Brief Answer:
Differential diagnosis of numbness

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.


I can understand your concern. The loupes cannot cause loss of limbs. If there is confusion about diagnosis, your doctor has to think about other possibilities.
The numbness in your hands can be due to brain lesion or spinal cord lesions. The common diseases in brain which can cause numbness -

- Multiple Sclerosis - As it has been already ruled out. But still another follow up MRI brain is needed to completely rule it out.

- Parietal bone ischemic lesions - Parietal lobe has the sensory areas. The ischemic lesions due to small arterial block can cause tingling and numbness in limbs. Usually there is some weakness is also present. Your MRI brain has ruled out it.

- Parietal lobe tumor - Mass lesion in brain can cause same manifestations.

Systemic illness like

- B12 deficiency which can affect both brain and spinal cord - Kindly ask your doctor to rule out B12 deficiency.

- Multivitamin deficiency like folic acid, Vitamin E can also cause similar symptoms.

- Diabetic or other causes of sensory neuropathy - Sensory neuropathy can be due to various cause like Diabetes mellitus (most common), chronic alcoholism, chronic drug intake like metronidazole, porphyria syndrome etc.
To approach neuropathy, first the doctor will examine your nervous system to confirm. Then he will advise nerve conduction velocity and electromyograhy to prove it. Sometimes nerve biopsy is needed to prove. Treatment will depend upon the causative factor.

if all these differential diagnosis are negative, then spinal cord causes can be suspected like

- cervical spondylosis - The spinal cord and nerve compression in neck region can cause these type of symptoms. It can be due to disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, ligaments hypertrophy or calcification.
A MRI or CT cervical spine will help in confirming the diagnosis.

- Osteoporotic spine changes - At your age, osteoporotic bone compression and thus spinal canal narrowing is common. This can lead to narrow spinal canal and thus sensory symptoms.

With above knowledge, you can ask your neurologist and rheumatologist to approach you accordingly. After confirming diagnosis, it will be treated easily. Meanwhile to get some relief, you can follow few tips

- Eat green vegetables, fruits, dairy products to get minerals and vitamin.

- You can take multivitamin supplements like B complex, B12, vitamin E to get some relief.

- S-adenosylmethionine intake will help in reducing numbness. You can take it for joint pain also.

- Decrease intake of sugar to avoid any diabetic neuropathy

- Start Yoga and exercise to treat weak spine and osteoporosis. Also take calcium and vitamin D supplements to treat it.

Hope it will help you. If still any doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.

---