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Neurology (Expert Forum)
no one can figure this out
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
no one can figure this out
by LynnSB, Oct 26, 2002 12:00AM
I've been sick since May.this may not sound at first like a neuro problem,but hear me out. I was typing and felt like i was falling forward,dizzy,weird.Had my heart checked out(have history of benign palps). Ears hurt. Doc found retracted eardrums. Continued to feel bad, dizzy, told eardrums fine. Developed pain in my left cheek,jaw and ear, some swelling of cheek. Dentist found a dead tooth, no abcess.did a root canal and then pain went away in cheek --not dizziness. Developed frank room spinning vertigo in Sept. had MRI and Ct, all normal. ear pain and cheek pain back 24/7.dental exam,xrays reveal nothing abnormal.I feel chronically off balance with vertigo on occasion(seems when i move head up or down).all vestibular tests normal, no vertigo. left ear hurts, cheek.often feels like my face is burning deep inside, sometimes itching but no redness , not warm to touch.I am tired of being treated like a hypochondriac. I feel systemically awful. ANA normal, did have low white blood count in may , when rechecked normal. could i have some kind of inflamed nerve?dentist did find a calcified pearl shaped something by accident in maxillary sinus. Doc said it couldn't cause symptoms. could it inflame a nerve? I am so desperate. this is affecting my quality of life and i feel bad all the time. any ideas would be appreciated.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Oct 27, 2002 12:00AM
One thing to consider, there is a disease/group of diseases that can affect what we call "cranial nerves" that go to the face and ear, causing pain in the areas that they supply sensation to. Trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia (a problem with the 5th and 9th cranial nerves respectively) are examples of them. Unless you're looking for the nerve problem specifically on the MRI, it can be missed. Also, depending on the distribution of the complaints and physical exam finding, there may need to be more extensive imaging. See a neurologist or go to a major academic center for a second opinion and review of your MRI if you've already seen a neurologist. A careful neurological exam will help point the physician in the right direction diagnostically. GOod luck.
Hope this helps.
Chiropractor: I would be extremely careful having any neck related manipulation. Some studies have shown that this can increase your risk of stroke by 20%. You have 2 vertebral arteries that are running right next to your vertebra which eventually supply the circle of willis to your brain. While these arteries only account for 20% of the cerebral supply if there is any plaque build up to these arteries, it can get dislodged by the manipulation and travel up to the brain resulting in a stroke. Perform a google search on the subject and you'll find numerous studies on the topic. There are even studies showing that shiatsu-like massage machine contributing to strokes. Be careful.