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What Causes Pain In The Left Arm And Dizziness?
Question: I feel like I am going crazy with undiagnosalbe symptoms.
Ever since last February, I have been having left sided arm pain that seems to begin near my left scapula and goes down my arm to my pinky and sometimes up my neck (near my sternocleidomastoid). Additionally, I have had spells of dizziness. I have been to the ER numerous times and have seen a cardiologist who sent me for a coronary CT angiogram that came out normal. My bloodwork including troponin have been normal as have my ecgs the tens of times I have gone to the ER. I purchased a phone ECG called AliveCor and it has been able to help me feel a little bit more normal because at least I can see that there is nothing significant happening to my heart when these episodes happen, but it is still nerve wrecking. I still seem to get dizzy, especially during my period. I went to a neurologist and after MRIs on my brain, spine (cervical and thoracic), the only thing that was found was some degeneration in my neck. I also had a CT scan on my brain that came back normal. Lately, I feel like I am losing more hair than usual – which could be due to stress, but I am scared I have some sort of disease that is not being found. Do any of these symptoms sound like anything serious other than stress? I should also mention that there are periods of time that I feel normal.
Ever since last February, I have been having left sided arm pain that seems to begin near my left scapula and goes down my arm to my pinky and sometimes up my neck (near my sternocleidomastoid). Additionally, I have had spells of dizziness. I have been to the ER numerous times and have seen a cardiologist who sent me for a coronary CT angiogram that came out normal. My bloodwork including troponin have been normal as have my ecgs the tens of times I have gone to the ER. I purchased a phone ECG called AliveCor and it has been able to help me feel a little bit more normal because at least I can see that there is nothing significant happening to my heart when these episodes happen, but it is still nerve wrecking. I still seem to get dizzy, especially during my period. I went to a neurologist and after MRIs on my brain, spine (cervical and thoracic), the only thing that was found was some degeneration in my neck. I also had a CT scan on my brain that came back normal. Lately, I feel like I am losing more hair than usual – which could be due to stress, but I am scared I have some sort of disease that is not being found. Do any of these symptoms sound like anything serious other than stress? I should also mention that there are periods of time that I feel normal.
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are unlikely to be due to any serious illness.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and would try my best to help you.
I have noted your clinical details. First of all, I would like to reassure you that your symptoms are not likely to be due to any serious illness. All required tests (regarding heart, brain and spinal cord) have been done and they are normal. So, I would also agree that your symptoms are related to stress.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Your symptoms are unlikely to be due to any serious illness.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and would try my best to help you.
I have noted your clinical details. First of all, I would like to reassure you that your symptoms are not likely to be due to any serious illness. All required tests (regarding heart, brain and spinal cord) have been done and they are normal. So, I would also agree that your symptoms are related to stress.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Do any of these sound likeLupus or MS or parkinsons? I dont feel like they have been ruled out. I also am worriws that maybe i have MS without lesions.
Brief Answer:
Symptoms are not suggestive of them.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Your symptoms are not suggestive of either of them.
Regarding lupus, ANA (blood tests) can be done to exclude it.
Parkinson's disease can be excluded by examination and no tests are needed. Your symptoms are not like Parkinson's disease.
MS has ruled out by finding normal MRI of brain and spine.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Symptoms are not suggestive of them.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Your symptoms are not suggestive of either of them.
Regarding lupus, ANA (blood tests) can be done to exclude it.
Parkinson's disease can be excluded by examination and no tests are needed. Your symptoms are not like Parkinson's disease.
MS has ruled out by finding normal MRI of brain and spine.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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