Hemi-body tingling and numbness, light-headed or dizzy feeling

[chick1]

Started having low backpain July 3 Noticed "dead" spot on top of left foot. Foot started tingling, gradually going up leg. Continued having tingling which gradually included arm, mentioned it to friend who is doctor, he smiled and said it would go away after my sons wedding,(attributed it to stress)My son was married Aug. 19th, and still had symptoms.I figured I had pinched nerve in back, so I saw orthopaedist in Sept. He sent me for MRI, said I had "slight bulging disc, but was NOT pressing on any nerves. In mid-October,left side of face started feeling tingly and tight feeling, had "metallic" taste in mouth and felt "Big" tingly like I had been to dentist and novacaine was wearing off, have intermittent diminished or altered taste, drinks taste flat, food stale.Saw neurologist, after evaluation, I mentioned I had been bitten by tick in June, but he said Lyme was highly unlikely in Alabama.He sent me for MRI and blood work, "Solitary 1 mm hyperintense lesion in left frontal white matter.the inferior portion of medulla in midline has an area of increased signal on T2 weighted imaging, which is most likely vascular structure or artifact" blood test showed P41 Ab present, had elevated B-12 (1096) They called me in for lumbar puncture and more blood, while there, I asked Dr. about it, he said tests were basically to "rule things out" said MRI looked pretty good,said area on brainstem "has to be artifact" he seems very indifferent.Nurse called CSF normal, will call if he has further recommendations, very indifferent. Felt dizzy past few weeks.What could be causing symptoms?

[MC_Trip]

A related discussion, Hemi Tingle episodes was started.

[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.    
    Given the symptoms that you describe multiple sclerosis and/or Lyme disease are reasonable concerns.  The odd thing about your MRI is that it mentions a small (1mm) lesion in the left frontal white matter, and all of your symptoms are on the left (the left side of the brain controlls/affects the right side of the body).  I agree with getting the lumbar puncture in your case and would ask your doctor about the IgG index and the oligoclonal bands (these tests take a few days-week).  I would also recommend a visual evoked potential and a MRI of your cervical spine.  As far as the p41 antibody test goes, if raises the concern about lyme disease, but may be a false positive.  The safest course of action is to start a trial of anitbiotics (generally not harmful, may not help if not lyme) and get a confirmatory test (Western blot).  Lyme has been reported to cause focal numbness by a vasculitis type pathology and can be diagnosed by SPECT scan or cerebral angiogram.
I hope this was helpful.

[pneeb419]

Hey chick1...I sign on to this sight and read some of these posts hoping that I will see one that I can relate to a little and therefore get some answers to questions that I didn't even know that I had. Your post caught my attention and I felt I needed to respond.  First of all, do NOT give up until a name is put on whatever it is you have.  The not knowing is the worst. Is it frustrating? Yes. Is it scary? YES. But don't give up until you have a name for it.  Secondly, I was diagnosed with MS in January of this year and it is NOT a death sentence. Yes, sometimes I wish it was, but if it does turn out to be MS, whatever is happening with your body will either be fixed, fix itself, or you will adjust to your body the way it is now.  There are days when I am still in denial that I have it, there are days when I feel like total ****, and there are days when I am scared to death cause I no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I am surviving and still living my life. So if you do happen to be diagnosed with MS (although I do pray that you are not), you can either just lay down and give up totally, or you can let your inner strength take control and one way or another keep going! Having MS *****, but I can name atleast a dozen other conditions that would so much worse to have. I pray that you find the answers you need soon!

[chick1]

I got a statement where the MRI was billed to my insurance, and it had a diagnosis and code on it...#340, Multiple Sclerosis!!!!Needless to say I wigged all weekend. I talked nurse, she told me it wasn't officially MS, said there is "certain criteria" that has to be met before it can be diagnosed as MS, but did say "I am sitting on the edge of demyelination" and that is why all the test have been done to "rule things out" I was asked to come in for more blood, wanting to check for some type of coagulation factor V?? among a host of other things.This whole process is driving me crazy! My diagnosis is taking way too long. I still say it HAS to be something other than MS(possibly in denial here)because I just don't think the symptoms add up! I am still having left-sided tingling, lightheaded, extremely tired feeling, but this week, while experiencing another really bad headache, my entire mouth (lips, and area around them), (not just left side) has been numb and tingling for 2 days, doesn't that sound more like TIA or stroke symptoms or something? I know they should be "transient" but I still am thinking... hoping... for something vascular or something...anything... that can be fixed or cured, cause I know MS has no cure. I just want someone to tell me it's stress, it's hormones, or maybe I'm just plain crazy, but I NEED to hear something. Any thoughts on possible causes?

[chick1]

I forgot to mention ....I'm 41 yrs old, have frequent headaches with nausea, and another odd symptom,which may or may not be related, uvula??(dangling dingy in back of throat) deviates to right side, feel the need to frequently cough to "clear" throat. I don't know if any of my symptoms are related to each other or just coincidence......left-sided tingling and numbness,since July, dizzy,(the headaches I've had since forever!) and I noticed the coughing or throat clearing about 2 weeks ago, along with deviated uvula.
I feel like I'm falling apart!!!!!......
would like to know what the heck is going on....
family is pushing me to get second opinion, constantly telling me I don't look well, my brother-in-law even asked me if I were on drugs! Family tells me "I'm incoherent", "don't act right" or "spaced-out".
CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME?

[annlynn]

Chick1, please do what your family says and go to ANOTHER DOCTOR. That is what most people have to do to get the correct diagnosis...I hope that you are feeling better.

[The Falconer]

Hello, I am just searching from some answers and came across your post. Your description hit home since It is almost exactly like I went through over ten years ago. April 1995 I was snowboarding and when i was done i removed my left boot and it felt like my foot was asleep. I also felt like i may have slightly pulled a muscle in my back so i blew it off. that is what 25 year old guys do! Two weeks or so went by and everyday the tingle/numbness kept going up my left leg. once it passed my hip i knew there was a problem. i went to the doctor and they had no idea. i discussed this with a client that i knew was a DR. and he told me who i should go see. by this time almost a month and 1/2 my entire left side of my body was asleep. (like when you wake up in the night and your arm is so numb you can't feel it). They performed an MRI and found i had an infection at the Thalamus / Brain Stem area. Two months of intensive antibiotics i began to feel a little better. Today i still have numbness up and down my left side from my face to my toes and go through bouts of pain but all in all doing well. keep pushing and find a doctor that will listen.

[The Falconer]

Hello, I am just searching from some answers and came across your post. Your description hit home since It is almost exactly like I went through over ten years ago. April 1995 I was snowboarding and when i was done i removed my left boot and it felt like my foot was asleep. I also felt like i may have slightly pulled a muscle in my back so i blew it off. that is what 25 year old guys do! Two weeks or so went by and everyday the tingle/numbness kept going up my left leg. once it passed my hip i knew there was a problem. i went to the doctor and they had no idea. i discussed this with a client that i knew was a DR. and he told me who i should go see. by this time almost a month and 1/2 my entire left side of my body was asleep. (like when you wake up in the night and your arm is so numb you can't feel it). They performed an MRI and found i had an infection at the Thalamus / Brain Stem area. Two months of intensive antibiotics i began to feel a little better. Today i still have numbness up and down my left side from my face to my toes and go through bouts of pain but all in all doing well. keep pushing and find a doctor that will listen.

[annlynn]

Hi, the numbness and tingling sound like you have injured your lower back, pinched nerve...possibly with out knowing it.  The dizziness could be a completely different issue...Many people have dizziness with inner ear problems, OR, the tingling down your leg could be scaring you so that is causing you to feel panicky.  Especially when the doctor's won't tell you what is going on.  :)

[mike1105]

if it were me, i'd make an appointment, pack my things and head to either the Cleveland clinic )in cleveland-- (the others just aren't the same) or the Mayo Clinic in Minnesoata. All your testing will be done under one roof by some of the best MDs in the country. I've been to the Mayo--- ither's no place better. In a place like these 2 clinics you will have the best chance of obtaining a diagnosis.