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Avatar universal

pins and needles down left side- not a stroke but don't know what?!

Its not actually me with these symptoms but my father who is in hospital. he was admitted due to feeling pins in needles down his left side- arms, side and leg. CT scan was all clear, mri scan was all clear. Blood pressure fine, collestrial levels fine. A week later he is still in hospital with doctors trying to work out what it is. I thought i would pose the question to see if anyone else had an experience of this. The first few days in hospital he lost movement in his left hand and numbness in foot but these recovered really quickly and its just the pins and needles and headaches being the problem. they are currently testing blood and took fluid from his spine to analyse.

thanks for any information.
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Avatar universal
the next MRI scan showed 3 disks out of place at the top of his spine. The pressure causing the loss of strength to his left hand side. The spinal surgeon currently doesn't think an operation is necessary and he has been discharged. He is struggling quite a lot at home due to not to being able to sleep in a comfortable position where his neck is flat. Further xrays are being taken next week but he has the fear factor of the operation due to them being so high up in his spine. i think he would rather try and live with it then risk being paralysed if the worse happened after an operation.
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351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Numbness, tingling, loss of function that recovered, etc goes more in favor of a transient ischemic attack.
It could also be due to compression of cervical spinal nerves higher up and a MRI of cervical spine should also be done.
Vit B12 deficiency too should be looked into.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
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Avatar universal
Since your Father is in the hospital his doctors will need to find out exactly what is specifically wrong with him, but with the numbness it sounds as if it could have started as a circulatory issue, which can lead to many other things.  Also, since he is in the hospital, you and your Father should be able to ask his doctor(s) ANY questions you have.  You should speak his physician(s) - just ask them to make time for you to speak with them.  They are usually good about that while they are making rounds.  You will need to find out when your Father's doctor will be visiting him in the hospital, usually very early, or late in the day, and be there then to speak with the physician.  Let them know ahead of time that you would like to speak with him or her.  Good luck to you and your Father.  I hope he is better soon.      
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