When to See a Neurologist
Not sure whether you need a neurologist, a family doctor or a hospital? This guide maps everyday symptoms to what they may relate to. It's general information and can't diagnose you.
Emergency
Go to a hospital now, not a clinic, if you or someone with you has:
- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side
- Sudden slurred speech, confusion or difficulty understanding
- Sudden loss of vision, double vision, or loss of balance
- A sudden, severe headache (the worst ever), or a headache with fever and stiff neck
- A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes, repeated seizures, or a first-ever seizure
- A head injury followed by vomiting, drowsiness or confusion
- Weakness spreading up the legs over hours or days, or difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Loss of bladder or bowel control with back pain, or numbness around the genitals
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Call 108 or 112, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Everyday symptoms, and what they may mean
For each: common examples, when it's worth seeing a neurologist, and the signs that mean going to a hospital instead.
| Symptom | Common examples | See a neurologist | Go to hospital if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sudden weakness | Weakness that has built up slowly over weeks, or stiffness and weakness that remain after a stroke. | For recovery care and prevention after a stroke or mini-stroke, or for slowly progressive weakness. | It came on suddenly — with face drooping, slurred speech or loss of balance. Call 108 or 112 now. |
| Headaches | Headaches on several days a month, migraines with light sensitivity or nausea, or needing painkillers often. | When headaches are frequent, affect work or sleep, are new after 50, or have changed pattern. | Sudden and severe (“worst ever”), or with fever and stiff neck, weakness, confusion or a fit. |
| Numbness / tingling | Pins and needles or burning in the feet or hands, numb fingers at night, or tingling with diabetes. | When it lasts more than a few weeks, is spreading, or comes with weakness or poor balance. | Sudden numbness on one side of the body, or weakness spreading up the legs over hours or days. |
| Fits / seizures | Brief staring spells, unexplained blackouts, jerks after waking, or a known epilepsy needing review. | After any first seizure (once the emergency is over), or if seizures continue on treatment. | A seizure lasting over 5 minutes, repeated seizures, injury, or the person not waking normally. |
| Dizziness | Room-spinning on turning in bed, light-headedness on standing, or feeling unsteady when walking. | When dizziness keeps coming back, or comes with headaches, numbness or unsteadiness. | Sudden dizziness with slurred speech, double vision, face drooping, weakness or inability to walk. |
| Memory problems | Repeating questions, misplacing things more often, missing bills or medicines, getting lost on familiar roads. | When memory changes affect daily life — some causes, like low B12 or thyroid, are treatable. | Confusion that came on suddenly over hours or days, especially with a fall, fever or weakness. |
| Tremor | Shaking hands at rest or while holding things, stiffness, slowness, or smaller handwriting. | For any new or worsening tremor, or slowness and stiffness that are affecting daily tasks. | Tremor with fever, confusion or severe stiffness after starting a new medicine. |
| Facial weakness | One side of the face drooping over a day or two, difficulty closing one eye, drink escaping from the mouth. | Within the first two to three days — early treatment and eye protection matter. | Face drooping with arm or leg weakness, slurred speech or confusion. Call 108 or 112 now. |
| Sleep problems | Trouble falling or staying asleep, loud snoring, restless legs at night, or sleepiness during the day. | When poor sleep lasts for weeks, or comes with headaches, low mood or memory problems. | Falling asleep while driving or at work — stop driving until you have been assessed. |
| Low mood / anxiety | Feeling low, worried or on edge most days for two weeks or more; panic attacks; poor sleep from stress. | Dr. Mailan K is also trained in psychiatry — mood and physical symptoms can be assessed together. | Thoughts of self-harm. Call 112, or Tele-MANAS on 14416 (free, 24 hours). |
| Back or neck pain spreading into a limb | Sciatica down the leg, or pain and tingling from the neck into the arm or hand. | When pain comes with numbness, tingling or weakness, or isn't settling after a few weeks. | Loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the genitals, or weakness in both legs. |
Neurologist, psychiatrist or family doctor?
- Family doctor
- A good first stop for most new symptoms. They treat many problems and refer you on when a specialist is needed.
- Neurologist
- A specialist in the brain, spinal cord and nerves: stroke, seizures, headaches, tremor, numbness, dizziness, memory and sleep.
- Psychiatrist
- A specialist in mood, anxiety, thinking and behaviour: depression, anxiety, panic, stress, and some sleep and memory problems.
Where Dr. Mailan K fits: trained in both neurology (DNB) and psychiatry (DPM). When symptoms overlap, like headaches with poor sleep, dizziness with anxiety, or memory problems with low mood, both sides can be assessed in one consultation. About Dr. Mailan K
Making the most of a neurology visit
You can come directly; walk-ins are welcome. Diagnosis in neurology depends heavily on the story of what happened, so a little preparation goes a long way:
- Write down when the symptoms started, how often they happen, and what makes them better or worse.
- Bring every medicine you take, in its strip or bottle, and any previous reports or scans.
- For fits, blackouts, memory or sleep problems, bring someone who has seen what happens, or a short phone video.
This guide can't cover every situation. If you are worried that something is seriously wrong, trust that feeling: call 108 or 112, or go to the nearest hospital.
This information is for general awareness and is not a substitute for a consultation. In an emergency, call 108 or 112. Read the full disclaimer.
Speak to Dr. Mailan K
Call to ask a question or book a time, or send a WhatsApp message. Walk-ins are welcome.
#125 MM Road, Frazer Town. Open Mon–Sat 10 AM–10 PM, Sun 11 AM–10 PM.