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numbness on face, tongue, hands, and toes

I have had some problems with waking up numb in the face,tongue and feet. I have carpol tunnel on my hands so Im already use to my hands falling asleep, but when other things start to happen its scary. I went to see dr he sent me to a neuroligist, he says that I had small strokes and ms, when I asked what ms was he says that dont worry you wont make it to old age and go blind ,and  in wheel chair and die. what a jerk I drove home crying thinking I was never going to see my kids grow up. I went to the hospital, they did an catscan.it said that I had no fluid in the brain, tumor and no signs of stroke. im still scheduled for an mri but im scared of the mri and closed places, I realise they have open mri but i cant do that either. i need help, i dont know what is going on with my body.
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Avatar universal
It is so nice to find people with the same symptoms.  I have had these same issues for the past two years.  This past week they have taken a turn for the worst.  I have numbness in my face all the time on the right side - and pains one the right side of my head.  Two years ago I had an MRI of my neck and head and another one to look at all the blood vessels in my head and neck.  They all turned out just fine.  The symptoms have been coming and going since then.  My right leg from the waist down to my toes goes numb often as well.  For the past six months I have been dizzy to top it off.  The doc says vertigo.  I think all my symptoms are related.  I am 28 years old and feel like I am falling apart.  I am planning on going to the doctor again this week.  I have been very scared lately and my two young children can tell something is wrong.  Has anyone out there found any good explanations for the numbness of the face?
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Avatar universal
so far Ive had an mri on brain,catscan on brain,bloodtest,heart echo,neck,circulation test on arms and legs, and everything is good. they still havent figured out why I still get numb in the face and tongue when I wake up. recently I started having some weird stuff going on like coldness on my feet above the toes and on hands, neck pain, cramping and blood spots fron the uterus, and having to go to the restroom all at the same time. Im only 35 and I feel like im dying. hopefully all this will go away. I have anxiety,depression, and Im claustephobic. I just feel like im falling apart. hopefullly sooner or later someone will have an aswer. does anyone ever watch house on tv, on tuesday night? dont you just wish they really had a dr like that. anita
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Help! was started.
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A related discussion, numbness/tingling was started.
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Thank you for your response.
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Avatar universal
In June My ENT found a small cyst on the left  side of my brain.
He sent me to a neurologist for a closer look to make me feel better. The neurologist sent me for an MRI. I came out of the machine 3 times. I could not have the scan done. My neurologist is sending me to a new sitdown mir machine. Have any of you had this type MRI done. If so Do you think it will help with my serious claustiphobia?

Thanks you very much.

Coach11
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Avatar universal
I am experiencing the same thing!  And I think I need to see a new doctor.  I first had numbing in one foot on the toes and a bit in my abdomen.  Then the other leg.  I told my General Doctor that if I had to lose my high heels to get it to go away I would keep the numbing.  It didn't stop me from enjoying my life and it went away.  Then it came back on both legs especially the outside toes. Then that went away and now my outside fingers on my hands and just recently my tip of my tongue start going numb. I was referred to a neurologist.  I have had 2 (Neck and Brain) MRI's and he did state that they saw something on the fifth vertebrae but it is too tiny to really look at further.  Despite the history....this has been going on since April the doctor wanted to see if I had carpel tunnel.  He did these electric shocks to both my arms many times and then stuck me with pins.  Is that normal? He stated that the test were fine and now wants to do a spinal tap and a spinal MRI.  I am sooo scared.  I am getting another opinion but I really feel it is in my neck and he doesn't even want to look at that.
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Avatar universal
I can't believe I found you guys!! Whenevr I try to explain this weird numb feeling on my face, people look at me like I'm nuts!
I am 30, female, and have fibromyalgia and bi-polar 2 disorder. while I was diagnosed with these at 27 years old and 17 years old respectively, I have suffered from them both my whole life. My mother has as well. So whenever I get "something new" I will usually attribute it to one of these problems or medication side effects. But, this time it is different. I had this numb feeling start across my forehead and my eyelids, more prevalently on my right side. Then after a couple weeks, the numbness spread to my eyes and cheekbones, again strongest on right side. My vision is also off, I guess you could call it blurry, but it seems like more than that. That lasted about 3 or so more weeks and now the numbness has moved down my face to my neck, shoulders and upper chest. My ears also. My arms and fingers are also starting to be a little numb, definitly weak. I'm having trouble typing. This is really freaking me out! I have a really terrible doctor and have an HMO insurace so it's really hard to see a specialist. The hoops required to jump through are unbelieveable! Can someone please tell me what they think this is? Could it be related to the fibromylagia? Could maybe I have a form of MS instead of/also fibromyalgia??
HELP!!!
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Avatar universal
Im glad there someone out there that understands what im going through, thanks for your imput and I will surely keep you in mind. I have to have another mri done but, this time on my neck. talk to you later. anita
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Avatar universal
I am so sorry to hear about all of your problems you are experiencing. Keep your spirits up and keep plugging away at those tests and you will eventually know the cause. The 1st doctor you saw was very shrewd and cruel. I do not know if you are a Christian, but I would recommend you pray and ask God to help you through these trying times because you do not have to go through this alone. Give your burden to him and let him know that you cannot do this alone anymore and ask him to heal you and believe that he will.
My mother just suffered a mini stroke today and I was looking up information online on "numbness in the face" an this was brought me to you.
So I am trying to look up things for her that I can help her with.
If you ever just need someoneto talk to please email me @ ***@****. I would be happy to help in anyway that I can. You are so young, you are only 5 years older than me and that would be very scary.
May God bless you and I will pray for you.
Kim
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Avatar universal
i know its a struggle (and i'm not at the finish line myself by a long way) but youve got to keep reminding yourself that positive tests are a good sign.The docs are ruling out most major diseases by doing the tests so you are on the right road.

Depression and anxiety is no walk in the park (i know) but it can be treated and overcome if you get the right help. So keep going and best of luck!

Not sure about the house comment though. Seriously dodgy fake accent..............(and i'm Scottish!)
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Avatar universal
i have all the symptoms you have and its driving me mad,  i have been having them for two year,  i have been advised to see a neurologist at last.  every time i asked my dr he said.  lets wait and see what else happens.......   my optitian has notice my eye muscels are stiff too.    i recon every morning when i wake up i am in the wrong body,  i feel 80 not forty.....  i am scared but i just cant carry on with the not knowing.  i have to use a wheelchair as my legs feel heavy and tired all the time. be strong
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Avatar universal
I think its good news your MRI came out negative i can relate to your worries having had similar ones myself. Its also good you are going through the tests which will hopefully bring a fast conclusion to your problems. In a lot of cases these symptoms can be caused by anxiety, (even if you dont feel anxious).Whilst its good you are discounting possible neuro issues by testing, the normal tests so far and the fact that you have obviously been in a very stressful place for a while could make this a distinct possibility.(neck pain for example could easily be down to this)

its easy to get into a very negative frame of mind in these sort of situations which only adds to your problems--ive done it myself and found my symptoms only got worse.(escalating from carpal tunnel too )

So try and take heart from the positive news so far your docs (now!) seem to be moving things along so hopefully you will get an answer soon. take care
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Avatar universal
I went to do the mri and everything came out normal.now he wants me to do a ultra sound on my heart, hes leaning more towards heart congestion or sleep apnia. I now have to go do the sleep test. this is really nerve wreckin not knowing the cause of this. oh and now im having neck pain with a burning feeling. some one help.
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Avatar universal
Im so sorry that your going through the same thing. I hope everything is well. im still waiting on an answer from the med no response so far. I had went to the hospital and the dr told me to take bear aspirin since I was worried about strokes to take it daily. well Ive taking the aspirin and it does help me when I wake up Im not as numb on my face and tongue. hope this helps talk to you later.
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Avatar universal
I just had to comment on this post.  I cannot believe someone else has the same story.  I have been having very similar neuro. symptoms.  I have had this seasonally for the past few years, and when I went to see a neurologist he told me almost verbatim what your neuro. said.  He said "well I'm quite sure you have MS, but you're not going to die from it, and you may not even end up in a wheel chair.  Just don't go in jacuzzis.  
While I am in the midst of these episodes I get very depressed because I am so terrified to go back to the neuro.  I swore I would never bring it up again.  Ironically, I finally did yesterday at my cardiologists office.  I told him what the neuro. said and he couldn't believe it.  He is sending me to someone else.  I am still scared to death.
My problem is I can't have MRIs because I have a pacemaker.  Although, like you I barely survived them prior to pacemaker.  The way I figured out how to get through it was with valium and not to open my eyes even going into the tube, and not opening them at all throughout the test.  I hope you get answers.  My cardio. is sending me to a stroke specialist because I am high risk, but I find that hard to believe.  I hope the doc. answers soon.
Keep us posted!
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Avatar universal
I cannot give you a formal medical opinion over the internet unfortnately as this site is purely educational

Sensory symptoms alone, particulalry if symmetric and on both sides do not consitute any kind of diagnosis of MS or stroke

MS usually present with discrete gradual onset episodes of either blindness in one eye, loss of function of one limb or side or loss of sensation on one side of the body, that last from 1-3 weeks, then resolves. Diagnosis still requires eivdence of MS on MRI studies.

Strokes usually present with sudden onset of similar symptoms as above but lasting from a few seconds, and usually resolve within minutes to hours if minor, or longer. Again an MRI is usually necessary to make the diagnosis

There are many other causes of numbness, anywhere from vitamin deficiencies to diabetes to pinched nerves to genetic neuropathies
Your doctor or another if you get a second opinion, needs to sort it out

Good luck
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Avatar universal
well I went thursday to get mri in a open unit and they even gave me some volume and I stayed in the mri for 10 min and than I started to freak out like i needed to breathe. they said I need to go stronger on my sedation I dont want to go through that again so Im trying to get my insurance to let me go to a sitting down mri, this is crazy why cant I do this stupid test its so fustrating. thanks for your imputs anita
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Avatar universal
Hi, Had to read your post several times over to see if I actually read correctly! Frankly, I am disgusted the neuro would say somethimg like that to you. And amased that he would say you had MS when you hadn't even had an MRI! I had classic MS symptoms last year and my physician was so sure thats what it was, that he implied I had it before doing an MRI. Turns out it was normal and they think its complicated migrains that are giving me so much trouble. I went through all that panic for nothing! MS can only be diagnosed after certain tests, including an MRI, show results that meet certain criteria - for some, this can take years. There are many other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, some of which are easily treated. Of course by now you will have had the MRI and hopefully the results are quick to follow. If not, try not to get too stressed - this will only make symptoms worse. Best of luck to you.
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Avatar universal
Hi Jenny, Did your doctor mention anything about the findings in your MRI (sinus)? I just realized that I had something abnormal in my sinus and the doctors didn't pay attention, they said it wouldn't explain what I was feeling (it's basic a numbish sensation on my face all the times, for 1 year). Thanks rcs2
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Avatar universal
Hi Anitac, I'm sorry for your problem. I have had weird sensations on my face, etc for a year, so I know how afraid we can get. For me the problem is not knowing what we have, because our mind can go really far if you allow it... I would suggest finding a good neuro (I didn't find a good one yet), and talking to him about the MRI. You do need to have this test done, even if it doens't show anything, you can compare with others you have in the future. When I got my MRI done, I notice some patientes can take pills to relax/sleep, so there is alternative. Hope this help you, and try (I know how hard it can) to get you life going, sometimes it can take time until we learn what is going one. You will have ups and downs, but you - and only you- can control it. Hope you get better soon.
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thanks you guys I appreciate the help. Im going tomorrow for the mri hope it goes well talk to you later.anitac
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Avatar universal
I am also someone very scared of MRIs, even open ones.  (Once I put in an advance directive not to do one if I were in a coma!)

Well, I've had two since, and am getting more confident that I can cope with it when necessary.  With the right support and aids, it is possible.  Not only are there pills...you can also be on IV anesthesia... so you don't remember a thing.  Also some machines are much better than others...especially good are those on the pediatric wards. (And the pediatric techs and nurses are the greatest!!)  Some machines are super fast, as well.  The last one I did with with just valium, something I never thought possible.  

Nowadays you can have support people in the room with you, too.
So bring your favorite people, take the necessary meds, and get the medical care you need.



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