Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Numbness, Tingling And Heavy Feeling In Left Leg And Arm?
Question: The past 6 months I have experienced numbness/tingling/heavy feeling in my left leg and arm. It mostly occurs at night or when I'm sleeping. Lately, I have been waking up every night with my left leg and arm both completely numb. It forces me to get out of bed and I have to walk it off to feel normal again. During the past few months I went to the ER which they ordered me a cat scan and the doctor did some sensory tests everything came back normal. I set up a neurology appointment a month later. The 2 neurologists that saw me ran a bunch of other sensory tests and reviewed my CT scan. They told me they don't suspect anything wrong and sent me on my way. I scheduled another doctors appointment with my primary care doctor, she ran more blood tests. Everything came back normal besides having my Vitamin D just a little bit low. So after having seen 3 doctors and 2 nuerologist. I have had a CT scan, blood tests, and multiple sensory tests. I was told it was all normal. I am completely puzzled as now the doctors are attributing it to anxiety. It's always in my left leg and arm radiating to my hands and feet. I don't know what to do anymore as this has affected my sleep every night. I also asked the doctor on my recent doctors appointment if it's related to my TMJ or sleep apnea. They said it's a possibility. I don't know what to do. I'm 29 years old, in good shape, muscular and pretty healthy.
Brief Answer:
Probable anxiety but MRI is recommended.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the symptoms you are experiencing.
That fact that you have seen more than one neurologist and neither has suggested a neurological lesion makes me think that on physical neurological examination no signs have been found. That makes me optimistic that there is no neurological damage and that indeed anxiety is the cause. I guess it is frustrating for you to be told that, but I would say it certainly is preferable to a neurological condition being suggested.
That being said though I think that perhaps some further probing is necessary before labeling it definitely as anxiety. From your description I see only CT scan being done. It excludes many threatening lesion, but it can miss some conditions such as multiple sclerosis, the most common neurological condition in a young individual. Also i do not know if the neck was included in the CT exam. Anyway even if it was it doesn’t adequately evaluate the cervical spinal cord for damage by a spine condition such as a herniated disc.
So in my opinion a head and neck MRI is necessary before confidently attributing the issue to anxiety. Again, since no signs were found by neurologists it probably will come back normal, but I think that it is necessary as there may be rare cases with only sensory disturbances.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Probable anxiety but MRI is recommended.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the symptoms you are experiencing.
That fact that you have seen more than one neurologist and neither has suggested a neurological lesion makes me think that on physical neurological examination no signs have been found. That makes me optimistic that there is no neurological damage and that indeed anxiety is the cause. I guess it is frustrating for you to be told that, but I would say it certainly is preferable to a neurological condition being suggested.
That being said though I think that perhaps some further probing is necessary before labeling it definitely as anxiety. From your description I see only CT scan being done. It excludes many threatening lesion, but it can miss some conditions such as multiple sclerosis, the most common neurological condition in a young individual. Also i do not know if the neck was included in the CT exam. Anyway even if it was it doesn’t adequately evaluate the cervical spinal cord for damage by a spine condition such as a herniated disc.
So in my opinion a head and neck MRI is necessary before confidently attributing the issue to anxiety. Again, since no signs were found by neurologists it probably will come back normal, but I think that it is necessary as there may be rare cases with only sensory disturbances.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for the quick response. I will call the doctor to see if I can get seen again by a neurologist to perform the MRI. I asked the neurologist if I could get one (last time I went in, but he didn't recommend it last time I saw him. But I'll tell him this will help my mind be put more at ease. In addition, do you think it could be caused by a pinched nerve in my neck or somewhere in my spine because my symptoms are worse when I am sleeping. I was thinking the way I might move in my sleep could be compressing the nerves in my arm and leg. Or it could be possibly from lifting weights? The CT scan was just performed on my head. I don't believe my neck was in the scan. )
Brief Answer:
Not pinched nerve.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your feedback.
Regarding your question about the pinched nerve, while I already suggested the possibility of a spine issue, but I do not think it is a pinched nerve. A pinched nerve would cause symptoms only in the one limb supplied by that nerve (upper limb in in the neck, lower limb if lumbar), not both at the same time. Also while there may be numbness, pain is the predominating manifestation.
I suggested spinal cord compression at cervical region which could justify symptoms in both limbs, due to involvement of all the fibers below the compression site. Some of the causes of such potential compression are similar to pinched nerve actually, just the compression site is different, not nerve root but spinal cord.
I hope to have been of help.
Not pinched nerve.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your feedback.
Regarding your question about the pinched nerve, while I already suggested the possibility of a spine issue, but I do not think it is a pinched nerve. A pinched nerve would cause symptoms only in the one limb supplied by that nerve (upper limb in in the neck, lower limb if lumbar), not both at the same time. Also while there may be numbness, pain is the predominating manifestation.
I suggested spinal cord compression at cervical region which could justify symptoms in both limbs, due to involvement of all the fibers below the compression site. Some of the causes of such potential compression are similar to pinched nerve actually, just the compression site is different, not nerve root but spinal cord.
I hope to have been of help.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
