wierd one side of body problems

[Teet]

in 1985, I was given an epadorial for delivering my first born, It only stoped pain on one side of my body, I could feel the pain on one side, they did it again. then one time I got a hair perm and it only took on one side of my head, had to go and do it again. Then had a herniated disc in my back and was numb on my left leg, had the surgery and much better with pain, but my whole left side is numb to the touch. my leg has less feeling, but when I touch my left side of my face or left arm, it does not feel like touching my right side. Any answeres?

[mike1105]

luis-- the circulation is probably NOT getting pinched by the shoulder blade. It is probably getting pinched in the thoracic outlet area. Forward shoulder (rounded posture) can pinch vessels and nerves in this area---tight scalene muscles in the neck will pull up on the first rib pinching vessels and nerves against the clavicle.  becasue the scapular stabilizer muscles in your back are weak and stretched from this rounded posture, it may feel like your problem originates there but it probably does not. the fact that you get relief when you sit up straight is very telling to me. The fix for this problem may take a while--research TOS on the net. The problem may also be an extra cervical rib-- but if you had one it would have been visible on your x ray.

[Teet]

Thank you very much!

[Luis_]

Actually the reason I'm browsing the forums is because I have a problem on my back inside my left should blade that does not allow me to be in many positions because It cuts the circulation to my left arm unless I sit back in a chair in normal position. X-Ray shows no problems, next test is some kind of Scan, I'm not sure if it's a CT scan or something like that my doctor said. I still have to make that appointment this week. If anyone has any idea on what this can be please let me know. I started to have problems on this part of my back about 2 years ago. Now it's just constan.
   NO PAIN, but very uncomfortable when my arm starts feeling tingly. I can stop the tingly sensation that travels down my arm quickly by re-positioning my self and my arm. This tingly sensation travels all the way down my arm all the way to the tip of my fingers, but I feel the problem originates from the inside of my shoulder blade on my back. Please advise if you can.
Thanks,
~Lou~

[Luis_]

I'm not a Doctor so what ever I writte here are just thoughts.By common sence I would say that the perm thing is not related to your 1/2 body situation. But actually come to think about it, everything is possible so adding on to what the doctor said above...What if the molecules of your hair are different on one whole side of your body or head including the hair that grows. The hair may be of different structure (or molecules) being controlled by your brain because maybe your body does not produce the same type of molecules or cells on both sides! This would be something interesting! Then if that was the case I would say there is some kind of defficiency on the side that didn't take the first time. It would be like your brain growing straight hair on one side and curly on the other 1/2 being controlled by the brain.
My understanding is that the left side of the brain controls the right side and the right side of the brain controls the left. Ok I give up Let's call House!

[Stephen Ryu, MD]

Short answer: no because nothing really seems related to one another.

Epidural resulting on one side of your body being unaffected is possible. I assume they gave you more and it worked fine.

Hair perm is a result of a chemical process by which the interlocking molecules of hair are broken and reformed in a different position resulting in your hair being changed in shape. They messed up your other side which is why it didn't take and it cannot be a medical problem. Again, I assume they redid the other side and it worked fine.

If you had a herniated disc surgery and your entire left side of your  body is numb, that is not from your disc or surgery. Having numbness on one whole side of the body would be from a BRAIN lesion not a spine lesion. You should talk to a neurologist if your symptoms persit.