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18 April 2019 06:46 I Have Numbness In Hands Arms
Posted on
Sun, 28 Apr 2019
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 28 Apr 2019
Answered on
Last reviewed on
Question : 18 April 2019 06:46
I have numbness in hands arms are heavy ear jaw hurt neck hurts legs weak numb scalp burning I have extreme fatigue. I have been tested twice for Lyme but came back negative JA: How long have you had fatigue? Have you used any medication for it? Customer: Back in XXXXXXX a doctor prescribed chephalexinand day 3 on it I started hallucinating pacing clenching teeth couldn’t sleep well. I read these are rare side effects but it was the only drug I was on after day 3I stopped the med and started getting all these weird symptoms scalp burning neck pain then move to arms getting heavy then fingers numb hands turned white then later red and veins in arms bulging now I have weakness in legs. My pain moves around for no reason. I am a fit hard working man 45 and all the sudden I am winded just walking to mail box JA: Have you used anything besides cephalexin for this? Customer: I have been to er 4 times had mri of brain and XXXXXXX test some doctors say you show all classic signs of Lyme but your test is negative so we won’t prescribe doxycycline cause you may need it in future Months ago I pulled a few ticks off me but never got a rash JA: Anything else in your medical history you think the doctor should know? Customer: I have been told it’s anxiety which makes me laugh of course I now have anxiety because I went from being healthy to barely able to work for no reason, then told it raynauds and carpal tunnel but when I told doctor why is my legs getting numb he brushed that off and said go see an ortho doc for carpal tunnel
I have numbness in hands arms are heavy ear jaw hurt neck hurts legs weak numb scalp burning I have extreme fatigue. I have been tested twice for Lyme but came back negative JA: How long have you had fatigue? Have you used any medication for it? Customer: Back in XXXXXXX a doctor prescribed chephalexinand day 3 on it I started hallucinating pacing clenching teeth couldn’t sleep well. I read these are rare side effects but it was the only drug I was on after day 3I stopped the med and started getting all these weird symptoms scalp burning neck pain then move to arms getting heavy then fingers numb hands turned white then later red and veins in arms bulging now I have weakness in legs. My pain moves around for no reason. I am a fit hard working man 45 and all the sudden I am winded just walking to mail box JA: Have you used anything besides cephalexin for this? Customer: I have been to er 4 times had mri of brain and XXXXXXX test some doctors say you show all classic signs of Lyme but your test is negative so we won’t prescribe doxycycline cause you may need it in future Months ago I pulled a few ticks off me but never got a rash JA: Anything else in your medical history you think the doctor should know? Customer: I have been told it’s anxiety which makes me laugh of course I now have anxiety because I went from being healthy to barely able to work for no reason, then told it raynauds and carpal tunnel but when I told doctor why is my legs getting numb he brushed that off and said go see an ortho doc for carpal tunnel
Now moving into knees right leg right foot comes and goes and both buttocks feel like XXXXXXX horse
Brief Answer:
Possible causes and needed examinations explained
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern with pains in many parts of your body and being able to have a clear diagnosis by the doctors.
It seems you have polyarthritis, which is pain in many joints in your body and causes for this can be many. Lyme disease is a possible cause but if you have had these symptoms for a month or more it is unlikely to have Lyme disease and have negative test results, this is why the doctors are not giving you doxycycline.
On the other hand there are few other possible causes of polyarthritis. Anxiety can cause spread body pains and can be a cause but first some tests need to be done to rule out physical causes like immune conditions.
It is important to know if you have swelling or redness in the joints or morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes. In case you have these it increases the chances that an immune condition is the cause.
Some tests might be ordered in this case: CBC, ERS, metabolic profile, RF, ANA, and some other factors that the doctor might decide depending on the immune condition he suspects mostly after examining you.
If you do not have redness, swelling or morning stiffness, chances are very small for you to have an immune condition. In this case viral infection of the joints can be considered and generally these may last a few weeks but should feel better with time and taking pain killers is helpful (paracetamol and ibuprofen)
If all of the above do not seem to be the case, then anxiety is highly possible. In this case having a TSH done to rule out thyroid problems would be helpful as thyroid may affect the way we handle stress. Afterwards treatment for anxiety can be tried, SSRI drugs like citalopram or sertraline are good options and regular follow up with your doctor is needed in this case.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Possible causes and needed examinations explained
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern with pains in many parts of your body and being able to have a clear diagnosis by the doctors.
It seems you have polyarthritis, which is pain in many joints in your body and causes for this can be many. Lyme disease is a possible cause but if you have had these symptoms for a month or more it is unlikely to have Lyme disease and have negative test results, this is why the doctors are not giving you doxycycline.
On the other hand there are few other possible causes of polyarthritis. Anxiety can cause spread body pains and can be a cause but first some tests need to be done to rule out physical causes like immune conditions.
It is important to know if you have swelling or redness in the joints or morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes. In case you have these it increases the chances that an immune condition is the cause.
Some tests might be ordered in this case: CBC, ERS, metabolic profile, RF, ANA, and some other factors that the doctor might decide depending on the immune condition he suspects mostly after examining you.
If you do not have redness, swelling or morning stiffness, chances are very small for you to have an immune condition. In this case viral infection of the joints can be considered and generally these may last a few weeks but should feel better with time and taking pain killers is helpful (paracetamol and ibuprofen)
If all of the above do not seem to be the case, then anxiety is highly possible. In this case having a TSH done to rule out thyroid problems would be helpful as thyroid may affect the way we handle stress. Afterwards treatment for anxiety can be tried, SSRI drugs like citalopram or sertraline are good options and regular follow up with your doctor is needed in this case.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
And it's almost like pinch neck nerve and pinched siatica
Also heat cold sensiti e in fingers and heat makes me feel more dizzy
Brief Answer:
Further possible steps explained
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Thank you for the reply and the extra information.
If I was your doctor, I would have the following tests done, just as a general examination and to make sure they are normal: CBC, ERS, metabolic profile, RF, ANA and TSH.
If the tests come out normal, and you have pain that moves from one place to the other without much local changes (redness, swelling, or heat) then very likely anxiety is possible and treatment for this might be beneficial.
On the other hand, amitriptyline which is an old drug used for anxiety and depression is found to help even with chronic pain that is not related to anxiety or depression.
So because you do have chronic pain, amitriptyline would be a good choice. If you are not able to tolerate it well then an SSRI drug might be tried (citalopram or sertraline for instance).
All these need good follow up with the physician to monitor the effect and detect the dose that is needed in your case.
I hope this is helpful and answers your query, let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Further possible steps explained
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Thank you for the reply and the extra information.
If I was your doctor, I would have the following tests done, just as a general examination and to make sure they are normal: CBC, ERS, metabolic profile, RF, ANA and TSH.
If the tests come out normal, and you have pain that moves from one place to the other without much local changes (redness, swelling, or heat) then very likely anxiety is possible and treatment for this might be beneficial.
On the other hand, amitriptyline which is an old drug used for anxiety and depression is found to help even with chronic pain that is not related to anxiety or depression.
So because you do have chronic pain, amitriptyline would be a good choice. If you are not able to tolerate it well then an SSRI drug might be tried (citalopram or sertraline for instance).
All these need good follow up with the physician to monitor the effect and detect the dose that is needed in your case.
I hope this is helpful and answers your query, let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I notice the more I use my arms at work the more they hurt and buzz
Brief Answer:
It is usual for pain to be worse after working hard
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back again,
It is usual for pains to be worse after having worked hard. You might need to talk with your doctor on the above tests mentioned, to have them done just to make sure they are normal.
If any abnormal finding is present then that should lead to further tests, if all the examinations and the tests are normal, you might benefit by the treatments mentioned above.
I hope this answers your query, let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
It is usual for pain to be worse after working hard
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back again,
It is usual for pains to be worse after having worked hard. You might need to talk with your doctor on the above tests mentioned, to have them done just to make sure they are normal.
If any abnormal finding is present then that should lead to further tests, if all the examinations and the tests are normal, you might benefit by the treatments mentioned above.
I hope this answers your query, let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj, General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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