are these pinchd nerve symptoms? or mayeb pre stroke?

[BrainDrain]

My symptoms were starting to increase to the point where I had constant neck problems.  I've had a stiff neck for years but only on the left side.  I had very frequent chest pains around where my heart is and oddly enough I would have tingling sensation in my left heel and sometime my left arm.  I also had very intense headaches.  They weren't like a normal headache, which I would describe as pain.  They are like extreme pressure building in my skull on left side of head in the rear only. I have frequent pain behind my left eye and left inner ear, also in upper rear portion of the left side of my head I would feel sharp or tingling pain accompanied by the sensation that some one was pouring water over my head.  I never seem to be able to kick the stiff neck either.  The mobility in my neck never seemed to be effected but it always seemed uncomfortable like it needed to be cracked or something. I've been finding lately that I'm getting a lot of burning/tingling pains all over he left side of my body.  The left arm is affected most frequently.  Most times it feels cold and feels like pins and needles.  I have also noticed lately the frequency of the attacks is greatly increasing.  I also forgot to mention that all the glands on the left side of my neck are enlarged.  When I feel the glands in and around the rear of my neck and throat, they are much larger then that of the right side by comparison.  I sometimes feel discomfort around the left side of my trachea.  I'm not sure if the neck pain is related to the glands but I thought I would mention it.  About 5 days ago now I had a very acute attack.  I was working when I felt like a pinch in the rear of my skull accompanied by a warm sensation.  After that my vision was effected and my depth perception was off.  The pressure in my skull is horrible and the neck pain was brutal. My left arm feels cold and somewhat weaker then my right.  And I'm getting a lot of burning pain in my left wrist where the vein is.  

[Prem Pillay, MD]

You need to be seen by a specialist who deals with the spine and the nerves.
You most probably will need an MRI of your cervical spine and your brain.
I would not delay doing so.

[Khryce]

Wow, I have to say, "I feel your pain"... literally!  I have the EXACT same issue going on with the right side of my body.  I have many of the same problems you're having except for the depth perception.  Though, I've noticed that I seem to bump into things more than usual, so I wonder if it is off and I just haven't realized it.  The only other thing I haven't had is severe pressure in my skull.  I've had considerable headaches and occasional tingling in my scalp from time to time.  Also, I've noticed the muscles in my neck, back and shoulder tend to get sore with little physical effort and there seems to be a little bit more weakness on that side (that's my dominant side too).  I've been going through this for two years.  I'm hoping it's a pinched nerve, but my mind races wondering if it could be a tumor putting pressure on a nerve in my head or spine somewhere, or MS, or some other life changing trauma.  I also have dizziness from time to time, but I've attributed that to the fluid in my ears.  I've also had the tingling in the arms and legs and noticed that over the past couple of years that it's getting more frequent.  My only solace is found in the fact these things seem to subside and completely disappear for periods of time.  I hope you can figure out what is plaguing you because I've had a few doctors tell me an MRI is in order.  My biggest fear with an MRI is the contrast dye used and the links to NSF with people who have had it injected.  Best of luck!

Khryce