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What Causes Neck Stiffness And Burning Sensation Under Left Arm?

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Posted on Tue, 8 Dec 2015
Question: I have neck stiffness and burning under my left arm from a prior injury in May. On Friday the stiffness got a little worse, then on Sunday the pain was so severe I was incapacitated. I have numb arms with strange sensations, tingling, burning, etc and headaches with funny sensations there like something is crawling in there. I attempted to go to work yesterday, developed double vision, nausea, went to the bathroom and ended up urinating down my leg before I could go. Should I seek medical attention?

After being sent home from work on Monday,I took a flexeril and woke up with a migraine. I do have a history of migraines but they are usually isolated to the right side and I take Topramax and so I havent had a large mean migraine in a while, kind of a 5 out of 10 usually on the right side.

My legs are weak, pain at the clavicle, top of the shouldars, under the arms, headaches, a full head, very sore neck. What could be going on? I fell out of a chair in May and it ricocheted back and hit me in the back of the head. They think I had a concussion at that time. The MRI of my cervical spine was unchanged from 5 years prior.
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (35 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Transient ischemic attack should be evaluated/excluded.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.

I have read your query and understand your concerns.

In my opinion, you should get medical evaluation in order to be examined further about two possible conditions that may be responsible for the symptoms:

- double vision, nausea, involuntary urination and weak limbs may be caused by transient ischemic attack of the posterior circulation of the brain.

- neck stiffness, headaches and crawling sensations may be caused by occipital neuralgia, or damaged upper cervical nerves probably since the accident and triggered by impaired blood supply of the head and neck during the probable transient ischemic attack.

So, I suggest you to discuss with your Neurologist about these issues and to be examined further.

Points that need more attention are neck vessels status and thus brain blood supply, neurological examination findings and most likely a brain MRI.

If transient ischemic attack or stroke is excluded after this evaluation, your symptoms were probably caused by migraine.

Hope you found the answer helpful.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Greetings.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho

Neurologist, Surgical

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 4493 Questions

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What Causes Neck Stiffness And Burning Sensation Under Left Arm?

Brief Answer: Transient ischemic attack should be evaluated/excluded. Detailed Answer: Hello and thanks for using HCM. I have read your query and understand your concerns. In my opinion, you should get medical evaluation in order to be examined further about two possible conditions that may be responsible for the symptoms: - double vision, nausea, involuntary urination and weak limbs may be caused by transient ischemic attack of the posterior circulation of the brain. - neck stiffness, headaches and crawling sensations may be caused by occipital neuralgia, or damaged upper cervical nerves probably since the accident and triggered by impaired blood supply of the head and neck during the probable transient ischemic attack. So, I suggest you to discuss with your Neurologist about these issues and to be examined further. Points that need more attention are neck vessels status and thus brain blood supply, neurological examination findings and most likely a brain MRI. If transient ischemic attack or stroke is excluded after this evaluation, your symptoms were probably caused by migraine. Hope you found the answer helpful. Let me know if I can assist you further. Greetings.