Expert: Dr. Timothy K. Durnin - 8/1/2007

Question
QUESTION: dear Dr.Durnin,

My dad told me his left finger tips felt numb starting from his pinky to his index fingure.  It just started today but he also said he had a headache. so i was just wondering if this is serious and could it be a sign of a heart attack because he smokes and he has acid reflex so he is constatly burping to relive the gas. He doesnt have heath insurence so he doesnt want to go to the doctor and he has been stressed out alot. So can you plz give me ur best guest to what he has? thank you

ANSWER: Hi Jessica,

Disclaimer: If at all possible, your DAD should see a doctor.

Your Dad would most likely feel a "crushing" chest pain and left sided neck pain if having a heart attack. My best guess is that he has an ulnar nerve being compressed in his elbow and has cervico-genic headaches (most common stress headache that comes from the base of skull). Have him ice his elbow down and message the base of his skull. This should afford him alot of relief. Obviously if he has the other symptoms, he needs to see a doctor.

Good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hey thanks for everything that really helped alot i was looking on the internet and i thought he might have ulnar but i wasnt sure and it said it happens commonly on women then men so that made me doubt myself but anyways thanks again u were very helpful but i have one more question its off the topic but i was just wondering how hard is medical school because i am thinking about being in the medical field but i heard lots of storys of how hard it is in medical school and then i started to think i might not make it through so whould  you say medical school was pretty difficult?

Answer
Hi Jessica,

Medical school is hard to get in, MCAT's and grades. Once you are in it is easy, only 4 years post-graduate degree compared to five years at some Chiropractic schools. If you are slightly above average, you can get in either school.

Good Luck!

Dr. T