please help!

[alex100]

Please help.  I have been having dailey spells of lightheadness/dizzy spells and right leg/arm numbness since nov. 2007.  I've been to 2 different dr.'s both think it's stress/anxiety or vertigo.  was treated for vertigo and have been on zoloft 50mg and ativan 1mg in Jan 2008.  this seemed to help a little but i'm still having the same symptoms I was having in Nov 2007.  Also I have lost 15 lbs since all this began.  The only test i've had was a nuclear stress test (dr thought it might be my heart). I asked about an MRI but both dr.'s said I didn't have symptoms to justify that test. I'm 36 married w/ 2 kids.  I just want to feel better.....

[alex100]

So you think I need an MRI?  I do not know if I need a doctor's rx for an MRI.  Our insurance will not pay anything til we hit $5000 - so I try not to have any unnessary test done.  I already paid $1300 for the nuclear stress test that came back OK.   I was thinking that I needed an MRI in the first place not a stress test!  

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

If the symptoms didn't warrant an MRI, they at least qualify for a complete inner ear screening tests. An electronystagmography would tell about any problems with the inner ear.

Since you have a concurrent arm and leg numbness, I would think of neuropathy or migraines. Some forms of migraines present without the actual headaches.

An MRI is essential. Can you get it done without the doctors' prescription?

Regards