Red flags

Get help now

Call your local emergency number (999 in Malaysia and the UK, 911 in the US and Canada, 112 in the EU), or go to an emergency department, if you have:

• Chest pain or pressure, especially if it spreads to an arm, your neck, jaw or back, or comes with sweating, sickness, light-headedness or breathlessness
• Fainting during exercise
• A sudden, severe headache, or a headache with weakness, numbness, confusion, trouble speaking, loss of vision or a fit
• Back pain with numbness, tingling or weakness in both legs, numbness around your genitals or bottom, or new problems controlling your bladder or bowels
• An injury with a crack, a limb that's changed shape, numbness or tingling, or skin that's cold, blue or grey
• Severe pain after a fall or accident, especially if you can't put weight on the leg

Don't drive yourself.

Sources: S27, S28, S29, S30, S31, S35

Get seen today or tomorrow

Contact a doctor or urgent care the same day if you have:

• A pop or snap with sudden pain, bruising, weakness, or a muscle that bunches up or changes shape. Some tendon tears are best repaired within a few weeks, so don't wait to see if it settles.
• Dark, cola-coloured urine with severe muscle pain, swelling or weakness after a hard session
• A joint that's badly swollen, locks or gives way, or that you can't move or put weight on
• Pain that's sudden and very severe, or getting worse quickly
• Numbness or pins and needles in an arm or leg that won't go away
• A headache brought on by straining, coughing or exercise
• A painful bulge in your groin or belly, or a known hernia with sickness or a bloated tummy
• Any pain with a fever, or feeling hot, cold, shivery or generally unwell

Sources: S27, S28, S29, S32, S33, S34, S36, S37, S38

Book an appointment soon

See a doctor or physiotherapist in the next week or two if you have:

• pain that's worse at night or doesn't ease with rest
• pain that hasn't improved after 2–3 weeks, keeps coming back, or is getting worse
• back pain with unexplained weight loss, or pain between your shoulder blades
• a new lump or swelling, or a change in the shape of your back
• pins and needles that keep coming back
• a new bulge in your groin or belly, even if it doesn't hurt
• hip stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes after you wake up
• pain that stops you sleeping, training or doing everyday things, or that worries you

None of these means something serious for sure. Warning signs are clues, not a diagnosis. That's why a professional should check.

Sources: S27, S32, S34, S35, S36, S40