Dr. Crooks' practice recognizes that sleep is crucial for brain health. We evaluate and manage sleep disorders like sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome, as they frequently relate to neurological conditions and can affect daily function and well-being.
580 W 8th St # 9
Jacksonville FL 32209
Phone: (904) 383-1022
Dr. Ryan Crooks, MD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.
National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1255627667
Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.
The information on this profile, provided by infoaging.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with healthcare partners for yourself or a loved one. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Neurology like Dr. Ryan Crooks are skilled in helping seniors and their families navigate their health journey. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. Always consult with a qualified medical professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your care plan.