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A Life-Threatening Headache:

Interventional Neuroradiology at Halifax Health Saves Patient with Rare Illness

Steven Yaworski didn’t realize a headache would turn out to be a lifethreatening illness until the day he was rushed to the hospital. “I had the headache for about a week and it kept getting worse,” said Yaworski, a carpenter from DeLand. “Then one day I passed out at home and my 16-year-old son called 911.”

Yaworski spent six days unconscious before he woke up at Halifax Health Medical Center. “For several days after waking up I couldn’t move much of my body,” he recalled. “I was scared.”

Quick and Accurate Diagnosis

Interventional neuroradiologist David Turetsky, MD, diagnosed Yaworski with dural sinus thrombosis, a rare condition that resembles a stroke. The dural sinuses are channels in the skull that receive blood from the brain and drain it back to the heart.

“The problem occurs when the brain continues to receive blood but is not draining because of a blockage in these channels. This causes increased pressure and swelling in the brain,” said Dr. Turetsky. “Treatment for blockages often means using blood-thinning medications, but in Steven’s case the swelling was so severe that we couldn’t wait for intravenous medicine alone to solve the problem.”

Three-Part Treatment

Dr. Turetsky’s approach involved three steps:

1. Creating a channel to restore blood flow
2. Dissolving the blood clots using medication
3. Repairing the dural sinuses with surgery

The treatment was a success. “I just woke up one morning feeling like my old self,” Yaworski recalled. “I could feed myself and get up and walk. And I continue to get better every day.” He added, “The staff took really good care of me and as for Dr. Turetsky — what do you say about the man who saved your life? He’s a phenomenal doctor.”

Warning Signs of Brain or Spinal Disorders

Symptoms of brain or spinal problems that result from major accidents, such as car crashes, happen quickly. But many brain or spinal disorders aren’t so obvious. Symptoms may appear slowly or build over time, making it hard for you to realize what’s wrong.

That’s why it’s important to see a neurologist if you have any of the following warning signs:

• Head, neck or back pain that just won’t go away
• Headaches that are longer-lasting, more frequent or more intense
• Nausea or vomiting
• Changes in vision or hearing, such as blurred vision or ringing in the ears
• Difficulty speaking, thinking or remembering
• Sleeping more often, or having trouble falling asleep
• Muscle weakness or spasms or loss of control of a body part
• Trouble walking or dizziness
• Loss of taste, smell or feeling
• Changes in or problems with bowel or bladder habits
• Intense chronic pain with no other known cause