What are the possible causes of these problems

[Jussi]

Hello,

I've experienced these.

- left sided headache or pressure
- minor muscle moving or jumping

These all started to happen after three-month-period of poor sleep (only 4 - 6 hours a day).

Do I have a stress related brain damage or tumor/cancer? What else options?

- Jussi -

[eric52]

A related discussion, Why is my daughter having this problem? was started.

[mindy]

i am a 23 year old female who has recently started to experience feelings of lightheadedness.  a few months prior i noticed some pains in what felt like the major vein in my neck, but the pain only flashed a few times and was gone.  but recently i have exerienced fairly bad headaches, which i thought was associated with menstrual problems.  is all this just coincidental, or could all this be connected.  by the way, diabetes does run in both maternal and paternal sides of my family.

[Eric]

hi..
   I have, for the past couple of years, been experiencing jumpy, jerking movements in my sleep.  It started with minor leg shakes, jumping, but has since progressed to all out full body jerking that sometimes startles me awake.
   I am a 28 year old male recovering alcoholic.  I have been diagnosed with dysthymia and take the prescribed dosage (40mg) of Celexa each day.  I am on no other medications and have been on the Celexa for almost a year.  I am very curious about the origin of this disturbance and must admit, with the intensified instances, I am a bit concerned as well.  Please get back asap with any information.  Thanx.
                                  ....eric

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear G. Trulow:

The way you are taking Midrin is not correct.  I would call your doctor and have him/her or his nurse explain how to properly take this medication.  There must be some miscommunication problems.  Midrin is a migraine abortive medication and should be only taken if one has a headache, and only a total of 4 doses can be taken during any one headache.  Call your doctor and find out how to properly take this medication.  I am also not sure what you mean by "not passing" your visual field test.  Your neurologist should also be notified of whatever this result was.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[G. Trulow]

I am a 49 year old female and had a hysterectomy(complete) 1 and a half years ago.About 6 weeks after that I developed head pressure that has never gone away. I have been to ENT and been on alot of meds. My first CT scan of sinuses showed chronic sinnusitis, but a year later when I had another ENT read the scan he saud I did not. It showed a thickening of membrane, which he said would not be causong my head problems.I had a MRI of brain which showed no abnomalities.Why do I feel so bad evry single day? I wake up with it and go to bed with it. he only ggod things is that I sleep wonderfully well and always have.I told my Dr. that I was experiencing weekness on my left side, meanong I am always aware of my left side. But I must have passed the physical tests that he gave me.I also told him that when I turn my head I often get an alloevr head feeling that someone has 'rung my bell",kind of lightheaded and dizzy.The doctor gave me beta blockers and Midrin 3 days agoThe beta 1 per day going to 2 next week and the Midrin 1-2 caps every four hours for pain. Nothing has made me feel better so far. Should I continue taking 2 Midrin every 4 hours?in hopes that it will help at some point, or shoulfd I cut back since there'd no relief.My family is ready to give me away and I don't blame them My head problem has takin all the joy out of everything. I still exercise which doesn't seem to affect me one way or the other. Any suggestions?thank you so much.P.S. A month ago I didn't pass by visual field test and the opthamologists and he wants be to retake it.

[Jussi]

Hello again,

There is one thing I noticed, when I started stretching my neck: a burning feeling and tightness in the left side of my head when I stretch to righ while holding my left ear with my right hand. And when I raise my left hand at the same time and press the left side of my neck with fingers - the burning feeling in my head increases, exactly on the same side as my headache. Does this really relate to tension in muscles and tissue in my head? If it does - it is really promising that I really may have a benign problem.

thanks

- Jussi -

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Cherie:

I would see your neurologist.  No, albuterol should not cause the symptoms you describe.  If you are an alcoholic, yes this can cause some of the symptoms you describe.

CCF Neuro MD

[cherie]

I HAVE EXPERIENCED RIGHT SIDED FACIAL NUMBNESS AND EXTREMITIES FOR OVER A YEAR. THIS HAS NOW EXTENDED TO BOTH ARMS AND LEGS AND A LIGHT SPACY FEELING IN MY HEAD.  I HAVE HAD SEVERAL TEST DONE AND NONE SHOW ANYTHING.  I AM AT A POINT OF USING A CANE FOR FEAR OF FALLING.  I ALSO RECENTLY HAVE STARTED HAVING JUMPING TYPE SPASMS IN MY ARMS/LEGS WHEN RELAXING.  I DO NOT AT THIS POINT HAVE PAIN.  DO YOU THINK OVER USE OF ABUTEROL INHALER COULD BE DOING THIS OR PERHAPS ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION?  PLEASE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS THESE SYMPTOMS LET ME KNOW.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Jussi:

I would agree with the neurologist you saw.

CCF Neuro MD

[Jussi]

Hello again,

I went to see a neurologist yesterday. He seemed to be a very professional and a specialist. He said all my symptons I told him are very common with benign muscle tension headache. I told him I was worried about my headache, because it is located on the left side of my head. He said it is very common that these kinds of headaches are one-sided. He advised me to start exercising and stretch my muscles for 1 1/2 months to fix my problems. If that does not help I go to see him again and then I probably get some medication and MRI done. I asked him about brain tumors and he said if I had a tumor in head - the pressure feeling would worsen during exercise and when I lie down (my symptons always ease when I lie down) What do you think about this opinion?

I will let you know how things go. Thanks for this great forum. Your comments are certainly appreciated.

- Jussi -

[Jussi]

I forgot to tell in my previous message that the neurologist performed basic neurological tests: nerves in legs and arms, checked my eyes, made me walk on a line etc. He did not find anything unnormal.

- Jussi -

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Jussi:

Most tumors do not have bad headache associated with them.  However, eventually all tumors have neurological signs, such as seizures, loss of muscle strength etc.  Circulation does not affect whether to come down with a tumor.  It is genetics and environment and bad luck (we don't know what causes many tumors).  Yes, poor sleep and fatigue can certainly give you the symptoms you describe.

CCF Neuro MD

[Jussi]

I have this one last question - then I stop wasting your valuable time. The next comment I post after this is when I get the results of some neurological tests.

I am pre-horrified to go to tests, if I will find out I have a brain tumor or something as bad. uc - I have little children that worries me the most with my case.

My question is this: if I had a brain tumor - should the symptons like headache become only worse - not any better? Is it possible to start to feel better if I had a brain tumor. How does brain work with tumors? Does it itself develop some new ways which can ease the symptons, even when a person has tumor in head -  or is this impossible? What about exercise - at least fifteen last years I've been exercising a lot of various sports and for the past 1 1/2 years I have practically done nothing - does this have an serious affect on brain blood circulation etc??? Does poor sleep give symptons similar to mine?

thanks

- Jussi -

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

your welcome.

CCF Neuro MD

[Jussi]

Many thanks for your answers.

Jussi

[L J]

I couldn't help but zero in on the word "computers".  From personal experience... monitors are notorious.  They create headaches in users from prolonged exposure, especially late at night.  Most people have a problem balancing light.  In fact,  they gawk in nothing but the illumination of monitor light.  It's extremely hard on the eyes and opens up a new can of worms.

This is just a thought to consider in the headache department and when all tests are negative, etc.  Who knows?  It might be the sole cause.

Thanks,

L J

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Jussi:

This is where a neurologist would check your mental acumen, cranial nerve functioning, muscle strength and coordination, deep tendon reflexes, sensations, and balance.  The various laboratory tests depend on the physician and what the clinical history and physical exam show.  

CCF Neuro MD

[Jussi]

Hello again,

What is in "neurological exam"? What test will be taken? I don't know much about neurology, because I have not needed to know about neurology before.

Jussi

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for the comments.

CCF Neuro MD

[Tim to Lisa]

What antibiotics have you been taking for the bronchitis?  You said you were taking steriods with the antibiotics also.  You may want to check the following website for help.  This could or could not be related to your meds. I experienced similar events when taking these antibiotics and steriods. http://home.att.net/~quinolones/index/html
If this is the wrong address just do a search for Quinolone Antibiotics Adverse Reaction forum.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Jussi:

You really need to see a neurologist and get a good neurological exam before you undergo imaging.  You might need imaging but a good neurological exam might pinpoint the problem without one.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Jussi]

Thanks for your answers!

This is a great forum. When I  feel that there is something wrong with me it is good to have a chance to ask specialist for an answer. It is good to know what the possibilities are so you know what to expect and may be prepared for the worse too. Where I live we usually have to start with doctors of general medicine practises - so it may be kind of frustrating to go to see a doctor and he just offers you a pill for a start. I live in a country where is public health care and people usually have not insurances to cover the medical costs, if there is need for private appointments (means: costs a lot, but all the tests can be taken right away)not after long waiting period.

I myself now have to concider going into the magnetic scanning of my head and brains to see if something is wrong or not.

Thanks for your help

Jussi

[lisa]

Thanks for your help! I'm 41 years old. I have a history of two
periods in my life of some kind of cerebral inflammatory process.This happened after multiple pulmonary infections.These two episodes were three years apart. It has now been eleven years since the last acute time. The pulmonary infections have been treated well since that time (could have been histo) and I don't get them very often any more. I've had episodes since that time that one doctor said could be simple seizures. I feel funny,get tingling and a little heaviness on one side,get a headache and have to have a bowel movement. These have even been less and less. A few weeks ago after having bronchitis I started feeling these leftsided feelings. They aren't really bad. Could it be just from being run down from antibiotics and steroids? But what scared me was last night, in the phase of sleep when you are awake inside yourself- you remember dreams or are aware (sorry I don't know how to describe this) I felt a kind of wave where I heard a venous type sound. Like the wind, that accelrated then backed off and I was like having contractions in my body. Then I awakened with a start. I had a bad headache and have had one all day. Do you think it was a dream? seizure? should I be worried? Thanks for your reply

[Jussi]

Hello!

Thanks for your quick response. My posting was quite short, because I got so surprised that I was even allowed to post a message and I was leaving my work for the day. I usually just get a message that the maximum number of messages already posted that day.

I am 29 years old male.

Anyway - I felt very tired after many months of poor sleep. I put my diet on raw food. But then I messed up my stomach and felt even worse. I had an upper endoscope done and nothing was found and had an ultrasound check for my organs: liver etc. Everything was normal. After time my stomach started feel better. I slept longer too. This happened last spring.

But I felt I was experiencing headaches or strange feeling mainly on the right side of my head. It is like minor pressure and sometimes vibration feeling above my left ear. Sometimes my eyelid is shaking or moving (I may not know the correct terms, because English is not my first language)or some else muscle of my body. My muscles seem to function all right.

Last summer I took neck and shoulder massage - five times. I work with computers and that may cause problems. My doctor advised me to get a massage first. After that I've not seen my doctor. I hoped the massage helped, but I really don't know.

I've taken vitamins and slept pretty well nowadays. Do you think that psychological reasons can cause symptons? I feel that if I stop to think whether I have a headache or not I start to feel soon that headache?

I have no previous history of any illnesses.

I hope you can respond - then I will have to make a decision what to do next, if something needs to be done.

thanks

Jussi