Numbness

[Paradox3280]

I am an 18 year old male and for the last week I have been suffering from numbness in my arms, neck, shoulder, and face. I first started to experience this the day after visiting the emergency room where i was diagnosed with prostatitis. All these strange sensations are worrying me and I seem very paranoid. My neck seems to be the most numb today and my skin on my arms has felt strange and dead for a while. Also my eyes feel really dry. I don't know what to think, maybe all this is stress induces or maybe I need to see a neurologist. However my mom has spent a lot of money on me lately trying to help me feel better and I don't have a doctor as I just turned 18 and can't go to my pediatrician anymore. If anyone could help me figure out what is going on I would be much appreciative.

[Paradox3280]

Dr. Srivastava, thanks for your time and concern. I went to my pediatrician today and told him all of my symptoms. He told me that my symptoms could be stress/anxiety induced and also said that if it was a nerve problem, I wouldn't be having numbness in multiple parts of my body at the same time. I told him that I had been anxious lately and also about my family's history with depression/anxiety. He prescribed Lexapro and told me to come back in six days for a check up. I asked him why I go numb at night and he said it could be nightmares that make me hyperventilate and cause my arms, neck, and face to go numb. As far as the dry eyes and skin, my doctor said that my antibiotics could be causing this. I have never had problems with anxiety of this magnitude before and hope it goes away.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, Thank you for your question. Your symptoms could be associated with fatigue, stress, anxiety or a form of panic attack, if rest of your neurological assessment reports are normal. Other possible causes of tremors could be overactive thyroid, Parkinsonism disease, alcohol use, certain medications, alkalosis, and low blood sugar. Sometimes previous injury may cause pinched nerve and may be a reason of numbness but this possibility remains low. Therefore, it is quite essential to thoroughly assess the all possibilities here with the help of a doctor. Hope this helps.