Left side numbness and weakness

[ncowleyc]

Hello, I am 31 year old female, 5'5 and obese, smoker, Bi-Polar, taking Lithium 1200mg, Celexa 40mg, no family history of neurological conditions, family history of diabities, heart disease and cancer.

I have been having problems starting about 6 months ago. At first I had what I that of as a earache in my right ear. Went to doctor and didn't see an infection. Then I thought the pain was coming from my throat because it started to come from there and go into my ear and up the right side of the head to the temple. My teeth and mouth hurt on that side. Went to ENT and he didn't see anything. Thought maybe it was a parotid gland infection. The pain lasted for a few hours, gradually worsening till it lasted a few days. It went away after about a month.

Soon after I started to feel some weird tingling sensations on my left lower leg. Ignored it for a while because it came and went. Went to scratch my leg and I came upon a numb patch. Thought maybe it was because I had been sitting down and my leg was asleep. Then I felt like I had cold water splashed on my leg as well as other parts on my body. The numbness started to stay and grow into a bigger patch. I felt it on my arm as well. They were small patches that would come and go, but now they are staying and growing. No more tingling as if my body is tired of warning me, just numbness. It's progressed to where my entire left side is more numb than feeling. The left side of my face has been numb for about 3 months now, and recently the left side of my mouth has been weaker and drooping some causing me to drool a little.

I have also had muscle twitches that I can see. My husband jokes that I must be pregnant because he keeps feeling my stomach twitching like a baby kicking, LOL! My right pointer finger has been spasming continuously for about a month now and my index finger has been getting into it by twitching real quick now and again to where I can see the top of my hand muscles twitching too. Feels like a bubbling sensation when my muscles twitch. My left side is weaker as well. I get easily fatigued. Right now my lymph nodes in my neck and the one next to my ear, on the left side, are swollen, about 6 in all.

I have had a MRI in February which showed I have an arachnoid cyst, 8mm, on the right side of my brain in the postier internal capsule, retrolenticular portion. No cause for concern. Somehow they missed it in the first reading even though even I could see it. Had to have them look at it again when my neurologist noticed the spot. Also noticed extensive sinus disease which I hopefully cleared up with antibiotics. Also have mild carpal tunnel both hands and my left thigh on the outside has a numb patch that was confirmed with EMG. EEG normal, it does say something about "slowing in the central head regions, 5-6 cycles per second". Not sure what that means. Blood tests normal. CT of neck showed right lymph node enlarged 1.5 cm, probably an infection somewhere. Took antibiotics for that as well.

I have hardly ever been sick a day in my life. I wouldn't even get a cold but once a year. I hope you can somehow give me a clue as to what this might be and what I should do next. I don't have insurance anymore. Could this all be caused by anxiety? I have been told basicly to ignore it because it isn't causing impairment. Sorry this post is so long. Thank you for your time.

[Deaniejjhder]

My name is Geraldine, I'm 50. All of my left side has been very week, and the back of my head feels funny. I now walk with a cain. Back in 1997 I remember sitting at the shipping desk having coffee, and then all of a sudden it felt like some one pushed on the back of my head witch jerked my head forward, it was like a real big spasum, and ever since my left side has been verey week and the back of my head feels funny all the time. Is there any thing that you can tell me, what this might be.

Sincerely G.M.R

[htherapy]

Hi, I too take lithium (750mg) and over the last few months am noticing weakness in one arm as well as greatly increased tremors.  My fine motor coordination is quite bad at this point.  This is very bad for me as I am a massage therapist.  I also have some numb areas you like you describe.  I dropped my dosage to 600mg to see if that would help.  Hasn't made an appreciable difference.  It's a bit scary.  Hope your condition resolves.