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What Causes Tingling Sensation In The Jaw And Tenderness In The Neck?
Question: I have pain throughout my neck after a doppler test for my carotid artery. my neck is extremely tender. I have a twitching pain in my face. I recently hurt my carotid and it was checked out the test was negative. the pain intensified after however. I also have pain on the bottom of my head. I have had an MRI ct scan which both came out negative. The pain i have been suffering since yesterday is in my under my upper left jaw. my neck overall since yesterday has been stiff. while i have a tingling pain that comes and goes in my lower left jaw. I had a doppler yesterday as well as an EEG is it possible i am just sore from these tests. Also i have extreme anxiety and stress at the moment
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Those tests you mention though, the doppler and the EEG are not associated with side effects, they are completely non invasive tests, so in themselves they do not justify the tenderness that you describe. Even from personal experience I have had hundreds (if not thousands) of patients doing those tests without any complaint afterwards.
So there should be another explanation. One possibility is the stress and anxiety you mention leading to muscle tension of the jaw and neck.
Another possibility might be a dental infection which can cause pain of the jaw radiating to adjacent areas, so if symptoms persist should have that possibility checked. But for the moment in the absence of any other signs I would consider the anxiety hypothesis more likely.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Those tests you mention though, the doppler and the EEG are not associated with side effects, they are completely non invasive tests, so in themselves they do not justify the tenderness that you describe. Even from personal experience I have had hundreds (if not thousands) of patients doing those tests without any complaint afterwards.
So there should be another explanation. One possibility is the stress and anxiety you mention leading to muscle tension of the jaw and neck.
Another possibility might be a dental infection which can cause pain of the jaw radiating to adjacent areas, so if symptoms persist should have that possibility checked. But for the moment in the absence of any other signs I would consider the anxiety hypothesis more likely.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I believe it is the anxiety as well. Can severe anxiety lead to having trouble swallowing? I have the symptom as well and have been tested for almost every test each came back normal. Also under what circumstance would a neurologist order an EMG? Thanks
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Yes severe anxiety can mimic almost any neurological symptom,among them also the sensation of not being able to swallow is a not so uncommon issue.
But of course before pronouncing anxiety as a definitive cause us doctors should be careful in excluding everything else, which means that even when neurological exam is normal we still at times ask for tests to make sure. So he has prescribed CT and MRI, I guess to be sure there is not a stroke or tumor involving the central nervous pathways responsible for swallowing, or also to exclude soft tissue tumor in the upper airways. The EMG is used in the diagnosis of diseases of the muscles, the nerves or the nerve-muscle junction. So if he has asked it for swallowing trouble I guess that is to exclude conditions like myasthenia gravis or motor neuron disease (many people are terrified when this last diagnosis is mentioned, but it is extremely unlikely at your age).
I hope to have been of help.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Yes severe anxiety can mimic almost any neurological symptom,among them also the sensation of not being able to swallow is a not so uncommon issue.
But of course before pronouncing anxiety as a definitive cause us doctors should be careful in excluding everything else, which means that even when neurological exam is normal we still at times ask for tests to make sure. So he has prescribed CT and MRI, I guess to be sure there is not a stroke or tumor involving the central nervous pathways responsible for swallowing, or also to exclude soft tissue tumor in the upper airways. The EMG is used in the diagnosis of diseases of the muscles, the nerves or the nerve-muscle junction. So if he has asked it for swallowing trouble I guess that is to exclude conditions like myasthenia gravis or motor neuron disease (many people are terrified when this last diagnosis is mentioned, but it is extremely unlikely at your age).
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks you have been very helpful. If the EMG is normal does it verify that it is indeed anxiety causing these symptoms? i have been told by a friend of mine who is in med school to not take the EMG unless absolutely necessary due to the pain involved.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Anxiety is not confirmed by any exam, there are no tests for it. It is a diagnosis of exclusion combining the anxious background with exclusion of other causes for the symptoms. So EMG doesn't confirm anxiety in itself, but considering that everything else is coming back normal and you feel to be stressed out, it pretty much confirms it.
As for whether you should do it (it is somewhat uncomfortable it is true), that depends on why the neurologist prescribed it. If it is because the clinical exam and history was suspicious then you should really do it. But if he has found nothing abnormal and has prescribed it just to make sure, then perhaps it can be withheld for the moment and done only if some new indication comes out in the future. So you should discuss this with him
Wishing you good health.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Anxiety is not confirmed by any exam, there are no tests for it. It is a diagnosis of exclusion combining the anxious background with exclusion of other causes for the symptoms. So EMG doesn't confirm anxiety in itself, but considering that everything else is coming back normal and you feel to be stressed out, it pretty much confirms it.
As for whether you should do it (it is somewhat uncomfortable it is true), that depends on why the neurologist prescribed it. If it is because the clinical exam and history was suspicious then you should really do it. But if he has found nothing abnormal and has prescribed it just to make sure, then perhaps it can be withheld for the moment and done only if some new indication comes out in the future. So you should discuss this with him
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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