Signs you might need to see a neurologist

Neurological conditions can affect us in a variety of ways. Some conditions can be chronic, while others serious and even life threatening. Here are some symptoms you may need to talk to a neurologist about.

Headaches

Headaches are generally benign, including migraine and tension-type headaches. Seek care more urgently if you have a sudden onset of severe headaches or a dramatic change in the pattern or characteristics of your headaches. 

Imbalance

There is a very long list of causes of imbalance, some of which are not neurological. Neurological causes of imbalance include neuropathy (nerve damage), spinal cord problems or brain injury. Sudden onset of imbalance could be a sign of a stroke.

Muscle weakness

Sudden weakness, particularly affecting one side of the body, could be a symptom of stroke. General muscle weakness (widespread or whole body) that is chronic is less likely to be caused by a brain problem.  

Numbness or tingling

Sudden onset of numbness or tingling could be a symptom of an emergent condition, such as stroke. However, chronic or slowly worsening numbness or tingling is unlikely urgent and could be from pinched nerves or nerve damage (neuropathy). 

Seizures

Abnormal electrical activity causes seizures in the brain and can present in many ways, including involuntary shaking, tongue biting and loss of bladder control with or without changes in consciousness. 

Speech changes

A sudden change in speech, called aphasia, is often a sign of a stroke. If you suddenly cannot speak or understand language, call 911.

Tremors

Tremor, defined as involuntary shaking of a part of the body, could be from certain brain conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor. There is also a long list of medications that can cause a tremor as a side effect, which is referred to as a medication-induced tremor.

Vision changes

Sudden loss of vision affecting one eye, or one part of your visual field, is a common presenting symptom of stroke. Chronic vision issues are more likely to be caused by eye dysfunction (cataracts, etc.) rather than a problem with the brain.

Visit with your primary care provider to determine if you need to see a neurologist about any of the signs above. At MercyOne, our neurology experts can identify the issue and create a personalized treatment plan to help you get back to living your best life.