Total Body Numbness

I have suddenly started experiencing total body numbness, I cannot feel where my body is. I'm on Olanzapine for anxiety, Paroxetine for depression and metronidazole for Giardia Lamblia, and suddenly after having trouble sleeping my body has become almost totally numb, I only feel pain but very little and I can still co-ordinate from memory but not from sensation. It's been two days and even after sleeping the numbness persists. Is it a side-effect of my medication, or maybe I still need some sleep. I'm also a smoker and I'm worried it could be lung cancer, I've been experiencing chest pains leading up to this but this is the first serious symptom I've had. Also heart problems run in my family and I'm worried that could be the cause of my chest pains, they're on the left side.

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Total body numbness is a very unusual symptom that is difficult to localize to one specific part of the nervous system. In general, metronidazole can cause neurologic symptoms, but whole body numbness seems to be unlikely due to that. Disorders of the nerves to the arms and legs (neuropathy) can lead to numbness that would start in the fingers and toes and gradually move to involve more proximal regions. Cervical spine problems could lead to numbness in the arms, legs, and trunk, but would not involve the face, and would be associated with significant weakness and other symptoms. Brain disorders can lead to numbness in specific body parts, but it is again hard to pinpoint one area of the nervous system that would lead to involvement of the whole entire body.

Prompt evaluation by your primary doctor (internist, PCP) is indicated in order to further evaluate your chest pain, which as you mention could be from cardiac problems, and discussion of your symptoms of numbness with him/her is important as well.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.