Brain emergencies
- Sudden weakness or numbness
- Difficulty speaking or understanding language
- Sudden vision loss or double vision
- Sudden severe new type headache
- Loss of consciousness or fainting
- New seizure
- Confusion, extreme drowsiness, difficulty waking
- Sudden trouble walking, balance issues, severe dizziness
- Head injury with worsening headache, vomiting, confusion, sleepiness, or any of the above.
Spine emergencies
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Numbness in the groin or “saddle” area
- Rapidly worsening weakness
- Sudden inability to walk
- Severe neck or back pain, particularly after trauma
- Fever with sever back or neck pain
- Severe positional headache
After surgery
- Fever > 101.5 degree F
- Severe wound issue (dehiscence, foul drainage)
- Severe pain not controlled by pain medication
- New weakness, numbness, tingling
- Difficulty breathing, chest pain, or severe calf pain
- Severe headache, confusion, sleepiness
If you are unsure and you have rapidly worsening, severe, or alarming symptoms, it is safest to seek emergency evaluation!
For life threatening symptoms – Call 911 IMMEDIATELY.
Disclaimer: This information is education only and is not a substitute for direct medical advice or emergency care.