left-side lip jerking and left arm shaking: what is this?

[rhosevin]

I have been having some pretty odd symptoms in conjunction with migraine headaches. However, I have suffered from migraines for years but these symptoms first occurred in January 2010. The first symptom I had was a numbness in the left side of my lip and also a numbness around my eyes. It felt like i was having an allergic reaction but I was not. Then, the left side of my lip started to twitch involuntarily. This twitching progressed to violent jerking and soon the whole left side of my jaw was jerking very rapidly. The second symptom was the same sensation in my left arm: numbness, which led to twitching, and then rapid jerking and shaking. I could not control any of this and it went on for over an hour. The ride side of my body was completely unaffected. Over the course of 6 days, I experienced about 9 of these "attacks"; including 4 in 1 day! The symptoms always started on the lower, left side of my mouth and progressed to my left arm. Since January, I have had a series of attacks in May, August, September, and October. I started feeling some numbness again last night in both my lip and in my left hand (which means I will probably have another attack any day now) The attacks seem to be occurring more frequently (every month now) but last only about 20 to 30 minutes each. The twitching in my lip seems to be less violent but my left arm has moved from violent shaking to contortions in my hand and fingers. These contortions are extremely painful; sometimes my fingers bend backwards or my arm will twist itself around or under me. Whenever I suffer one attack, I almost always have another the next day, and often another the day after that. Also, it is always only on the left side of my body. Does anyone have any idea what this is and what I can do about it? It will be a year in 2 months that this has been happening to me and it is unpredictable and prevents me from functioning normally. Any advice is helpful!

[kimmybabes]

also, I've had every symptom you named from my whole left side going numb to my tongue shaking out of control..honesty, i don't think it has nothing to do with a headache. i have migraines as well from me having surgery due to a tumor, and my migraines doesn't make my body, face, arms jerk and shake like that. me not taking my anti-seizure makes that happen. please go see a neurologist, im 24 and having seizures *****! but they are well control under meds with no side affects. good luck!

[kimmybabes]

you*

[kimmybabes]

sounds like you're threating a seizure....I have seizures and that's exactly what happens to me after skipping a few days of my meds.Maybe toy should see a neurologists to see if they can put you on a anti-seizure medication...

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? One type of migraine is hemiplegic migraine which may present with   numbness, which can include your arm, leg, and/or one side of your face; pins and needles sensation; weakness; loss of balance and coordination; nausea and vomiting; extreme sensitivity to light, sound, and smell and even confusion. Check with a neurologist for proper evaluation. Identification of your triggers and both preventive and abortive medicines may help provide relief. Take care and do keep us posted.

[twitchychick]

Your symptoms sound very similar to atypical migraine. Also you might want to check out the multiple sclerosis forum.  From what I have read, lesions on the brain, neck and spine can cause one sided symptoms.  Just some things to check out.

Hope you find some answers!  Your symptoms sound very similar to mine.  I have a future appointment with a head pain neuro, but have only been diagnosed with atypical migraine, peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndrome and muscle spasm.

Please keep me posted!