About Vicharn Lipisuwanchote Expertise I am a medical student. I am interested in neurosurgery, so any questions related to neurosurgery are welcome. I will look it up for you if I do not know the answer.
Expert: Vicharn Lipisuwanchote Date: 11/17/2006 Subject: muscle twitching and numbness
Question Hi
I'M A 32 YR FEMALE. STARTED WITH NEURO SYMPTOMS JULY 2006 WITH NUMBNESS IN LEFT PINKIE. UPON LEFT HAND EMG/NCV, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ULNAR NERVE ENTRAPMENT AT THE ELBOW. IN AUGUST 06, I STARTED HAVING A FEELING ON CLUMSINESS AND DIFFICULTY MAKING SMALL MOVEMENTS IN BOTH HANDS. ESPECIALLY IF WORKING ON THE COMPUTER. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED THAT MY LEFT "BIG TOE" IS PARTIALLY NUMB RIGHT ALONG THE SIDES OF THE NAIL. THEN THE MOST WORRISOME SYMPTOMS STARTED. I STARTED HAVING TWITCHES MOSTLY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY, INCLUDING MY LEFT ARM, LEG AND THIGH. ALSO REPEATED TWITCHES IN MY BACK. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED EPISODES OF NIGHT SWEATS AND A VERY LIGHT / DISTURBED SLEEP PATTERN. I HAVE A GENERAL FEELING OF ILLNESS AND EPISODES OF EXTREME EMOTIONAL DISTRESS OVER THIS SYMPTOMS. I HAVE ALSO GAINED 15 TO 20 POUNDS. IT COULD BE RELATED TO ME QUITTING SMOKING ALONG THE TIME WHEN THE SYMPTOMS STARTED. I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME EPISODES OF JAW PAIN AND PRESSURE.
I HAVE VISITED 3 NEUROLOGISTS, 2 OF THEN AFFILIATED WITH VERY RESPECTABLE HOSPITALS. I HAD AN MRI WHICH REVEALED CERVICAL HERNIATED DISKS. HOWEVER, I JUST HAD A COMPLETE EMG/NCV REPEATED WHICH NOTED NO FASCICULATION , NO NERVE ENTRAPMENT ( DISMISSING THE PRIOR DIAGNOSED OF ULNAR NERVE) AND NO SIGNS OF MUSCLE DISEASE.
ONE INTERESTING THING IS THAT THE NCV TECH ASKED ME IF I HAD MY THYROID CHECKED.
MY QUESTIONS TO YOU ARE:
CAN I HAVE A "NORMAL" NCV/EMG TEST AND STILL HAVE MUSCLE WEAKNESS / DISEASE AND NERVE ENTRAPMENT?
WHAT ELSE CAN BE CAUSING THE NUMBNESS AND PAIN IN MY HANDS, IF IT'S NOT CARPAL OR ULNAR NERVE PROBLEMS?
CAN A TYROID PROBLEM CAUSE ALL THIS SYMPTOMS?
CAN THE HERNIATED DISKS CAUSE ALL THIS SYMPTOMS?
WHAT OTHER NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES SHOULD I GET TESTED FOR?
WHAT OTHER DISEASES IN GENERAL SHOULD I GET TESTED FOR?
Answer 1.you're not having muscle dz or nerve entrapment( but in july 2006 you might have entrapment, it can disappear with time)
2.you symptoms with hans and arms can be from cervical herniated disc.
3.thyroid won't be so specific to your left side.
4.your twitching and numbness require checking electrolyte(+calcium and magnesium) level, thyroid function test, fasting plasma glucose
.but the most important to think of is neurological dz, i'm not sure are you having seizures.but first , do disc operation which is frankly indicated.if the symptoms sustain, maybe brain imaging help esp in suspected epilepsy.but you can just wait, because sometimes it can regress in months or year if you have no new symptoms so.
