What Causes Tingling In Head And Face?

Brief Answer:
Amitriptyline is a good choice for these pains

Detailed Answer:
Good evening. My name is Dr. Saghafi and I am a neurologist in the XXXXXXX OH region in USA.


If it is of any consolation although I would agree that your symptoms bespeak of an IRRITATION of nerves that are likely in the facial region I do not see exactly where the conclusion of "damaged nerves through my whole body" is a most likely diagnosis. Irritation by the way, is not synonymous with nerve damage or even dysfunction right now.

The symptoms you refer are known as a neuropathy which can have numerous causes and need to be investigated by various blood tests and other things by your PMD or by a referred neurologist.

I would recommend a full panel of blood chemistries, urine, and would even consider MRI of the head and neck with contrasted studies using gadolinium. I would recommend that you get a check on kidney function before having the XXXXXXX administered.

If you feel I've been helpful in giving you a bit more insight into your symptoms I'd greatly appreciate some written feedback and a STAR RATING of this conversation. I'd also appreciate that if you don't have further questions or comments to CLOSE THE QUERY.

This consult took 29 minutes for physician specific review, research, and final draft documentation.

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Brief Answer:
Neuropathy of the Trigeminal nerve

Detailed Answer:
Good morning. Thanks for the additional information.

Have you broken out into any type of a rash over the forehead or skin of the face since your symptoms began? Has anybody looked in the ear canal on the left to see if there are any blisters forming or present?

The symptoms you describe would be specifically linked to your 5th Cranial nerve called the TRIGEMINAL NERVE. It would be on the left side of your face if the affectation of the nerve were out in the facial region where the nerve fibers actually connect to the face. It is also possible that the nerve could be affected from back at the origin within the brainstem which then, would suggest that it's the RIGHT side that's affected since the brain is "crosswired."

If it were my choice to be working you up as a patient I would suggest some blood work to start with since we know there are some rather standard metabolic problems that can lead to this type of malfunction of the nerves (e.g. serum Vit. B12, Vit. D, TSH, FT4, ANA panel, ESR, CRP) but at the same time I might even consider ordering an MRI of the brain AND Cervical Spine with Gadolinium contrast after checking that kidney function is normal by asking for serum BUN and creatinine as well as what's called an EGFR. This helps us be sure that the kidneys are in an optimal state so as to be able and handle the XXXXXXX contrast.

If there were any rash or lesions on the face such as pimples or breakouts over the left side I would do serology studies in blood looking for HSV infections of an acute or subacute nature. If no rash present then, I would NOT do those tests.

I hope you're feeling better after the amitriptyline treatment and that they can discover the root cause of your problem quickly so as to get to the task of understanding what's going on there as well.

If this information has been helpful to you and if you have no further questions or comments on what's been written I'd appreciate a bit of written feedback on the quality of the information I've provided as well as your CLOSING THE QUERY to signal to the network that the case has been satisfactorily been addressed and can now be processed and archived for further reference.

You can always direct specific questions to my attention in the future by looking me on with my name: XXXXXXX SAGHAFI, MD or accessing my page at:

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-dariush-saghafi/68474

I look forward to hearing more of how you've progressed and if I can further help with resolving your problem.

This query required 24 minutes of physician specific time for review, research, and final draft documentation for envoy.

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