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What Causes Numbness On Right Side Of Face And Weakness In Right Arm?
Question: For the last 9 months I have been experiencing many different random symptoms. I get a numb feeling on the right side of my face yet I have feeling in it. I get a weak feeling in my right arm and leg as though it is hanging but i can move and use it and I have complete strength in it. I have had a work up by cardiologist which included ekg,stress test,echo and blood work all was normal. I have had a work up by neurologist which included Mri and Mra of head, Mri of cervical spine, eeg, emg, ultrasound of carotid arteries, blood work which included cbc plus metabolic panel, sed rate and ana, vitamin b and magnesium levels, cholesterol all was normal but I still get these symptoms. Any recommendation on what else to do? It's so scary because I always feel like I am having a stroke. Is it possible for anxiety to cause symptoms on one side of the body? I don't know what else to do and my gp is at a loss.
Brief Answer:
Anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HEALTH CARE MAGIC
You have numb feeling on right side of face and abnormal feeling on right side of body since last 9 months. All investigations including EKG, stress ECHO, blood workup, MRI and MR angiography, EEG, MRI spine, EMG, Metabolic tests including lipid and vitamin B12 came normal.
First of all I would like to tell you that low B12 levels could be the reason for such feeling of numbness and weakness. But your B12 levels came normal so we can easily rule out the possibility.
As most of investigations including neurological ones came normal so we are left with anxiety with somatic symptoms as possibility. I would advise you to please visit a psychiatrist for evaluation and treatment.
Anxiety may present with feelings of numbness on one side along with weakness. Somatic symptoms are clinical symptoms which are seen in body while no organic basis can be found. As everything came normal and examination didn't result in any positive finding so the numbness and weakness you are having are due to anxiety and somatic symptoms only.
Consult a psychiatrist and get opinion. Before going to psychiatrist get your Thyroid hormones levels checked (if not done already), hypothyroidism may present with such symptoms.
Thanks, hope this helps you. If you have more unresolved doubts please ask again.
Anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HEALTH CARE MAGIC
You have numb feeling on right side of face and abnormal feeling on right side of body since last 9 months. All investigations including EKG, stress ECHO, blood workup, MRI and MR angiography, EEG, MRI spine, EMG, Metabolic tests including lipid and vitamin B12 came normal.
First of all I would like to tell you that low B12 levels could be the reason for such feeling of numbness and weakness. But your B12 levels came normal so we can easily rule out the possibility.
As most of investigations including neurological ones came normal so we are left with anxiety with somatic symptoms as possibility. I would advise you to please visit a psychiatrist for evaluation and treatment.
Anxiety may present with feelings of numbness on one side along with weakness. Somatic symptoms are clinical symptoms which are seen in body while no organic basis can be found. As everything came normal and examination didn't result in any positive finding so the numbness and weakness you are having are due to anxiety and somatic symptoms only.
Consult a psychiatrist and get opinion. Before going to psychiatrist get your Thyroid hormones levels checked (if not done already), hypothyroidism may present with such symptoms.
Thanks, hope this helps you. If you have more unresolved doubts please ask again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you for your response. Some of the other symptoms that led to the tests I have had are: heart palpitations, shortness of breath, tingling in hands and feet that comes and goes, sore muscles, foggy head /drunk feeling (which I rarely ever drink). My concern is that there may be a medical issue that is being overlooked and dismissed as anxiety. I have had my thyroid checked and was told it was fine. (My TSH was .80) Are there any other possibilities or tests I should have?.
Brief Answer:
ANXIETY
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking again
The symptoms like palpitations, shortness of breath, tingling in hands and feet, sore or achy muscles, dizzy head etc are due to anxiety only. As per my opinion most of medical issues have been already given proper attention.
You have been through complete metabolic testing to rule out any metabolic cause of such symptoms. B12 deficiency has been ruled out completely. Hormonal reasons especially hypothyroidism has been ruled out as the levels are normal.
You underwent neuroimaging for brain and spine along with EMG, EEG so neurological causes have been ruled out. All blood tests came normal so we can easily rule out localised and generalised infections.
ECG, ECHO and cardiac tests came normal so cardiac causes has been ruled out. Now we are left with anxiety only and there is no need to go for more tests. Anxiety has typical presentation with palpitations, tingling which is episodic and not continuous, breathlessness, dizziness etc. I would advise you to consult a psychiatrist for treatment.
In anxiety with such symptoms commonly medicines like Duloxetine, Venlafaxine, Sertraline etc have good roles. Medicines like Propranolol can be used to reduces symptomatic palpitations and tremors. Apart from that relaxation exercises and yoga have good effects. Consult a psychiatrist for prescription of drugs and proper evaluation.
Hope this helps you, If you still have more doubts ask again or if satisfied with conversation kindly close the query.
Thanks, wish you a good health
ANXIETY
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking again
The symptoms like palpitations, shortness of breath, tingling in hands and feet, sore or achy muscles, dizzy head etc are due to anxiety only. As per my opinion most of medical issues have been already given proper attention.
You have been through complete metabolic testing to rule out any metabolic cause of such symptoms. B12 deficiency has been ruled out completely. Hormonal reasons especially hypothyroidism has been ruled out as the levels are normal.
You underwent neuroimaging for brain and spine along with EMG, EEG so neurological causes have been ruled out. All blood tests came normal so we can easily rule out localised and generalised infections.
ECG, ECHO and cardiac tests came normal so cardiac causes has been ruled out. Now we are left with anxiety only and there is no need to go for more tests. Anxiety has typical presentation with palpitations, tingling which is episodic and not continuous, breathlessness, dizziness etc. I would advise you to consult a psychiatrist for treatment.
In anxiety with such symptoms commonly medicines like Duloxetine, Venlafaxine, Sertraline etc have good roles. Medicines like Propranolol can be used to reduces symptomatic palpitations and tremors. Apart from that relaxation exercises and yoga have good effects. Consult a psychiatrist for prescription of drugs and proper evaluation.
Hope this helps you, If you still have more doubts ask again or if satisfied with conversation kindly close the query.
Thanks, wish you a good health
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thanks again. I've read that hyperventilating causes the weak muscles but I get weak feeling (again I still have strength) when I'm not hyperventilating. Also, I've read that the numbness in head and face would come from tense muscles in the neck and shoulders but I experience the numb sensation even when I don't have tension in my neck and shoulders. I would love to understand how anxiety/panic could cause these symptoms. Especially since they come out of the blue. Thanks so much for your help...I appreciate it!
Brief Answer:
Pathophysiology of anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking again
Yes hyperventilation can cause such symptoms. Habitual hyperventilation results in carbon dioxide washout. CO2 is stimulant of respiratory centre and when it fails to stimulate rapid shallow breathing occurs which result in decreased oxygen. This causes fatigue in muscles and and symptoms like you have mentioned. Though you haven't mentioned that you have hyperventilation still I would like you to do Breathing Exercises. Try to control breathing rate less than 10-12 per minute with long inspiration and shallow expiration. This will result in relaxation also and will help to reduce anxiety.
In anxiety two main neurotransmitters are involved Noradrenalin (NE) and Serotonin. Increased autonomic system tone causes rapid beating of heart rate, and tremors. Reduced serotonin and NE cause feelings of chronic fatigue and reduced alertness. Why they come out of blue? Because there occur phasic variations in secretion of these chemicals and slight anxiety provoking stimulus is perceived as severe stimulus in individuals. This causes panic and anxiety symptoms.
This is the rational behind treatment of anxiety and panic symptoms. Drugs used in anxiety usually help to correct neurotransmission of both NE and serotonin by causing changes at receptor levels.
I have tried to explain in simple language, hope you understand it. Still if you have more doubts ask again.
Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi,
Consultant Psychiatrist
Pathophysiology of anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking again
Yes hyperventilation can cause such symptoms. Habitual hyperventilation results in carbon dioxide washout. CO2 is stimulant of respiratory centre and when it fails to stimulate rapid shallow breathing occurs which result in decreased oxygen. This causes fatigue in muscles and and symptoms like you have mentioned. Though you haven't mentioned that you have hyperventilation still I would like you to do Breathing Exercises. Try to control breathing rate less than 10-12 per minute with long inspiration and shallow expiration. This will result in relaxation also and will help to reduce anxiety.
In anxiety two main neurotransmitters are involved Noradrenalin (NE) and Serotonin. Increased autonomic system tone causes rapid beating of heart rate, and tremors. Reduced serotonin and NE cause feelings of chronic fatigue and reduced alertness. Why they come out of blue? Because there occur phasic variations in secretion of these chemicals and slight anxiety provoking stimulus is perceived as severe stimulus in individuals. This causes panic and anxiety symptoms.
This is the rational behind treatment of anxiety and panic symptoms. Drugs used in anxiety usually help to correct neurotransmission of both NE and serotonin by causing changes at receptor levels.
I have tried to explain in simple language, hope you understand it. Still if you have more doubts ask again.
Thanks
Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi,
Consultant Psychiatrist
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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