They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but sometimes, the symptoms you’re experiencing require you to schedule an appointment anyway. If going is not something you’re not looking forward to, you’re not alone. Dr. Barbara Cox, a psychologist, based in San Diego, explains how this is a fairly common thing people experience. The most common reason people are afraid to see a neurologist is for fear of receiving bad news. However, not all news is extremely bad, and it’s better to get an issue resolved sooner than later, no matter how big or small it may be. At Foothills Neurology, we treat each patient with the utmost care and listen to their individual needs and concerns. Here are 3 conditions and their symptoms that let you know it’s time to schedule a visit to see a neurologist.
Severe, Continuous Headaches
Sometimes you wake up with a headache, drink some water, and get on with your day. By nightfall, the headache is mostly gone, and you feel good. Other times, you wake up with a headache, which only gets worse as time goes on. If your headache doesn’t subside within a couple of days and gets worse, there may be underlying conditions causing the pain. It’s not something that over-the-counter medicine will cure either. If you are experiencing severe vomiting or migraines in addition to your pain, then your primary doctor may refer you to a neurologist. If you are experiencing headaches like the ones described, schedule an appointment as soon as you can. Getting it checked out sooner will ease the pain and get you on your path to recovery much sooner than if you would have delayed the appointment to see a neurologist.
Chronic Pain
When the human body gets injured, it reacts and sends pain signals to the injured area. This is a normal part of the healing process for any injury. The more intense the injury, the longer the pain will last. However, for some people, this pain never goes away. When this happens, they usually suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain usually lasts longer than six months and can remain as active pain in the nervous system for months or years. Some common areas for chronic pain are back pain, headaches, arthritis, muscle strains and sprains, and repetitive stress injuries. If you notice that the pain you are experiencing has lasted for a while and you have symptoms similar to chronic pain, then plan a date to get it checked out. No one likes to be in pain, and you shouldn’t feel pain for longer than you need to.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is a lifelong disorder. It affects the brain and the spinal cord. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis include weakness, changes in vision, numbness, and tingling sensations around the body. The way a person experiences these symptoms varies. Some may experience them one at a time; some may experience them all at once. While they can vary at the beginning, they progress and worsen over time. Identifying these symptoms early and working with a neurologist to see how to handle them best is the best-case scenario for the patient. If you are experiencing these symptoms, contact a neurologist immediately.
Each of these three conditions includes symptoms that many people might gloss over, but it’s important to see if they match what you are feeling right now. If they do, give us a call or book your appointment online. We know some people may feel anxious booking an appointment with a specialist, but we are here for you. Our staff and providers are dedicated to putting you at ease throughout the entire process. We start by listening to you and then treating you with the best care and attention.