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Neurology (Expert Forum)
numbness in head and arm
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
numbness in head and arm
by trailblazer, Feb 16, 2005 12:00AM
I am a 31 year old female in good health and weight. In Dec. I had a severe migaine that lasted 2 days.This was the first migraine I've had in years. They started when I was 16 but I only had about 1 per year then they stopped. This particular migraine caused great pain behind my right eye. I did tell my optician but since my vision was not effected he did not seem concerned. Basically I am worried because I haven't been phyically the same since this headache in Dec. I have a numbness, sore spot directly on top of my head that sometimes radiates around my right eye. This sensation is bothersome but not real painful but it does make it hard for me to look to the right.For the past several weeks my right arm has numbness and strong tingling during the night. I do not have a regular phsycian because I only have a the occasional cold. I am currently applying for new med insurance so I didn't want to go to a doc until it was in effect but I am starting to worry because these symtoms haven't gone away like I expect them to each morning. Please help with any advise if you can.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Feb 18, 2005 12:00AM
I cannot give you a definite clinical diagnosis over the internet. While your headache may well have been a migraine, it is unusual for the symptoms to persist beyond a few days.
Another potential cause is optic neuritis which can cause a painful partial visual loss with pain on eye movement lasting from a few days to weeks - usually resolving over a month.
Optic neuritis, if that is what you had, can be associated with MS. Only 16% of patients who have optic neuritis and a normal MRI do not develop MS (at least within 5 years) per our current knowledge. The presence of MRI abnormalities can increase this risk.
It may then be an idea to ask your physician to obtain an MRI scan. This can also ruleout any masses or growths that may be causing the headache and right sided numbness. In particular you could ask for extra orbital cuts, as well as the regular brain MRI.
Good luck
Another potential cause is optic neuritis which can cause a painful partial visual loss with pain on eye movement lasting from a few days to weeks - usually resolving over a month.
Optic neuritis, if that is what you had, can be associated with MS. Only 16% of patients who have optic neuritis and a normal MRI do not develop MS (at least within 5 years) per our current knowledge. The presence of MRI abnormalities can increase this risk.
It may then be an idea to ask your physician to obtain an MRI scan. This can also ruleout any masses or growths that may be causing the headache and right sided numbness. In particular you could ask for extra orbital cuts, as well as the regular brain MRI.
Good luck
Member Comments (3)
by catr, Feb 16, 2005 12:00AM
Hello - I had the same problems starting November 2001, vertigo, tingling in left leg/foot sometimes pain, numb hand, tingly face mouth and lips. I saw two neurolgists that both said it is anxiety, had MRI's on spine and brain came normal, had evoked potentials which one leg showed borderline slowing but neuro said that was because my leg was not warmed up first but the other leg came normal? Neuro put me on anxiety medication, did not help whatsoever, stopped taking ALL medications and after a few months I felt great my symptoms were almost ALL gone I was so happy but then last Thursday they came back and it has been just over a week now and I am now scared that they came back. My neurologists and doctor said 99% I do not have MS? Then what? Could it be anxiety even though the medication did not help and I felt best when I did not take anything. I am still not taking anything and would rather not. My first symptom started two weeks after I had the flu shot but they say that has nothing to do with it. I have hemangeoma's, buldgin discs, ostreo, etc etc on my spine but they say that is not the cause either. Found out I have fibromaylagia but they said that is not the cause either. Can someone please help me? It's just so wierd the way it came back. I would appreciate any feedback at all thankyou very much and Good Luck to you all. I am also hoping the doctor can respond as well.
by JenB, Mar 14, 2005 12:00AM
To: trailblazer
Hi! This may sound like a strange question, but that area on your head that is sore, does it also sound different when you brush your hair or scratch the area? That is one of the first symptoms I had, then several months later the headaches started, not my normal migraine type, but severe ones that would wake me up at night, and get better during the day. My neurologist thought they were tension-type headaches (I had been seeing a neurologist for many years for migraines) Finally, several months later he did an MRI- I had a tumor that was eroding, and infact had eroded through my skull (approx 2-1/2"x2"x3/4"). Initially they thought it was an atypical meningioma because an MRI 3 years earlier was clear. It turned out to be an extradural, extranodal, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. I was lucky, surgery got most of it. I now have titanium plate and mesh replacing that part of my skull, chemotherapy got the rest of it, and my scans have been clear for 9 months so far.It was the only site they found cancer. I have great physicians and had wonderful care. But I still remember that first area on my skull that was sore and sounded funny, so get it checked out if it doesn't go away!
