Neurosurgical knowledge hub

Information, not a diagnosis

This knowledge hub explains terms and helps you prepare for a conversation with a clinician. It does not diagnose a condition, determine suitability for surgery or replace a consultation.

Similar symptoms can have many causes. MRI or CT findings must be interpreted together with the history and neurological examination; not every imaging finding requires surgery.

Urgent symptoms — do not wait for an email

In Poland, call 112 or 999 when life or health is in immediate danger. The examples below are not a complete list.

• loss of consciousness, inability to wake, breathing difficulty or a seizure—especially a first seizure, one lasting more than 5 minutes or without recovery;
• sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, speech, vision or walking problems, or a sudden extremely severe headache;
• after a head injury: increasing drowsiness, a seizure, new weakness or numbness, walking or speech problems, or clear fluid or blood from the nose or ear;
• back pain with new numbness around the saddle area, inability to pass urine, loss of bladder or bowel control, or sudden loss of feeling or strength in a leg.
• in a person with a shunt: new severe headache, vomiting, sleepiness, fever, or redness and tenderness along the shunt require urgent contact with the treating team; altered consciousness or rapid deterioration requires 112/999.

Preparing for an appointment

Preparation can help make the conversation useful. Do not send records containing sensitive data through ordinary email unless the provider gives you a secure method.

• prepare a list of medicines and supplements, previous records and imaging;
• note when symptoms began, how often they occur and what changes them;
• ask what is known, what remains uncertain, and about the options, alternatives, risks and follow-up plan;
• make sure you understand the next step and which symptoms require urgent help.

General neurology — not neurosurgical indications

Neurology basics: patient orientation

These short explanations develop topics covered in the Polish educational material. They help organize basic concepts, but they cannot identify the cause of symptoms or determine whether surgery is appropriate.

• Grey and white matter have different roles in processing and carrying information through the nervous system. These terms alone do not explain symptoms or indicate treatment.
• Sleepwalking is a sleep-related behaviour within the broader field of sleep medicine, not a neurosurgical indication. Discuss it with a clinician if there is a risk of injury, sleep is disrupted, or other concerning symptoms occur.
• Tics are sudden, repeated movements or sounds. Their type, duration and effect on daily life require clinical assessment; educational material cannot diagnose Tourette syndrome and does not describe indications for surgery.

Instagram materials: neurology and health

The links below open original Instagram material. They also cover neurology and nervous-system basics—not every topic is a neurosurgical condition or an indication for surgery. The source material is in Polish.

Future AI-presenter explainers will be produced only in English. No synthetic Polish or Hungarian versions will be made.

Content governance

Version updated 23 August 2026. Institutional and primary sources are listed with the relevant section or full guide.