Daughter has tingling/numbess

Good Morning:
Daughter is 35, married, with three children.  Fell before Thanksgiving and hurt her lower back and upper neck.  Since that time she is having bilateral tingling and numbness of arms and hands; at times both extremities feel like they are burning or needle pricking.  She has increased events where her feet will fall asleep while sitting.  Pain is not a factor in upper extremities, however, in the lower.  She is  concerned it is MS or Brain Tumor, however, with the fall and incident with "elbow to jaw being held to floor", with her trying to raise head up, I am wondering about a spinal cord injury or swelling.  She has been lifting per usual and carries things, but, obviously there is something seriously wrong.  She is a nurse, but is currently a stay at home mom.  She has been worked up in the past for Lupus, without a Dx. of same. Her father's aunt has MS.  Husband's mother had Rheumatoid Arthritis as did my great aunt, so not sure if this can be a factor as to what she is going through.  She has "flare up" joint pain from time to time and also has sun sensitivity with rashes.  My main concern is the bilateral tingling and numbness.  She will be in IA until after the first of the year.  Denies headahces, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting.  Any response as soon as possible will be most appreciated.  Worried mom in Iowa.  jah

[Caliber2005]

Hi Jah,
If you see your daughter’s sequence of events it suggests that she has this lower back spinal injury which is the root cause for her bilateral pain.
How is she feeling now? What is her name?
There are several causes and symptoms for nerve root pain.
Nerve root pinching, irritation, compression, or trapping is always associated with signs of nerve dysfunction such as pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness.
The probable causes of the irritation can be, within the spine as Annular Tear (small disc tear), Disc Prolapse (herniation), Spinal Stenosis (narrowing of the internal diameter of the spinal canal) among others.
Spinal Nerve Root Pain (Radiculopathy) can arise when nerves become pinched or trapped within the bony spinal canal or vertebral column.
There are many different terms used to describe spinal disc pathology and associated pain, such as “herniated disc”, “pinched nerve”, and “bulging disc”. The bones which form your spine are called as vertebrae. The space between two vertebras is cushioned with disc. When disc bulge or break open due to any reasons like ageing (aging), or trauma to spine, it is called as herniated disc and this can cause pinching of nerve. It can happen in any region, but is more common at lower back in lumbar region and cervical region.
What imaging study has been done for her lower back?
Which doctor is been consulted?
I think she needs to see an orthopaedician as early as possible and do an imaging study to look for exact pathology.
Keep me informed about her.
Bye.

[jah5]

I am not so much worried about the lower back as I am the bilateral arm issues with the numbness, tingling and burning sensation.  She states it feels like pin prickles.
The feet going numb I do feel is lower back related, but, she does state she has hip pain.  I am a nurse as well, but, trying not to let mother-daughter stress get in the way of what might be going on here with her.  She feels that it is getting worse this past week.  I begged her to seek attention at a large trauma center near her, but, she was hesitant due to there being the issue of fighting in the home and being held down with an elbow to the jawline for about two minutes.  IF this were a spinal cord injury, would she be able to carry her small toddler and do other lifting without pain?  I understand about the discs, but, not sure about limitations with compressions and the sensations she should or shouldn't be feeling.  I am asking help her, so when she gets her from her trip from out of state, I can better help her by having her read posts.  You are a specialist?  Thanks so much.  Jolene

PS  No tests have been done yet.  Can this wait one week until she returns to her home state or is this an issue that needs immediate attention since symptoms seem to be getting worse. thanks.

[Caliber2005]

Hi Jolene,
I think as the symptoms are getting worse, she should be seeing the doctor soon.
I think a neurologist and an orthopaedician will help her.
Regarding MS, it can cause changes in sensation, muscle weakness, abnormal muscle spasms, or difficulty in moving; difficulties with coordination and balance; problems in speech or swallowing, visual problems, fatigue and acute or chronic pain syndromes, bladder and bowel difficulties, cognitive impairment, or depression.
The initial attacks are often transient, mild and self-limited. The most common initial symptoms reported are: changes in sensation in the arms, legs or face (33%), complete or partial vision loss (optic neuritis) (16%), weakness (13%), double vision (7%), unsteadiness when walking (5%), and balance problems (3%); but many rare initial symptoms have been reported such as aphasia or psychosis.
Her symptomatology as of now do not sound like you are having MS, but there are definitive guidelines, on which the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis is based. There are definitive lesions (suggestive of MS) on MRI also.
Once internationally accepted criteria’s are satisfied, then diagnosis of multiple Sclerosis can be made.
Bye.
Keep me informed.