Aa
Help Needed PLEASE
HI,
A long story with no answers yet. Maybe someone out there might have an idea.
Several weeks ago I had severe pain in the left side of my chest. This dissipated after about 3 minutes. In the middle of the night (3am) I was awoken with the same severe pain. Again this dissipated after several minutes. The next morning I awoke to find my face and arm were numb/tingling - left side.
I went to the hospital. After an EKG and a CT scan - no answers or problems discovered. Though my blood pressure and pulse were both quite high. 96/176, 100+.
A visit to a neurologist discovered nothing though he referred me to a cardiologist, and prescribed a BETA blocker.
I have since noticed as well: distinct recurring tingling (skin crawling) on the left side of my face. Specifically nose and chin. And I am having numerous twitches in my legs, arms, face - while at rest. Lastly very bad headaches in behind my right eye.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
A long story with no answers yet. Maybe someone out there might have an idea.
Several weeks ago I had severe pain in the left side of my chest. This dissipated after about 3 minutes. In the middle of the night (3am) I was awoken with the same severe pain. Again this dissipated after several minutes. The next morning I awoke to find my face and arm were numb/tingling - left side.
I went to the hospital. After an EKG and a CT scan - no answers or problems discovered. Though my blood pressure and pulse were both quite high. 96/176, 100+.
A visit to a neurologist discovered nothing though he referred me to a cardiologist, and prescribed a BETA blocker.
I have since noticed as well: distinct recurring tingling (skin crawling) on the left side of my face. Specifically nose and chin. And I am having numerous twitches in my legs, arms, face - while at rest. Lastly very bad headaches in behind my right eye.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Thanks for keeping me posted!
Thanks Caregiver! I know you understand our limitations on the net!
There is no harm in discussing this with your neurologist. Generally most of them will rule out TIAs. However there is one thing you must remember that I have not examined you. Nor is it possible to share detailed history on net. It is not the same as talking face to face. Hence you have to depend on the doctor who is examining you. I can only provide suggestions based on the information available. There is no harm in taking a second opinion.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Thanks for keeping me posted!
Thanks Caregiver! I know you understand our limitations on the net!
There is no harm in discussing this with your neurologist. Generally most of them will rule out TIAs. However there is one thing you must remember that I have not examined you. Nor is it possible to share detailed history on net. It is not the same as talking face to face. Hence you have to depend on the doctor who is examining you. I can only provide suggestions based on the information available. There is no harm in taking a second opinion.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Dr. Knee is on the money in thinking about a possible transient ischemic attack. In the medical unions this is called "rule out TIA". I concur in that guess.
Differential diagnosis is very difficult even in person, and there may be some "missing piece" in the history that is causing your neurologist to disagree.
All sorts of bad things happen when the supply of blood and nutrients to certain critical tissues are interrupted.
Sometimes, the conditions that cause these difficulties resolve and don't show up on an MRI.
Your neurologist is not necesssarily incompetent. Decades ago there qas a man named Stuart Chase who wrote a book called "The Tyranny of Words". I suspect that the definition of TIA as understood by your neurologist is somewhat different than that of myself and perhaps Dr. nee.
Generally the consensus on meanings is Stedman's medical dictionary.
Transient pain in the chest suich as you experiences is often of viral etiology, unaccompanies by productive pheglm and absent fever. They infections can be quite painful, are generally dull and positionally relieved, and generally self-resolve with a few days.
I would take some B-12 with folic acid, 1000 mg of omega-3 and some alpha-lipoic acid. It is not certain that these will help, but the alpha-lipoic acid is credited in some studies with helping to regenerate damaged nerves. B-12 deficiency can sometimes cause nerve sheath atrophy and the omega-3 will increase microcirculation.
Differential diagnosis is very difficult even in person, and there may be some "missing piece" in the history that is causing your neurologist to disagree.
All sorts of bad things happen when the supply of blood and nutrients to certain critical tissues are interrupted.
Sometimes, the conditions that cause these difficulties resolve and don't show up on an MRI.
Your neurologist is not necesssarily incompetent. Decades ago there qas a man named Stuart Chase who wrote a book called "The Tyranny of Words". I suspect that the definition of TIA as understood by your neurologist is somewhat different than that of myself and perhaps Dr. nee.
Generally the consensus on meanings is Stedman's medical dictionary.
Transient pain in the chest suich as you experiences is often of viral etiology, unaccompanies by productive pheglm and absent fever. They infections can be quite painful, are generally dull and positionally relieved, and generally self-resolve with a few days.
I would take some B-12 with folic acid, 1000 mg of omega-3 and some alpha-lipoic acid. It is not certain that these will help, but the alpha-lipoic acid is credited in some studies with helping to regenerate damaged nerves. B-12 deficiency can sometimes cause nerve sheath atrophy and the omega-3 will increase microcirculation.
Thanks all!
To clear up some misunderstanding. The BETA blocker was prescribed after 2 visits to the ER and one to the neurologist, over 7 days. I do normally have high blood pressure as confirmed by my Family doctor - 1+ years ago. Eager to her Dr. Nee's or Caregivers thoughts on this.
The neurologist has set up a MRI of the Brain and the Cervical area. A 2nd appointment is scheduled.
Dr. Nee if my Neurologist does not go with your suggestion of - episodes of transient ischemic attack - should I raise the issue with him? Or simply go elsewhere?
Imaher - no I have not had similar pains as you describe. Sorry hun.
Thanks again all.
To clear up some misunderstanding. The BETA blocker was prescribed after 2 visits to the ER and one to the neurologist, over 7 days. I do normally have high blood pressure as confirmed by my Family doctor - 1+ years ago. Eager to her Dr. Nee's or Caregivers thoughts on this.
The neurologist has set up a MRI of the Brain and the Cervical area. A 2nd appointment is scheduled.
Dr. Nee if my Neurologist does not go with your suggestion of - episodes of transient ischemic attack - should I raise the issue with him? Or simply go elsewhere?
Imaher - no I have not had similar pains as you describe. Sorry hun.
Thanks again all.
I would definitely get a second opinion. To me the symptoms seem like stroke symptoms. Do you drink a lot of beverages that has a lot of caffefine? Maybe they need to do a detailed blood work up to determine what may be going on with you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Like I told Merlin666, these could be episodes of transient ischemic attack wherein the blood supply to brain is temporarily cut off. The episodes last for a maximum of 24 hours and then resolve or a new symptom starts. To diagnose this you need a prompt evaluation (within 60 minutes) to identify the cause and determine appropriate therapy. CAT Scans or MRI done later or when you are fine will not reveal anything.
Hope this helps. Please consult a neurologist for this. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Like I told Merlin666, these could be episodes of transient ischemic attack wherein the blood supply to brain is temporarily cut off. The episodes last for a maximum of 24 hours and then resolve or a new symptom starts. To diagnose this you need a prompt evaluation (within 60 minutes) to identify the cause and determine appropriate therapy. CAT Scans or MRI done later or when you are fine will not reveal anything.
Hope this helps. Please consult a neurologist for this. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
funny i've had the same symptoms.. and like you i have NO CLUE whats going on i just kind of shrug it off. but i'm starting ot get a little worried becuase more numbing is occuring i wooke this morning and my whole left foot was numb and during the night before my leg was having un believeable pain somehting like "growing pains" only like a million times worse becuase it was sharp and then it would fade then it would get sharp then it would fade on and off again.. do you ever get that? like in your arms even? i've had that too as well as the headaches and chest pain like you.
I might add your symptoms are characteristic of problems due to neurological damage secondary to blockage of a blood vessel by a clot. I hesitate to use the work "stroke", but it is as good as any. Good hydration and good control of blood sugar is the way to handle this problem. Most physicians today recommend a baby aspirin a day to go with the package.
The chest pain sounds pleuritic...that is to say it does not appear as if you had a "heart attack".
Watchful waiting is often the only way to go in these situations.
The chest pain sounds pleuritic...that is to say it does not appear as if you had a "heart attack".
Watchful waiting is often the only way to go in these situations.
Very good, Dr. nee.
First of all, I do not believe there is any justification for prescribing a beta-blocker. At least based upon a single visit and a single taking of the pulse and blood pressure.
Decades ago I knew a fine physician who earned a living as a cardiologist. The first rule in evaluating blood pressure is to determine if the high blood pressure is compensatory.
His golden rule was "mother nature neber does nuthin' for nuthin'.
Your pulse rate was 100 plus. That's defined as tachycardia. Thus the elevated blood pressure was compensatory.
There are many possible reasons for the high heart rate, but generally it is because the P02 sensors in the carotids tell the heart that the brain/heart is not getting a sufficient blood supply so speed it up. The most likely reason is a temporary constriction in a major blood vessel. Probably not a complete blockage. But it may be. Thus the pressure has to be built up to get blood through collateral blood vessels to the critical organs. Often this is due to a spasm, or a "charlie horse" around a blood vessel. That is what is relieved by nitroglycerine. A beta-blocker will limit the ability of the heart to speed and compensate.
This is not necessarily a good plan of action.
So I would get off the beta-blocker and try to manage the blood pressure simply. A calcium supplement, garlic every day, good diet, pomegranite supplements, lose a little weight, and a daily dose of 1000mg of omega-3 would do for starters.
Two weeks on this protocol should determine if it works.
One question that is on my mine is whether that blood pressure and heart rate have those values all the time, or were just transitory. A "one-time" blood pressure reading, or ever "two-time" in a physician';s office does not, to my way of thinking, point in the direction of a beta-blocker as a first choice.
You need to get a blood pressure cuff and take your pressure at home several times during the day over a period of at least two weeks.
First of all, I do not believe there is any justification for prescribing a beta-blocker. At least based upon a single visit and a single taking of the pulse and blood pressure.
Decades ago I knew a fine physician who earned a living as a cardiologist. The first rule in evaluating blood pressure is to determine if the high blood pressure is compensatory.
His golden rule was "mother nature neber does nuthin' for nuthin'.
Your pulse rate was 100 plus. That's defined as tachycardia. Thus the elevated blood pressure was compensatory.
There are many possible reasons for the high heart rate, but generally it is because the P02 sensors in the carotids tell the heart that the brain/heart is not getting a sufficient blood supply so speed it up. The most likely reason is a temporary constriction in a major blood vessel. Probably not a complete blockage. But it may be. Thus the pressure has to be built up to get blood through collateral blood vessels to the critical organs. Often this is due to a spasm, or a "charlie horse" around a blood vessel. That is what is relieved by nitroglycerine. A beta-blocker will limit the ability of the heart to speed and compensate.
This is not necessarily a good plan of action.
So I would get off the beta-blocker and try to manage the blood pressure simply. A calcium supplement, garlic every day, good diet, pomegranite supplements, lose a little weight, and a daily dose of 1000mg of omega-3 would do for starters.
Two weeks on this protocol should determine if it works.
One question that is on my mine is whether that blood pressure and heart rate have those values all the time, or were just transitory. A "one-time" blood pressure reading, or ever "two-time" in a physician';s office does not, to my way of thinking, point in the direction of a beta-blocker as a first choice.
You need to get a blood pressure cuff and take your pressure at home several times during the day over a period of at least two weeks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Since your blood pressure is high these could be episodes of transient ischemic attack wherein the blood supply to brain is temporarily cut off. The episodes last for a maximum of 24 hours and then resolve or a new symptom starts. To diagnose this you need a prompt evaluation (within 60 minutes) to identify the cause and determine appropriate therapy. CAT Scans or MRI done later or when you are fine will not reveal anything.
Otherwise it could be due to nerve compression very high up in the cervical vertebra. Another possibility is benign intracranial hypertension. AA spinal tap helps both diagnose and treat it. Please consult another neurologist if need be. You may need to undergo MRI of the brain or cervical spine.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Since your blood pressure is high these could be episodes of transient ischemic attack wherein the blood supply to brain is temporarily cut off. The episodes last for a maximum of 24 hours and then resolve or a new symptom starts. To diagnose this you need a prompt evaluation (within 60 minutes) to identify the cause and determine appropriate therapy. CAT Scans or MRI done later or when you are fine will not reveal anything.
Otherwise it could be due to nerve compression very high up in the cervical vertebra. Another possibility is benign intracranial hypertension. AA spinal tap helps both diagnose and treat it. Please consult another neurologist if need be. You may need to undergo MRI of the brain or cervical spine.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
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