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Neurology (Expert Forum)
numbness, vertigo, and much more...please help...!
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numbness, vertigo, and much more...please help...!
by clark45, Feb 19, 2004 12:00AM
I will just give you the facts of my situation ,thank you in advance!! Iam a 27 yr old female who had a baby in April.
My left arm went numb and I was missing periods. My Dr. did some blood work and found my ANA level to be high 1/160. He scheduled an MRI. I ended up in the emergency room my left side off my face arm, leg were all numb and I was slurring my speech . The MRI showed "unidentified white matter and vasculide" I then saw a neurologist who ran tests (including a EMG, and lots of blood work and a MRI of the spine) Stroke, Lupus a were ruled out. MS was a possibility as was "complicated migraines." I have suffered from migraines with no headache (just aura since I was 16. I take 25 mg of imitrex/ I have not taken imitrex since August) I saw an MS specialist who ruled out MS. had more blood work which found my sed rate elevated 27/28. I then was sent to a rheumetoligist who said possibly vasculitis and then sided with neurologist who diagnosed it as complicated migraines. We had given up on finding an answer I was still feeling numb having spells of vertigo and trouble speaking.
A week later woke up vomiting with no fever or aches…I was not making sense, in and out a lot…Went to an ER in Chicago (Rush hospital) I had more tests and saw a neurologist, he agreed with migraines and put me on 10 mg of Elavil which did not help and Now I am on 20mg and stand still numb…Keep in mind part of me is numb all the time. Also my glands are VERY painful but not swollen.. also I have been having very painful headaches and bad pain behind my eyes.. any ideas? LIndsay
My left arm went numb and I was missing periods. My Dr. did some blood work and found my ANA level to be high 1/160. He scheduled an MRI. I ended up in the emergency room my left side off my face arm, leg were all numb and I was slurring my speech . The MRI showed "unidentified white matter and vasculide" I then saw a neurologist who ran tests (including a EMG, and lots of blood work and a MRI of the spine) Stroke, Lupus a were ruled out. MS was a possibility as was "complicated migraines." I have suffered from migraines with no headache (just aura since I was 16. I take 25 mg of imitrex/ I have not taken imitrex since August) I saw an MS specialist who ruled out MS. had more blood work which found my sed rate elevated 27/28. I then was sent to a rheumetoligist who said possibly vasculitis and then sided with neurologist who diagnosed it as complicated migraines. We had given up on finding an answer I was still feeling numb having spells of vertigo and trouble speaking.
A week later woke up vomiting with no fever or aches…I was not making sense, in and out a lot…Went to an ER in Chicago (Rush hospital) I had more tests and saw a neurologist, he agreed with migraines and put me on 10 mg of Elavil which did not help and Now I am on 20mg and stand still numb…Keep in mind part of me is numb all the time. Also my glands are VERY painful but not swollen.. also I have been having very painful headaches and bad pain behind my eyes.. any ideas? LIndsay
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Feb 21, 2004 12:00AM
Disorders which can result in symptoms similar to yours include MS, Lupus, Complicated migraines, Vasculitis, and disorders of energy metabolism (mitochondrial disorders). I assume you had a spinal tap to exclude MS as a possibility. If the spinal tap was completely normal this makes a diagnosis of MS, other inflammatory disorders, and vasculitis unlikely. The MRIs have excluded strucutural abnormalities. An energy disorder can present with various neurologic symptoms. These conditions are present from birth, but are unmasked with stress (giving birth). These conditions are difficult to diagnose. There are many blood and urine test which can be done, and typically a skin or muscle biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis. This type of problem should be evaluated by a neurologist experienced with mitochondrial disorders (at an academic center). The diagnosis of vasculitis is unlikely due to the normal CSF, but can not be completely excluded. If your doctors still think this is a possibility an angiogram (picture of the blood vessels) may need to be done, and occasionally a brain biopsy is needed.
Complicated migraine can be difficult to treat. There are many treatments you have not tried. The first one which comes to mind is verapamil. This medication blocks calcium channels and was designed for blood pressure control. However, it has been found to be highly effective for migraine. I would encourage to keep trying various migraine treatments, and obtain a second opinion from another neurologist if you are concerned. Good luck.
Complicated migraine can be difficult to treat. There are many treatments you have not tried. The first one which comes to mind is verapamil. This medication blocks calcium channels and was designed for blood pressure control. However, it has been found to be highly effective for migraine. I would encourage to keep trying various migraine treatments, and obtain a second opinion from another neurologist if you are concerned. Good luck.
As a result of a fall, I now suffer from optical neuralgic headaches caused from a bulging disc on c-2 and c-3. I have the vertigo and numbness in my right arm and hand. The vertigo has never been linked with the disc problem. I need to make an appt. to see a ear, nose, and throat specialest. My doctor wants to do another MRI to see if there has been a change in my cervical spinal area. I have chronic headaches, and some days are worse than other. An ice pack on the back of my head helps, as does going into a dark room. I am noise a light sensitive as well. A greater occipital nerve block helps, but doesn't last.
I also have degenerative disc at L4 L5 and L5 and S1. Pain in the legs and feet are normal for me. I recently had an IDET procedure performed, and so far I still have pain. Somedays it feels ok, then other days it feels like its back again to the same old pain. I am hopeful that it will improve. The IDET procedure is not a quick fix. Improvement can take up to 12 months.
Neurolgical pain is no fun! The biggest problem I find is that people just can't believe or understand that anything can be wrong with you. At first, they are supportive, and then the support just seems to die away. At the end of the day, I am drained. Life is definatly not the same, and there's no changing the true way you feel even if you do have a good attitude. I've even had a person close to me say that "You can't be in pain. I just saw you laughing, and if you were laughing, you are not in pain". Well, hello! Thanks for your comment. I believe in laughing. It certainly makes me feel better if not for a brief moment.
I have excepted for now that my life style must be different, because my body sure feels different. I'm not the person that I once was, but I hope that I can find a happy medium . I have suffered with pain for 4 years now, and really want my old self back. Maybe one day she will return with the help of understanding and patience. Hang in there. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.