Does anyone know what can cause fainting along with temporary paralysis?

[Joanna993]

Hi,

For years I've had problems randomly fainting (usually just once or twice a year). I always wake up within a few seconds after someone catches me, and am usually just tired afterward.

The last time I fainted I was unconscious for a bit longer than usual (maybe 15 seconds...I actually dreamed this time while I was unconscious), and when I woke up a numb feeling was creeping over my legs and arms. It also went over half my face, then stopped. My hands were clenched together really tightly. I was afraid I would break my fingers at the time. I could feel pressure from them, but couldn't move them at all for at least five minutes. Gradually, the numbness went away and I could move my fingers.

I've had MRIs, heart tests, blood tests, nerve tests...nearly everything comes back negative. I had a positive ANA test (but all the autoimmune disease tests they've done have come back negative). I was diagnosed with Lyme disease about a year ago and was treated for it. Some doctors think I still have it, some disagree. I do have Raynaud's syndrome.

Anyone have any thoughts as to what could cause the fainting/temporarily paralysis episode? The doctors pretty much have given up and just said to come back whenever it happens again.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[SassyLassie]

Hello~Have you been tested for seizures (epilepsy) I suggest maybe seeing a neurologist as they specialize in neurological disorders.

I also think you might benefit from chiropractic adjustments of you neck and upper back. If you have misplaced vertebrae in these areas, you can sometimes expect symptoms like those you have describe. A few adjustments should have you feeling better in no time if this is the case.

[Red_Star]

Check out the documentary "Under Our Skin" which is about chronic Lyme disease. That's an eye opener! I have four autoimmune diseases and have a negative ANA btw. Hmmm :)  

I did find a study entitled - Syncope and Raynaud's disease. Syncope is the medical term for fainting. This does make sense that fainting could be a symptom of Raynaud's due to ischaemia (restriction in blood supply to tissues) in the brain.  Raynaud's is "characterised by episodic attacks of digital vasospasm and ischaemia on exposure to cold, or less commonly, emotional stress."  Treatment with the drug nifedipine is mentioned to stop recurrent fainting in all RD (raynaud's disease) patients.

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"CONCLUSIONS:
The association of syncope to RD was unrelated to chance or migraine. The temporal relation between syncope and Raynaud's phenomenon but not headache was statistically significant. Treatment with nifedipine stopped recurrent syncope in all patients. Syncope related to RD may result from brainstem ischemia. Unexplained recurrent syncope should prompt screening for RD."

Syncope and Raynaud's disease Arch Neurol. 2012 May;69(5):608-13.

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"Raynaud's phenomenon is often treated with nifedipine. A 2005 meta-analysis showed modest benefits (33% decrease in attack severity, 2.8-5 reduction in absolute number of attacks per week); it does conclude that most included studies used low doses of nifedipine.[12]"  

Wikipedia - Nifedipine