Category Archives: Neurosurgery

Main Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

A blow, bump, or jolt to the head can bruise the brain, stretch its fibers, or cause bleeding. Symptoms range from “I just got my bell rung” to life-threatening emergencies, so knowing what to watch for keeps you safe.

Mild injuries (concussions) often cause a brief headache, dizziness, or “seeing stars.” You might feel foggy, slow to answer questions, or nauseated right after the hit. Memory of the event can be hazy, and lights or noise may bother you for hours or days. Sleep can be restless, mood may swing, and concentration on school or work tasks feels harder.

Moderate to severe injuries add warning signs: repeated vomiting, worsening headache that won’t ease with rest or usual painkillers, one pupil larger than the other, or clear fluid dripping from the nose or ears. Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, slurred speech, or increasing confusion signal the brain is under pressure. Seizures, passing out for more than a minute, or agitation and combativeness are red flags. In babies, look for a bulging soft spot, constant crying, or refusal to eat.

When any of these red-flag signs appear—especially symptoms that worsen instead of improving—call 911 right away. Rest, observation, and sometimes surgery are needed to protect the brain.

Injury level	Common symptoms	Red flags
Mild (concussion)	Headache, dizziness, “seeing stars,” foggy thinking, nausea, light/sound bother	Worsening headache, repeated vomiting, seizures, unequal pupils, clear fluid from nose/ears, arm/leg weakness, slurred speech, passing out >1 min, agitation
Moderate/severe	Same as mild plus longer confusion, memory loss, brief loss of consciousness	Any symptom that gets worse, seizures, coma, agitation, limb weakness

Main Symptoms of Brain Aneurysm

A brain aneurysm is a weak spot in an artery wall that balloons outward. Most live quietly for years, but when one leaks or bursts it becomes a medical emergency. Knowing the warning signs can save your life.

Un-ruptured aneurysms usually cause no symptoms at all. If the sac pushes on nearby nerves you may notice new daily headaches, a droopy eyelid, double vision, or pain behind the eye. These clues are easy to blame on fatigue or allergies, so they’re often missed.

A leak typically starts with a sudden, severe headache—patients call it the worst headache of their life. It may last minutes to hours and can fade, but the real bleed often follows within days. When the aneurysm ruptures, the headache is explosive, instantaneous, and paired with nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck. Light hurts, you may faint or seize, and any movement makes the pain worse. Quick medical care is critical; call 911 if you or someone around you develops this thunder-clap headache.

Stage	Common Signs
Silent	No symptoms, found by chance on scan
Pressure effect	Daily dull headache, droopy lid, double vision, eye pain
Warning leak	Sudden severe headache that peaks in seconds, may clear
Rupture	Explosive worst-ever headache, vomiting, stiff neck, light bother, faint/seizure

Main Symptoms of Glioma

A glioma is a brain tumor that starts in the glue-like cells that hold nerve cells together. Because these cells are spread throughout the brain, symptoms depend on where the tumor is growing and how fast. Most people notice gradual changes, but sometimes the signs appear suddenly.

Headaches are the most common complaint. They often feel dull and steady, and they may be worse in the morning or when you bend over. Seizures are another key warning—shaking, staring, or blacking out for no reason. If the tumor is pressing on the movement area, one arm or leg may feel weak or clumsy. Vision can blur or double, and you might bump into doorframes because your side sight is fading. Speech may become slurred or slow, and you might grope for words. Personality or memory changes—such as feeling foggy, irritable, or forgetful—can be subtle early clues. Some people feel off-balance or dizzy, especially if the tumor sits near the balance center. If the glioma grows very large, nausea and vomiting may appear as pressure builds inside the skull.

Because these changes can be blamed on stress, aging, or lack of sleep, many people wait too long to get checked. Any new headache with seizures, weakness, vision problems, or personality changes that linger for weeks should be evaluated with brain imaging.

Symptom	What you might notice
Headache	Dull, steady, worse in morning or when bending over
Seizures	New shaking, staring, or blackout episodes
Weakness	One arm or leg feels clumsy or heavy
Vision	Blurry or double, side vision fading
Speech	Slurred, slow, or groping for words
Personality/memory	Foggy, irritable, forgetful
Balance	Dizzy, unsteady, bumping into walls
Pressure signs	Nausea, vomiting if tumor very large

Main Symptoms of Brain Tumors

A brain tumor is any abnormal growth of cells inside the skull. Because the brain controls so many functions, the first clues can show up almost anywhere in the body. Symptoms usually start mild and build over weeks to months, but they can also appear suddenly if the tumor bleeds or blocks fluid flow.

The most common early sign is a new headache that does not feel like your usual headaches. It is often dull, steady, and worse in the morning or when you bend over. Vision may blur or double, and you might find yourself bumping into doorframes because your side vision is fading. Hearing changes, ringing in one ear, or feeling off-balance can happen if the tumor sits near the hearing or balance centers. Many people notice arm or leg weakness, numbness, or trouble finding the right words. Seizures that start out of nowhere—shaking, staring, or blacking out—are another red flag. Mood or memory shifts, such as feeling foggy, irritable, or forgetful, can be subtle early clues. If the tumor grows very large, nausea and vomiting may appear as pressure builds inside the skull.

Because these changes can be blamed on stress, aging, or lack of sleep, many people wait too long to get checked. Any new headache with vision, hearing, strength, or personality changes that linger for weeks should be evaluated with brain imaging.

Symptom area	What you might notice
Headache	Dull, steady, worse in morning or when bending over
Vision	Blurry or double, side vision fading
Hearing/balance	Ringing in one ear, feeling unsteady
Strength/speech	Arm or leg weak, numb, words hard to find
Seizure	New shaking, staring, or blackout episode
Mood/memory	Foggy, irritable, forgetful
Pressure signs	Nausea, vomiting if tumor very large

Main Symptoms of Meningioma

A meningioma is a slow-growing tumor that forms in the lining covering the brain and spinal cord. Because it creeps along quietly, symptoms often show up only when the tumor pushes on nearby nerves or brain tissue. The exact signs depend on where the tumor sits and how big it gets.

The most common complaints are new headaches that don’t feel like your usual ones—steady, dull, and often worse in the morning. Vision may blur or double; you might notice frequent bumps into door frames because your side vision is fading. Hearing changes, ringing in one ear, or feeling off-balance can happen if the tumor sits near the hearing nerve. Some people have arm or leg weakness, numbness, or trouble finding words. Seizures that start out of nowhere are another red flag. Mood or memory shifts—such as feeling foggy, irritable, or forgetful—can be subtle early clues. If the tumor grows very large, nausea and vomiting may appear as pressure builds inside the skull.

Because these tumors grow slowly, many people blame stress or aging at first. Any new headache with vision, hearing, strength, or personality changes that linger for weeks should be checked with brain imaging.

Symptom area	What you might notice
Headache	Steady, worse in morning, not like usual migraines
Vision	Blurry or double, side vision fading
Hearing/balance	Ringing in one ear, feeling unsteady
Strength/speech	Arm or leg weak, numb, words hard to find
Seizure	New shaking or blackout episode
Mood/memory	Foggy, irritable, forgetful
Pressure signs	Nausea, vomiting if tumor very large

Main Symptoms of Cerebral Hemorrhage

A cerebral hemorrhage—often called a “bleeding stroke”—happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and spills blood into the surrounding tissue. Brain cells are damaged by the pressure of the clot and by the loss of normal blood flow. Symptoms usually start without warning and get worse within minutes to hours.

The classic first sign is a sudden, severe headache that most people describe as the worst they have ever felt. Nausea and vomiting often follow. Weakness or numbness on one side of the body is common: the face may droop, the arm may drift downward, or the leg may give way. Speech can become slurred or absent, and the person may seem confused or unable to understand simple questions. Vision may blur or disappear in one eye, and many victims feel dizzy or lose their balance. As the blood clot expands, drowsiness increases; the person may become difficult to awaken or completely lose consciousness. Seizures can occur if the bleeding irritates the brain’s electrical pathways. High blood pressure is often present and can make the bleeding continue.

Because every minute counts, call emergency services as soon as any of these signs appear. Rapid blood-pressure control and possible surgery can limit brain damage and save lives.

Symptom	What it looks or feels like
Sudden severe headache	“Worst headache of my life,” comes on in seconds
Nausea/vomiting	Often follows the headache
One-sided weakness	Face droop, arm or leg won’t move
Speech trouble	Slurred words, can’t speak, or doesn’t understand
Vision loss	Blurry or blackout in one eye
Dizziness/balance loss	Stumbling, can’t stand straight
Drowsiness/coma	Gets sleepy, hard to wake, or passes out
Seizure	Jerking movements, loss of control

Main Symptoms of Moyamoya Disease

Moyamoya disease is a rare condition in which the large arteries at the base of the brain slowly narrow, forcing tiny backup vessels to develop. These smaller vessels look like a “puff of smoke” on imaging, but they cannot carry enough blood, so the brain is starved of oxygen. Symptoms often start in childhood or early adulthood and can build up gradually or appear suddenly.

The earliest warning is usually repeated transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)—brief episodes of weakness, numbness, or trouble speaking that resolve within minutes to hours. Children may complain of a sudden weak arm or leg, slurred speech, or an odd facial droop that goes away quickly. Seizures are also common in kids and may be the first sign. Adults more often experience a full-blown ischemic stroke, with one-sided weakness, language problems, or vision loss that lasts longer than 24 hours. Headaches, especially migraine-like pain with flashing lights, can occur before or after attacks. Some people feel dizzy, have trouble balancing, or notice brief episodes of blurred or double vision.

When the tiny collateral vessels leak or rupture, bleeding into the brain can cause sudden severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, or loss of consciousness. Because symptoms come and go early on, many patients are not evaluated until a major stroke or bleed occurs. Any repeated, unexplained neurologic event—especially in a young person—should prompt imaging of the brain vessels.

Symptom	Typical Presentation
TIAs	Sudden arm/leg weakness, facial droop, slurred speech—resolves in minutes
Seizures	New-onset convulsions, more common in children
Ischemic stroke	One-sided weakness, language or vision loss lasting >24 hours
Headaches	Migraine-like pain, flashing lights, or pressure
Balance/vision	Dizziness, double vision, brief blurring
Brain bleed	Sudden severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, loss of consciousness

Main Symptoms of Brachial Plexus Injury

A brachial plexus injury is damage to the bundle of nerves that travel from the neck into the arm. These nerves control shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand movement, so even a mild stretch can cause noticeable problems. Symptoms depend on where and how badly the nerves are pulled, torn, or compressed.

The most common first sign is sudden weakness or a “dead” feeling in the arm right after an accident—like a car crash, football tackle, or hard fall. The arm may hang limp at the side, and lifting the shoulder or bending the elbow feels impossible. Sharp burning pain often shoots from the neck down into the hand, followed by numbness or pins-and-needles in the fingers. If only the upper nerves are stretched, the arm stays straight and the wrist flops down (called Erb’s palsy); if the lower nerves are hurt, the hand and fingers curl inward and the shoulder still works (called Klumpke’s palsy). Complete injuries leave the entire arm floppy, pale, and cold because blood vessel signals are also interrupted.

Over time, muscles shrink, the shoulder blade sticks out, and joints become stiff. Some people regain strength within weeks; others need surgery and months of therapy. Any lingering weakness, loss of feeling, or change in hand color after a neck or shoulder injury should be checked quickly—the sooner treatment starts, the better the recovery.

Symptom	What You May Notice
Sudden arm weakness	Arm hangs limp, can’t lift shoulder or bend elbow
Burning pain	Sharp ache from neck into hand
Numbness/tingling	Pins-and-needles or no feeling in fingers
Partial patterns	Upper nerve injury—straight arm, floppy wrist; lower nerve injury—curled hand, working shoulder
Complete injury	Whole arm limp, pale, cold; no movement
Long-term changes	Muscle wasting, winging shoulder blade, stiff joints

Main Symptoms of Cerebral Infarction

Cerebral infarction is the medical name for what most people call an “ischemic stroke.” It happens when a clot or other blockage shuts off blood flow to part of the brain. The signs can pop up without warning and usually reach their worst within minutes to a few hours.

The classic warning is sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body. One side of the face may droop, the arm may drift downward, or the leg may feel heavy or “dead.” Speech often becomes slurred or garbled; some people can’t find the right words or understand simple sentences. Vision can blur or go black in one eye, and many folks feel dizzy or unsteady, as if they’re drunk. A mild headache may appear, but severe head pain is uncommon. Sudden confusion, trouble walking, or loss of balance—like stumbling or dragging a foot—are other key clues. In serious cases, the person may pass out or have a seizure.

Time lost is brain lost. If any of these signs show up, call 911 right away. Fast treatment can reopen the vessel and limit permanent damage.

Symptom	What it feels or looks like
Face droop	One-sided smile weakness
Arm drift	Can’t keep arm raised
Leg weakness	Heavy, stumbling gait
Speech trouble	Slurred, wrong words, or can’t speak
Vision loss	Blurry or black in one eye
Balance loss	Dizzy, unsteady, dragging foot
Headache	Mild steady ache, not severe
Confusion	Sudden trouble thinking or understanding

Main Symptoms of Cerebral Thrombosis

Cerebral thrombosis is a type of stroke that happens when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain. The signs usually start without warning and get worse over minutes to hours. Knowing what to look for can help you act fast and limit brain damage.

The most common first clue is sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body—face, arm, or leg. Your smile may droop, or you may not be able to lift one hand. Speech can become slurred or jumbled; some people lose the ability to speak at all. Vision may blur or disappear in one eye, and you might feel dizzy or off balance, as if the room is spinning.

Headache is usually mild or absent, but some people feel a dull, steady ache that feels different from their usual headaches. Sudden confusion, trouble understanding others, or difficulty walking—like dragging one foot or stumbling—are other red flags. In severe cases, you may lose consciousness or have a seizure.

Time matters: if any of these signs appear, call emergency services right away. Quick treatment can open the blocked vessel and save brain cells.

Symptom	What it feels like
Weakness/numbness	One-sided face droop, arm or leg won’t move
Speech problems	Slurred words, can’t talk, or doesn’t make sense
Vision loss	Blurry sight or blackout in one eye
Balance issues	Dizzy, stumbling, dragging one foot
Headache	Mild steady ache, not the usual migraine
Confusion	Sudden trouble thinking or understanding others

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Category Archives: Neurosurgery

Main Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

Main Symptoms of Brain Aneurysm

Main Symptoms of Glioma

Main Symptoms of Brain Tumors

Main Symptoms of Meningioma

Main Symptoms of Cerebral Hemorrhage

Main Symptoms of Moyamoya Disease

Main Symptoms of Brachial Plexus Injury

Main Symptoms of Cerebral Infarction

Main Symptoms of Cerebral Thrombosis

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