Scary Numbness

[ace13 0]

Ok. I am very freaked out. I went to the doctor yesterday because one of my arms and half of my face and head and neck were all numb and tingly--like I had just gotten a shot from the dentist in all those areas. I had weakness in my left arm. I was panicy. The doctor thought it might have been a mild stroke and sent me to get a CT scan and I have an MRI today. The CT showed nothing-all ok. I started getting numbness and what felt like blood rush in my ear a few months ago--but didn't pay much attention because it would pass in a few minutes and I figured it was an ear infection comming on or just some fluke. Then 2 days ago was when the numbness traveled down my arm, on my face (left side), lips, back of head, neck, shoulder and it didn't go away for about 24 hours. This morning I feel better, but I am REALLY worried. I know you guys aren't doctors, but was looking for ideas. The doctor didn't want to freak me out and didn't tell me all the things it could be. So I went investigating on the internet...I know...not smart, but I have to prepare myself for the worse. Brain tumor, stroke, MS, Lupes, Lyme Disease, Giddion Disease, to minor things like headaches to anxiety to a pinched nerve. I'm scared and it is easier to type than to talk about it.

[Kajikit 65]

I'm sorry you have to go through this... try not to panic. It doesn't sound like a stroke to me because strokes don't usually come and go. And I doubt you've got a brain tumour either - again, I'd expect the symptoms to be more constant.

It sounds like a nerve thing of some kind to me... possibly Guillian-Barre Syndrome, or MS... or even as simple as you're lying wrong in bed and pinching a major nerve. I had a pinched nerve in my left arm last year, and it would go numb at the drop of a hat for months, (like making me drop things I tried to pick up, and having a lot of trouble even holding a knife and cutting up food for dinner), and then it fixed itself and it's fine now.

[MaryandMian 1]

Ace I will be praying for you.

Mary

[Melo 1]

I just hope it is not Guillian-Barre Syndrome; My cousin had that and he really had severe problems. I would say go see a neurologist ASAP.

Wishing the very best to you; major Mojo coming your way.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

Bells' Palsy?

I know that can have those same issues - but people recover well from that all the time.

Im betting trapped nerve tho - sounds like a big possibility - have your lower back looked at - can affect anywhere in the body.

[ace13 0]

Thank you everyone for your prayers and MOJO.

This morning most of the numbness is gone again and I have just a buzzing and burning sensation in the side of my head. My MRI is at 8:30 tonight and I made an appointment with a neurologist for 5/12/06. That is the earliest they could see me.

Who knows what it is Everyone keeps saying "oh, it's nothing. Stress, don't worry about it." But I am a little freaked. I have been training for the mini-marathon and am not exercising or anything with fear of causing more damage. Who knows.

[Kajikit 65]

Jaylen, that was what I was thinking of, but I couldn't remember the name... one of my friends just had Bell's Palsy last year and it paralysed one side of her face for about six weeks, then it went away as mysteriously as it came.

You're in my prayers for it to be something minor sweety...

[Dixie_Peach 1]

ace... please let me join the well-wishers and add that I also will be praying for you. I agree, I do not believe that it would be a stroke... although, I agree with JB that it could be Bells Palsy (my mom had that once - and it cleared up for her in about 6 weeks). I also agree that it could be just sleeping wrong, causing nerve & musle disharmony. Adding your stress to the factor, just makes for a most uncomfortable time. I have someone who tells me all the time, not to stress when God is in control... i know, easier said than done... lol... I truly am praying for the best for you.

Lynne

[tmma 467]

Ok. I am very freaked out. I went to the doctor yesterday because one of my arms and half of my face and head and neck were all numb and tingly--like I had just gotten a shot from the dentist in all those areas. I had weakness in my left arm. I was panicy. The doctor thought it might have been a mild stroke and sent me to get a CT scan and I have an MRI today. The CT showed nothing-all ok. I started getting numbness and what felt like blood rush in my ear a few months ago--but didn't pay much attention because it would pass in a few minutes and I figured it was an ear infection comming on or just some fluke. Then 2 days ago was when the numbness traveled down my arm, on my face (left side), lips, back of head, neck, shoulder and it didn't go away for about 24 hours. This morning I feel better, but I am REALLY worried. I know you guys aren't doctors, but was looking for ideas. The doctor didn't want to freak me out and didn't tell me all the things it could be. So I went investigating on the internet...I know...not smart, but I have to prepare myself for the worse. Brain tumor, stroke, MS, Lupes, Lyme Disease, Giddion Disease, to minor things like headaches to anxiety to a pinched nerve. I'm scared and it is easier to type than to talk about it.

I can honestly relate to what you are feeling/going through right now!

I won't go into details of my diagnosis-just to say that in the beginning ( about 4 years ago now) I did just as you have done and went on the internet-which is a great source of information, however also very general ( and alot of the times no matter what the diagnosis- very scarey), so I stay off that subject matter now as far as the web goes.

Just remember the internet is NOT case specific. Everyone is different, and even though people may share a diagnosis ( wether it be migraine, pinched nerve or something more complicated), the prognosis may be entirely different.

My neurologist told me to stay off the web for this topic; as I was just adding more worry for myself.

I have alot of experience with neurologists. Feel free to PM me anytime about this if you like-(I will be more specific)I know what you are going through.

My only advice is this.....

Make sure when you have your appointments that you do not let them " hurry you out" of the room before all of your questions have been answered.

I get the feeling sometimes that my neurologist wants me in and out in 3 minutes; but I don't shift from the chair until I am ready!

try to stop Googling what " could" be wrong......You may end up adding to the worries you have needlessly.

Like you and everyone has said-could be a pinched nerve, migraine or such as.

Hang on in there!

Best wishes

Michele

Edited April 28, 2006 by tmma

[Baileyj96 0]

Hi Ace,

I too had some similar symptoms last year. Mine didn't last as long as yours (the 24 hours). It would start out affecting my vision, then numbness in my nose and mouth then down my right arm. It would only last about 20 minutes but it was scarey and strange. They at first thought it might be mini strokes but after several different test nothing ever showed up. No mini strokes but they did find that I was insulin deficient. They didn't really think that had anything to do with the symptoms but who knows. I will also say that the neurologist thought it was just a pinched nerve. I had told him about how I had cleaned out my mulch around the house and replaced it with river rock. I had shoveled over a ton of rocks over a couple of weekends. He said that I may had damaged some nerves and that was a result of my symptoms. Anyway I haven't had any more problems but I do take medication for the insulin problem.

Try not to worry too much. The Dr did explain that it could be just about anything, and most of the time it's never discovered what is causing it and is usually just something minor that works itself out.

Hang in there and good luck, (I'm sure it will be fine)

Baileyj

[Jasman0717 9]

Definitely sorry to here of your experience, I can relate. I get panic attacks with similar symptoms. Some times I think I am having a heart attack! I would suggest you return to your doctor for more tests to be safe. I hope a solution is found quickly. Good luck

[TracyTN 237]

Last year, I had numbness in my left hand and foot. They did an MRI of my brain and initially thought it looked like MS. Once they did a more in depth one, they realized it wasn't (I figured it wasn't as I had no other symptoms).

Turned out mine was a pinched nerve and I went to physical therapy for a few months. My foot still goes numb sometimes but now I know what to do to make it stop. Yours sounds a bit different, Ace, but I can tell you that they will rule out the scariest things first and go from there. That makes it very difficult on the patient, but try and remember that is just their process and that you are doing the best you can in just having it checked.

Hang in there and keep us posted.

[Fandango 1,440]

I will keep you in my prayers, Ace!

[PsychoKat 0]

Sending my prayers and good thoughts to you.

A couple of people mentioned it might be a pinched nerve. Based on some recent experiences I've had it' worth asking your doctor about the possibility.

My daughter had pain and then numbness in the side of her face recently along with tingling and shaking in her hands and feet, and frequent head pain. She went through MRI's for her brain and her neck they thought she might have had a mini-stroke. We got the results yesterday and they informed us she has a ruptured disk in her neck causing this.

I also a couple of months ago had pain in my left arm and then my hand went numb. The pain came and went but the numbness progressively got worse, we found it was caused by 3 ruptured disks in my neck after MRI exam. So it might be worth asking your doctor about that as a possibility.

My daughter will be assessed for physical therapy so can't tell you how it will work with her but I know in my case after the 2nd appointment I was back to normal, no pain, no numbness and it hasn't returned.

Edited April 28, 2006 by PsychoKat

[Ban Hammer 13,669]

better to be safe than sorry