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What Causes Intermittent Numbness In Left Side Of Face And Body?

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Posted on Mon, 18 Apr 2016
Question: I've been experiencing intermittent numbness to left side of face, lips, shoulder, arm, hand, hip, leg and foot. This comes on with and without exertion. Most often when I sit on the toilet without any straining. It happens when I'm just sitting watching TV or it can happen during a brisk walk
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
TIA or partial seizure possible

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

So from your description you experience short lasting episodes of numbness involving half of your body and face. Such episodes do warrant attention. One hypothesis is that they could represent a transient ischemic attack (TIA), a transitory blockage of a blood vessel. When always on the same side as you describe it, it may be related to an atherosclerotic plaque in your neck vessels.

One other possibility could be that of a type of seizure, a partial seizure as there is no loss of conscioussness. That could be caused by any brain lesion on the right side, like stroke, tumor etc.

So you need to have some exams to search for these issues, exams like brain and neck vessel imaging, preferably with MRI, if not possible with CT or for the neck vessels ultrasound as well.

Other possibilities may include migraine with aura or anxiety, but that should be considered when the more threatening issues are excluded.

I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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What Causes Intermittent Numbness In Left Side Of Face And Body?

Brief Answer: TIA or partial seizure possible Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. So from your description you experience short lasting episodes of numbness involving half of your body and face. Such episodes do warrant attention. One hypothesis is that they could represent a transient ischemic attack (TIA), a transitory blockage of a blood vessel. When always on the same side as you describe it, it may be related to an atherosclerotic plaque in your neck vessels. One other possibility could be that of a type of seizure, a partial seizure as there is no loss of conscioussness. That could be caused by any brain lesion on the right side, like stroke, tumor etc. So you need to have some exams to search for these issues, exams like brain and neck vessel imaging, preferably with MRI, if not possible with CT or for the neck vessels ultrasound as well. Other possibilities may include migraine with aura or anxiety, but that should be considered when the more threatening issues are excluded. I remain at your disposal for other questions.