Brief Answer:
Numbness in the thigh and arm with dizziness

Detailed Answer:
Good evening. Thank you for your question and please take a look at the following information which I hope helps either you or your primary doctor decide on a direction to go with a workup. First of all it would be most helpful for your husband to get a thorough neurological examination (preferably by a specialist). In a 69 year old gentleman with left sided numbness in the thigh and arm one possibility would be that of a sensory stroke in the right brain, however, in that case I would expect much more involvement than just the thigh and upper arm and so stroke is less likely in my opinion.

Another consideration is that of a spinal cord compression by way of a spinal canal which is narrowed in the neck region at about the C3/4-C4/5 levels given the distribution of your complaints. However, for this diagnosis he will need a good sensory examination of the left extremities and then, for diagnostic studies would benefit from either a CT or MRI of the cervical spine and I would throw in an EMG/NCV study (placement of needles to check nerve conductivity and muscle/nerve responses to initiated shocks through the electrode needles).

Finally, I would check levels in blood of thyroid functions (TSH, FREE T4), folate, Vitamin D, D2, and D3, Hemoglobin A1C, and also Vitamin B12 levels as 1 or more of these elements may very well be in need of a "top off" so to speak.

The dizziness you refer has a good chance of being unrelated based upon your comment that the dizziness comes on when he goes to bed but gets better while in the supine position. The most common thing to think of in a 69 year old with these symptoms would be something called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), very common above age 60-65, and quite BENIGN as its name implies...but it can be debilitating if it gets worse. Treatment for that condition begins with first making the diagnosis properly. Again, a neurologist or well versed family practitioner/internist will be able to conduct the right examination and history to get the right information. If it is BPPV then, the good news that it is extremely treatable and we are successful nearly 80% of the time with something called the Brandt-Daroff Exercises.

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