Dizziness, Tingling and Heaviness of Left Arm

[Blaze01]

For about 3 months now, I have been experiencing dizziness as well as heaviness, tingling sensation, and an overall weak feeling in my left arm mostly, but it also has traveled down the entire left side of my body. I am a 24 yr old healthy female. I went to the ER when it first started and was really bad. My entire left side was tingling, including the left side of my face, my left arm, leg and foot. It only happens on the LEFT side. When I walked it felt like my left ankle was just going to give out on me, it felt really weak. I was also EXREMELY dizzy. I was admitted and these symptoms were strong and lasted for over a day. I was in the hospital for 2 days and they ran a CT scan, an MRI, blood tests, and all came back negative. Gradually my symptoms started to fade. They released me after they had done every test they could think of without knowing what was causing them. Since then my symptoms have been coming and going, but not to the same intensity that they were when I went to the ER. Sometimes I will be fine and then it will just come on slowly and last for a few hours and then fade away. This happens daily if not every other day. It doesn't matter if I'm sitting or standing or being active or inactive, I will just start to feel really dizzy and off balance and then the arm heaviness, and ankle weakness will set in. I am going to an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor so he can run tests as well. I had an extremely bad ear infection about 6 months ago where my equilibrium was off and I was dizzy. I am hoping it's some kind of virus that can be treated and not something serious like my heart or MS or anything like that. If anyone has had similar symptoms or has been diagnosed with something, PLEASE let me know what you think. I cannot keep going on without getting any answers. There has to be an explaination out there somewhere! Thank you so much for your comments.

[Cappy81]

Hi,
I am also around your age (26 female), and about a month ago i started getting similair symptoms... i got tingling in by body and my right arm and back of neck gets heavy... i also get what i think are muscle spasms in my calves... and like you i went to the ER and my tests came back okay... i am also freaking out about MS... (was crying everyday). The tingling is getting a little better, i am going to see another neurologist for a second opinion... but i wanted to let you know that you are not alone. The docs make me feel like i am crazy but i know my body and something is going on and i am scared...

[Blaze01]

People keep telling me that I am too young to be having these symptoms and in the ER at first I felt like they thought I was a Hypochondriac. But when I stayed and was willing to go through 2 almost 3 days of tests, they took me seriously, but still couldn't find anything. I avoid going to the doctor and especially the Emergency Room at all costs! When I started having these symptoms I just knew something was wrong and this wasn't normal. I told my husband and he started freaking out about the left arm heaviness and numbness b/c my father died of a massive heart attack at a 54 only 2 years ago. I knew it probably wasn't heart related since I'm so young, but my husband is such a loving concerned person, he rushed me to the ER that night. That's when my symptoms were at their worst. Also, as I am typing right now, my left hand doesn't seem as responsive as my right hand and still feels heavy and weighted down. My appointment with the ENT is the first of May-that's the soonest I could get in for the ENG test and MRI with dye.  I PRAY that they can tell me what this is. In the Hospital they told me I was NOT anemic, also that my kidneys, liver, heart, and everything was working properly. They also did a sonogram of the nerves in my neck and it came back fine. I don't know how many other tests there are out there, but I'm willing to go through all of them to find out what this is and make it go away!

[Cappy81]

Hi,
  They can do a myelogram..to test the muscle and nerve connection...but it may be uncomfortable as they stick tiny needles in you. Also an EEG will check for any abnormal elecricity in your brain...there are seizures that cause these symptoms called simple partial seizures where you are fully awake and concious. I am a student nurse and my teacher has her masters and worked neurology and recommended these tests for me. I am waiting for my appt. too...good luck and keep me posted!

[Blaze01]

When I was 4 I had a seizure, I've heard it called a grandma seizure. I was put on dilantin (sp.) for a while and I haven't had one since. They took me off the medicine and I've been healthy ever since. I told the doctors this, but they didn't seem to think anything of it since it was so long ago, is there a chance that they are coming back?

[ethican]

i'm in the same boat as you. i have similar symptoms but can't get a diagnosis.  the tests have all been negative so far.  I'm thinking about visiting an ENT too.

[chick1]

Hi, I'm a little older than you,... 42, have always had hellacious headaches, but started left sided tingling and numbness last July, followed by dizziness and visual disturbances (tunnel vision, and jerky, jumpy eye movements, lasting only a few seconds) Tingling and numbess started in my foot, and gradually went up left side of body. Mid-Oct. was when it hit my face.... I freaked and saw Neuro, have been through all sorts of tests, 2 MRI's showed I have lesions in frontal white matter(5), I've had Lumbar puncture, lots of blood work. No definite diagnosis,......Neuro mentioned  possible lyme, MS, Sjogren's, Diabetes, hypertension, B-12 deficiency, all was "normal"........finally said most consistent with microangiopathy, but doesn;t know why...... the current diagnosis  is simply "Demyelinating Disease of the CNS, Unspecified"
I guess I will have follow-up, its been 3 months since last MRI, don't really know what else to do.........sit and wait???
Hope it helps to know there are others out there with similar crazy symptoms!

[dowma]

Hi am an the same age with very, very similar problems.  I too have been through all the tests as you and everything for the most part is normal.  MRI showed small FLAIR lesions.  Recently had VEEG to r/o seizure disorder which I don't have but some question as to wether there is "abnormal white matter disease".  Not sure where I stand now just waiting it out.  My symptoms seem to be more prominent on my right side, and really haven't had much visual changes just dizziness and numbness and extreme fatigue.  It is so variable it can be difficult to explain at times.  
Did you have MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine?  Did it show anything?  How about EMG?  

[squiggs124]

I just posted a question, just like yours.  I have been having practically the same symptoms.  I am 23 yrs old.  Pins and needles that won't go away, Weakness that comes and goes just in my left side.  I have been poked and prodded and with no results that can conclusively say what I have.  they did bloodwork, MRI, CT. EMG.  I don't really know what to tell you except that I know what your going through except see a Neurologist (there are alot of diseases that can cause these symptoms) and good luck.  

[chick1]

Hi, I have not had thoracic MRI, my C-spine was clear. I had NCS and EMG, but it was on lumbar region, showed Polyradiculopathy......basically nerve root inflammation, but again, it was on lower spine.
Has your Dr. mentioned microangiopathy? or any cause for lesions?

[dowma]

No my doctor had never mentioned anything regarding the lesions.  I have been to 3 neurologist ( 2 neuro, 1 epitologist) not sure where I'm going from here.  I have an apt. in a month with MD (Director of MS) at NYU, hoping to get some answers.  I have dealt with it for so long, approx. 8-9 months now whats one more month.  Did you mention that your spinal tap was negative?  If so how early in your diagnosis was it done?  I too had a negative spinal tap, would not want it repeated because I was laid up for 4 days with blood patch and terrible headache.  What I find so disconcerning is how much it is interfering with my job and personal life.  I was thinking of taking a new position but am afraid to in this present condition.  I just want some answers and medication if possible so I can return to the way I was prior to all this.  Did you get responses say that it's stress?  I'm tired of that response, o.k I'm female  and in my 40's and yes have some stress in my life but come on now!!! Nice talking with you.  

[chick1]

I had a lumbar puncture in early Nov......hope I never have to have another one!
The procedure itself wasn't so bad, but I  developed spinal headache, had to go to ER for bloodpatch......NOT FUN!!!! It hurt like heck! got sick, threw-up while the needle was still in my back, with the nurse and Dr. telling me to sit still.......imagine dry heaving, and puking with a 3 inch needle in your back, trying to stay still!!!!!! impossible...but yea..it was negative for MS profile, and lyme and whatever else they tested, a huge list, if you include blood tests.
I guess I'm gonna see my current Neuro one more time, and see if he has any more clues..........He has not mentioned stress, he said from the start that he thought "something was going on in my noggin, possibly the thalamus", and sent me immediately for MRI, during follow-up visit, after telling me he "didn't have a clue what is going on" I asked him if he thought I was crazy, he said no, he did believe something was causing my symptoms, just "perhaps it's too early for it to show up in tests" ........I am hoping for some sort of news, good or bad, just any diagnosis, I'm tired of tests, and not knowing.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask, although you may want to start a new post, ......not sure how many replies these threads allow!

[caeextreme]

I also i'm experiencing this, I'm a 32 year female. I have been getting tingling in my face for over a month now, heaviness in my left are, feeling light headed, alot of chest pressure, headaches that appear out of nowhere and sometime blury vision in my right eye. I'm going to my doctor this week to have them run any test that is possible. My reponse that I keep getting from the doctor is that its anxiety, but I personaly think that it much more than that.Was wondering if anyone had an answer for these symptoms are what kind of test I should have done.

Thanks,
Brandi

[stinkypinky]

hello, i am a 51 year old female suffering some of the same symptoms and then some.  i was in a car accident about three months ago and the symptoms i already had got worse.  i have neck pain, left shoulder and arm pain, constant headache, dizziness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, pins and needles all over,my legs feel very heavy and weak, eye pain and trouble with balance.  i have seen my neuro doc twice and he said my MRI showed lesions in the white matter of my frontal lobes and other abnormalities.  he tested me for lyme, RA, lupus, etc. but, all came back negative.  he said it is too soon to do another MRI and wants me to see a physiatrist and maybe get cortisone shots.  i  see him in early Feb. and hope at that time he will do more specific test to rule MS.  meanwhile, he has me on tramadol and neurontin for pain.  the neurontin makes me feel dopey but, it helps with pain a little.  i try to keep up with my normal routine but, it is really difficult sometimes.  i try to keep a positive outlook and take one day at a time.  hope to hear from you guys.  thanks, stinkypinky  

[cortex_toom]

hi i'm new here i want to share the same feelings with you out there, you are not alone, i was a healthy 30 year old female before at my 31st birthday i developed pins and needles all over my body that won't go away, it has been 4 months, i went to many doctors, who all conclude that i don't have anything wrong, i went to a neuro he said that i have good reflexes, and i shouldn't worry about anything, but he said I need to go for an EMG test.. he said i don't need MRI imaging because my symptoms are mainly neurological and it is probably due to anxiety or stress...it's true at times i think because i am seated in the same position, and in a bad posture for 8 hours a day, but can this result a chronic paresthesia? all the people including my parents (that i meet) say that i'm a psycho... but i hope here i find people that can support me...
write back

[active35]

AMEN!!! I am a 35 yr. old female with, can you guess, very similar symptoms.  I'm tired of my foot, really my ankle, giving out on me.  I feel like a knucklehead walking around with a limp and people asking me what I did to myself!  I had ACDF surgery in March '07.  This is a cervical spine surgery to remove a disc and fusion.  Only, I haven't fused at all and it's been 10 months.  I started having these issues after surgery.  I also was found to have a cyst (arachnoid) in my brain, very small, maybe the size of my pinky fingernail.  I was also told by a neurologist that I was too stressed!  PISSED ME OFF!!!  HE doesn't even know me, how can he make such a claim!  I found out about the non-fusion later.  All I can say is stay strong ladies, we are women... hear us...moan!! (Sorry!)  I'm just elated to find I'm not crazy after all!

[stinkypinky]

good morning, my neuro doc doesn't think i'm crazy and neither should your doc.  these symptoms are real!!  i feel your pain as well as everyone else who has these symptoms.  the last several days were extremely difficult for me. i had widespread and severe pain .  i was unable to perform all of may daily activities.  i could do only so much before being forced to take a rest.  i am a homemaker so i don't have to worry about being fired!!  it is, however extremely frustrating and depressing.  on bad days i take it one hour at a time as the pain is constant.  i try to maintain a positive outlook but, sometimes it is hard to do so.  i have to call my neuro doc's office today to get the name of a physiatrist. i don't know if seeing him or her will help but, my doc thinks this should be the next step.  i hope you are not having too bad a day today and that it helps to speak with someone who understands.   stinkypinky

[cortex_toom]

hi pinky thanks for your comments, today it was better although still with the tingling in my hands, i also have tingling in my chest, i was also tested for that, and its neurological not related to the heart, but the pricking is still annoying, i hope the neuro was right maybe i'm stressed or my body is too stressed, i message my hands and feet and sometimes my face (my face tingles also but not frequently as my hands feet and neck /chest) ..my head doesn't ache at all, so i think i would exclude any possibilty that i can have a cyst in my head or something bad.., i hope.., pray for me that my emg will not be abnormal and that i get soon an appointment (i  have applied for the appointment but seems government hospital take a lot of time to make an appointment - they think it is not urgent) i tried to apply in a private hospital, but it was too expensive...
write back

[stinkypinky]

i know how you feel about doc and hospital bills.  i have Medicare and it only covers 80%.  i will pray that your EMG is abnormal, at least you and your doc will have something to go on.  it is frustrating when tests come back negative but the pain and pins and needles continues.  i went out today for the first time in nine days.  i walked up the street (about five houses up) to visit my cousin.  the early part of the day wasn't too bad pain wise.  as i sat and talked with my cousin the pain gradually returned full force.  i was able to visit for two hours which is good for me.  the walk home although short was extremely painful and difficult.  my pcp wants me to walk for exercise.  how am i supposed to do that when a 100 yard walk is excruciating?  hopefully this physiatrist i will be seeing will be able to help.  i also hope and pray that you will get and appt. soon.  what i have done in the past to get and appt. ASAP is to call everyday to ask if there is a cancellation and if so, can i take that appt.  sometimes it works.  hope you feel at least a little better tonite.   all my best, stinkypinky

[cortex_toom]

i read somewhere it can be fibromalygia, it presents with paresthesias, at work i have stress too, but my neuro assured me that the EMG will most probably be normal, then it would be something (like a tension headache) with unusual nuisance but still doc must administer some therapy or medicine, i also read that idiopatic, neuropathy comes with no cause. Tension can trigger chronic paresthesia, but still it is frustrating. Me too, i want to get the appointment soon... the problem that even emergancy people have to wait when they are in the hospital which is not really nice, the nurses are even a bit rude with them, a man with thromboses went to the hospital for Emergency care and the nurses told him to wait to fill in the many papers coz some of them they had lost, isn't it funny? when they had to run him in the emergency room?
anyway do you think EMG can pick up all neverous system problems? because MRI involves radiocativity that's why the neuro thought EMG is best.

[stinkypinky]

hi,  it could be fibromyalgia.  i have been diagnosed with fibro.  however, new symptoms have my neuro questioning MS.  i don't know if EMG can pick up all nervous system problems but, i'm sure it is a good diagnostic tool.  i have not had EMG yet.  i know what you mean about the ER.  they are more concerned about how you are going to pay than about your health.  i know nurses are overworked but, they are not underpaid.  some of them can be rude and so are some doctors.  when i go to the ER i always hope i won't get someone in a bad mood or a doc who blows me off.  i usually don't receive quality care at the ER in my city.  they just treat and street even if you are in severe pain.  that's why i don't go to the ER even when i really need to .  oh well, that's just the way it is.  too many patients, not enough nurses and docs.  hope you get some relief soon.  

[cortex_toom]

hi thanks for your comment, today i feel better, i was depressed sometimes i thought i had something which is life threatening, but if that was so, there would be problems in your vision and hearing, and mostly focused in your CNS (nerves of the skull rather than your hands or feet or even navel/or under(sorry for the rude word but had to put it to give details to the symptoms) , people with infection or tumor in their heads don't have paresthesia in their necks or chest or feet or lips etc..but mainly headache and vomiting rather than paresthesia, (i talked to a nurse also about that they all say headache and having an unusual skin patches etc.., anyway, the NEuro didn't take any money and he examined the eye movements too, (from the eyes one can tell (reflexes probably- the wya you move the eyes/pupil even difference in pupil size can make a doctor /neuro suspect about abnormal brain growths.) i mean even if itold him that my hands and feet mostly hurt, he also examined my head/eyes and all neuro related then he scheduled for EMG if it was head related probably he would do an MRI because only that can pick up abnormalities in the brain, and if a doctor suspects otherwise probably he would schedule for the MRI< without a Doctor's consent, we cannot go and do MRI test by ourselves, that's the rule here...in my country,.. and all doctors i visited never consulted me MRI but EMG..which means the problems is periferal nerve related...probably1..anyway today i feel better and worked overtime too......sorry for my long letter, well i hope to hear from you..i hope i can improve from time to time, my cousin have been getting same symptoms and did the mri of his brain and doctors told him to go to a psychiatrist rather than a neuro..it seems these symptoms are getting very common with many people..now my cousin is going for therapy (and message therapy too)...i do this myself, because i am good at messaging my body and it relieved a lot of my symptoms...if i can do it alone i won't spend any money to go for a massure..
write back

[stinkypinky]

when i visited my cousin the other day she also complained of some of the symptoms i have.  he doc gave her cortisone injections which didn't help much.  this makes me worry that the cortisone inj. i will get won't help either.  i am not experienecing too much pain today, praise the Lord!!  i do have some pain and discomfort but, it is not debilitating as it is on most days.  i even have  enough energy to clean out my spare room.  being able to do this means a lot to me.  i am a homemaker and taking care of the house is my job.  it is frustrating and depressing when i can't do this.  i enjoy cooking, cleaning and decorating in my home.  taking care of my family is my number one priority.  i was born to be a caregiver.  i feel guilty and useless when i can't care for my family the way i want to.  but, today is a good day and i will focus on enjoying it.  i'm glad that you have gotten to see a doc.  i too, have massaged my body where possible.  i have one of those little hand held electronic massagers.  it helps somewhat but, i can't reach everywhere.  here in the U.S., we need a doc's order to get an MRI too.  i had my brain MRI because i was in a car accident and hit my head really hard on the window.  my primary doc ordered it to see if i had a concussion.  i didn't but, it did show frontal lobe lesions and abnormalities in the peduncle.  whatever that is!!  now i know why i've always been a little wacky!!  i'm glad that you are feeling a little better.  the days that are good really do make a difference in your outlook on life.  hope to hear from you, stinkypinky  

[cortex_toom]

hi again thanks for writing and making me feel a bit better, sometimes i wish  i can get an mri to rule out ms, but i also read that ALS and MS present with tingling and burning pain but also with no reflexes, at the neuro clinic i was tested for eye reflexes, hands feet and i was told to lie down while the neuro was tapping my knees and feet with a hammer like object, to test deep reflexes, before he scheduled me for the EMG< i haven't got the appointment yet because in my country this proceedure is too slow, but i hope i get it soon..., today it has been of a tingling day , i had a lot of stressful work (for the mind) like collecting money and i am always on stress before i can count and check if all is ok, after all was ok and the job done will i still got the tingling so i went home and did some message with aroma oils which releaved my symptoms, i think these symptoms are often not serious but they are so disabling that you cannot manage an everyday life at work...the only worry about these feelings are ms and als...but it seems that when i lift something i don't get muscle weakness just more tingling that is more like burning sensations rather than muscle pain..it itch sometimes and feels like sand has been thrown on your body...muscle pains are sometimes experianced when i lift something but never weakness or lack of reflexes...it is often in the hands rather than in my feet...and sometimes in my chest....
i am going to sleep (sounds fibromalygia is made up of tingling too that starts with muscle pain which resemble much my symptoms..)
well rite back i'm glad you are better....

[stinkypinky]

hello, i've had fibromyalgia for ten years.  it does involve muscle pain, stiffness and weakness.  no prescription or over the counter meds help.  there is a new drug called Lyrica that is supposed to help but, my insurance company won't cover it.  is is expensive so, i have to do without as i am on a fixed income.  the symptoms i have now such as:dizziness, pins and needles, constant headache,eye pain and neck pain are recent.  i see my neuro doc in a couple of weeks and will ask him to explain more fully the lesions and abnormalities in my brain.  i know what you mean about being afraid that it's MS or ALS.  i try not think about it and just get thru the day.  i am not hurting as much today as i thought i would be.  cleaning my spare room was a marathon event.  i also cooked a dinner made from scratch.  today i am not going to push myself as hard.  i will just do the normal stuff, making beds, doing dishes, doing laundry and tidying up!  i do hope your appointment for EMG comes quickly.  does taking a hot shower or bath make your symptoms better or worse?  taking a hot shower makes my muscles feel better but seems to irritate my skin.  i use bodywash and soap for sensitive skin and i don't get a rash.  the water feels like little needles hitting my skin.  just another weird symptom!  i hope you have a good weekend and are feeling better.  try to stay positive!  stinkypinky