One-sided numbness/no coordination/normal tests---please help! - Bell's Palsy Message Board

bookchick · 08-22-2007, 12:36 PM

Hello.....
30 yr old female
No smoking/rare drink

Last May I began having facial numbness. My face wasn't completely numb, but almost like it was alseep or had a little novacaine. It was tingly. It was completely left sided. My Dr. sent me to a Neurologist with these results:

CT Scan-normal
MRI-Chiari malformation very mild incidental finding (not causing symptoms)
B12, thyroid, electrolytes all normal ranges. No anemia either.

I still have the numbness and tingling on and off. Now when I get the "episodes", my arm has the same thing. My face has been numb on and off for a few days and last night my arm did it as well (for the 2nd time). I have no confustion, slurred speech, lack or control or use of my face or arm. My leg was involved on one occasion. It's always the left side.

I have bad muscle jerks. During my gallbladder surgery, I was given Dilantin because I was so "jerky". When I wake up, I literally cannot move. My back is so stiff I have to shimmy onto my side and slowly stretch out.

I also have periods of extreme clumsiness. I"ll pick up my keys and drop them, things just slip right through my hands. I'll trip over nothing. I get really weird vertigo feeling, and have no sense of balance.

I'm really afraid of these symptoms and the doctors have no answers to give. They look at me like I'm making it up. They say it's anxiety.
Hello, I didn't have anxiety until my face went numb!

Any insight, advice, support, anything would be appreciated.

MSNik · 08-22-2007, 01:28 PM

Hi bookchic. (cool name!)
So sorry to hear you have these issues...and I really feel for you having a doctor write them off as anxiety. Thats the hardest thing to deal with, isnt it?

Your symtpoms sound sort of like MS symtoms, but they also resemble so many other neurological disorders. Have you seen a good Neuro lately? Hate to say it, but you need to start over with a doctor who has some compassion and also some ability to dx ! Unforatunaetly, a MRI can change in a week....so I dont know how long ago you had that MRI, but its very possible that anything on it, was too small for the machine to pick up at the time, and is now larger, more identifiable. You should proabaly have it repeated.

Theres not much else I can say here, as your symptoms are so incredible common...but you really should seek a Neuro, one who specializes in diagnostics...if you dont have one, you can post here, with your part of the country and ask for referrals...

Good luck to you and take care. Remember, anxiety DOES make these things worse, so TRY to relax and think positively. I know its easier said then done, been there...but you really need a new doctor, and some new tests to really find out what is causing this.

Nikki

bookchick · 08-22-2007, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSNik

Hi bookchic. (cool name!)
So sorry to hear you have these issues...and I really feel for you having a doctor write them off as anxiety. Thats the hardest thing to deal with, isnt it?

Your symtpoms sound sort of like MS symtoms, but they also resemble so many other neurological disorders. Have you seen a good Neuro lately? Hate to say it, but you need to start over with a doctor who has some compassion and also some ability to dx ! Unforatunaetly, a MRI can change in a week....so I dont know how long ago you had that MRI, but its very possible that anything on it, was too small for the machine to pick up at the time, and is now larger, more identifiable. You should proabaly have it repeated.

Theres not much else I can say here, as your symptoms are so incredible common...but you really should seek a Neuro, one who specializes in diagnostics...if you dont have one, you can post here, with your part of the country and ask for referrals...

Good luck to you and take care. Remember, anxiety DOES make these things worse, so TRY to relax and think positively. I know its easier said then done, been there...but you really need a new doctor, and some new tests to really find out what is causing this.

Nikki

My MRI was done about one year ago. The Dr. said it was clean, said anxiety and sent me on my way. I started having the tingling sensations on the entire left side of my body (mostly arm and face) around 430am and they haven't stopped.
It is so scary and frustrating.
I just moved to another state and I don't have my new insurance cards (I have Cobra) so I can't go to a doctor yet. But when I get my info, I will be finding a neurologist.
I freaked out last night, but then calmed myself down. I kept saying you're okay, you can move, talk, think.
I really hope my next doctor is more thorough (sp?). I think because my primary dr. made a note of anxiety on my chart, a lot of my symptoms were ignored.
You said these symptoms can be caused by other problems, what disorders could they be attributed to?

FLFLOWERGIRL · 08-22-2007, 02:07 PM

bookchick--I have had some of the same sensations as you. I have had it every single day for 5-7mo.'s They also told me I was getting tension headaches and anxiety. My anxiety came like yours after I was sick and they can't help me or find out anything. It stresses you after being told a couple of times. When in reality they just can't/won't say I can't help you, you should go somewhere else. My family and husband know me and have watched my illness, so at least someone knows what is really going on.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. I would definitely not stop looking as long as you have the means. FLFLOWERGIRL

bookchick · 08-22-2007, 02:19 PM

Thanks flowergirl and nik for your help!

It really hurts to feel like the people who are supposed to be helping you think YOU are the problem. They prescribed me zoloft, which goes into a whole other story!

It's so scary...when you start with this numbness, you can't help but think....is it a stroke or something? Then I calm myself and say your facehas been numb off and on for a year, now your arm is following it. My MRI and CT were normal and I'm only 30yrs old.

I'm glad there is a board like this where at least we know if it's anxiety, it's mass anxiety!