NUmbness on the left side

[mountaineersfan26]

I am 26 yrs old, in good health up to now. About a month ago my left hand went numb then a few minutes later my left foot went numb. This went on for about a month, then a few days ago I felt something like a cold chill going up the left side of my face and a few minutes later the left side of my face went numb. It went away for about an hour and when it came back my lips and throat went numb also. I had an MRI done and it came back negative, I went to the ER and the doctor said since the MRI came back negative that basically the only answer was that my anxiety problem was causing it along with my blood pressure. I was wanting to get a second opinon, but seems to be kind of hard to get a referal to a neuro. Any suggestions??

[CCFNeuroMD JT, MD]

Dear mountaineersfan26,

Thank you very much for your question. I am happy to address the issues that you pose, although it is important that you recognize that my impression is based entirely on the information you have provided in your posting and is by no means a replacement for an office visit with a neurologist.  Diagnosis is contingent on detailed history and physical exam and as such, the following information should be considered solely for educational purposes.

Based on the symptoms that you describe above, it is difficult for me to offer you any concrete diagnosis although there are various possibilities including migraine varient, transient ischemic attack (unlikely), and multiple sclerosis.  Of the above 3 possibilities, given your age and the description on symptoms, multiple sclerosis (MS) and migraine varient seem to be the most likely.  In most cases of MS, there are abnormalities apparent on MRI, however not all MRI's are created equal and sometimes, subtle abnormalites may not be appreciated by radiologists who do not specialize in neuroradiology.  There are particular MRI sequences and protocols that are also useful in looking for brain lesions characterisitic of MS.  Additionally, if there is clinical suspicion for MS and the MRI is unhelpful, a lumbar puncture may be necessary to help clinch the diagnosis.

Ultimately, I think you would be best served by seeing a neurologist.  Here at the Cleveland Clinic, we have a special MS center known as the Mellen Center which is staffed by MS specialists who deal with complex cases on a daily basis.  For your own information, MS is an autoimmune condition which attacks the myelin (the nerve coverings) of the central nervous system.  Symptoms may be manifest as weakness, numbness, tingling, etc.  There are two broad categories- primary progressive (rare) and relapsing remitting (most common).  The disease is most common in young women.  There are various treatments available ranging from steroids to immune system modulating drugs and MS specializing neurologists are especially adept at selecting the most appropriate drug for each patient.

I hope this information is helpful and I wish you the best of luck.

Sincerely,
JBT, MD

[mountaineersfan26]

THanks for the info. I wish I could just get my doctor to send me to a specialist so I could get diagnosed and start some kind of treatment. I haven't lost any movement, but I don''t know if it's where my lips and mouth are numb, but I've seem to have lost the sense of taste. The tingling or "numbness" flares up atleast once a day maybe more. I've been doing my own research since the doctors I see seem to not want to do anything for me, and I keep running into the same thing, and that's MS. You have any suggestiong on how to get in to a nuero without a referal from my family doctor??

[jadedangeleyes78]

Oh wow! I have had the left side numbing, the cold chills out of nowhere. the migraines, the seizures triggered by migraines, and the balance issues. I will trip over thin air. But hey the Dr's say nothing is wrong. I get so sick of them saying that when it feels like my head is at the temp of 104 degrees on the inside!

[mountaineersfan26]

I know how you feel, they keep telling me that e my MRI came back negative then theres not much that could be wrong. They keep teeling me that it has to be my anxiety that is causing me to go numb, but when I smile my top lip slants a little and my eye feels like its kind of closing on me. Still yet it seems that I can't get the doctor to give me a full check up and the proper test, but hang in there they will come arond, well lets hope anyways...


  

[ForTheDayNoMorePain]

HI ,

So sorry your going thru this. I can't give you any type of real answers. But, I had been going thru the lip, mouth and face numbness for 4 years. I have actuallyl gotten used to those and don't even notice them now.  

I had foot and leg pain, numbness also. Started off as neuroma's, but now is spreading thru my body.  Have had many tests and still having them.  My MD is working so hard with me now. I did have 2 MD's who just didn't get it. One told me it was because I am fat !  So I fired them  and kept on trying to find one who DID care, and was successful.  So I guess my "helpful" comment would be to say if your not getting the help you so much deserve, find a new MD.  

I actually have a new team of Dr's who do care very much and really want to help.  Hope you can also get the help you need. My neuro is stumped, but working so hard.  

[karilann]

I was told I had an anxiety problem in 1989. I think you'd have to hyperventilate REALLY hard to get the numbness you are describing.  And by then you would know that you are breathing all wrong.
Anyway; in 2002 I was diagosed  with MS.  The doctors were always looking at autoimmune disorders because I had a raised blood ANA level, but my  MRI's came up clear....until they did a spine MRI in 2002.  At that time my diseae was active so they were able to see active lesions in the spine and brain.
  I can't believe your primary doc won't give you a referral.  Maybe if you tell him/her that if he/she doesn't know whats wrong...then please send you to a nurologist.  It is not fair to leave you in this stressful situation.
I  had a numbish feeling down the entire right side of my body (they call it altered sensation) along with the mouth numbishness which also felt like it was burned.  Pins and needles in my feet then started along with restless leg syndrome.
Sometimes I feel as though I am slightly turning and it makes coordination and even driving difficult.
MS is a tough disorder to diagnose and can take years....however early intervention is key.  They look for 2 or more episodes separated by time (lets say you went numb in 2007 and it gets better  but comes back  in 2008.)  Lesions (multiple) in the brain and/or spine, symptoms sugguestive  of the disease and possibly a positive spinal tap. (I did not have one but many people do) There are other tests such as evoked potentals that you can take to see how your brain reacts to certain stimuli.
My husband once told me..."if your doc won't send you to a specialist, then find one that will".  Its important to be proactive in your own healthcare.  You need some answers or you will stress yourself out.  Good luck to you.

[itwillbeok]

Hello,  I had this happen to me after a nap.  I had gone to ER and had all the tests and nothing was diagnosed.  At first they thought it could by trigeminal neurgolia which is also called tic deloureax but I know someone who has this and it is also known as the worst pain known to man.  In my right eye, my vision became blurrier but returned in a week.
My doctor was not able to diagnose either.  I also have TMJ and I can't wear my bite at night which mean I am grinding my teeth.  Before this happened I had gone to my doctor for pressure in my temples.  It felt like I was sleeping on a rock in that area.  Because of this my doctor increased my blood pressure medicine.  My advice is don't worry about it, unless it becomes extre