Bouts of numbness/sensations of slackness down one side of body

[Happyfingers]

Hi there,

I have a friend who , about once a week, develops this sensation below her right eye. She describes it as a numbness and a sensation of slackness in the tissues. She often actually goes to the mirror expecting to see the tissues have slumped slightly (they never are though). Sometimes the sensation just remains below the eye, and sometimes it expands down her right arm and sometimes further down her right leg (again the sensation of slackness in the tissues). It is important to note that there is no physical impairment of movement to the right side of her body when it happens (i.e. she can move her arms/legs normally, can play sports etc) and there's no pain. The "episodes" can last a few hours or a few days.

She went to her doctor who refered her to neurologist. Neurologist did lots of tests, told her he couldn't find anything wrong and suggested that it could be stress-related (she suffers from regular anxiety).

Are they mini-strokes? Could it be vascular-related. Moyamoya disease? What tests does she need to do?

Any ideas anyone?

Warm regards

Henry

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH]

First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.
   The symptoms you describe do not sound like "mini-strokes" or moya-moya disease (a devestating condition with progressive vascular occulsion of all the vessels in the brain).  I would agree that the most likely explanation given the symptoms you describe is anxiety/ possible conversion disorder, but I would also be in favor of testing to rule out ominous causes first.  I do not know what "lot of tests" the neurologist ordered, but I would suggest an MRI of the brain with contrast and an EEG (elctroencephalogram-or brain wave test).  I would also suggest a migraine preventative medication (such as elavil, topamax, zanaflex, nadolol, etc..) taken daily to see if this sensation could be related to migraine headaches (you do not need to have the headache part).
I hope this has been helpful.

[Pussywillow]

You may want to ask your friend if she had any dental work recently or at any time.  Ask her look into her mouth if she has silver fillings, crowns, bridges.  Google " symptoms of mercury fillings"
"safe removal of silver fillings"
If she does have silver fillings and want more information she may go the DAMS website google "Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome" their #DAMS National Office at 1-800-311-6265.

Cheers