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1036936 tn?1254752987

What is causing this burning and tingling?

I'm a 38 year old female. I'm a wife and stay-home-mom to one 4-year-old and have very little stress. The past few weeks, I keep getting these episodes of burning and tingling, and in some cases, pain on the entire left side of my body, including my face (not my tongue, however) and down my left arm and left leg. I do not have a loss of strength, or really any numbness, just the extreme burning and pain. I do also get a headache with this, which feel hot and, at times, lightening-like. I also get dizziness and occasional blurriness in the left eye. I have been to the ER and seen my primary. I've had heart echo, stress test, and heart cath--all negative for any troubles. I've had cardiac enzymes (multiple times) and other bloodwork. All fine. I've had CT of chest, abdomen, head (without contrast on the head) and had some sort of lung scan to check for pulmonary embolism--again, all negative. My choiropractor did a bone scan with contrast and found the beginning of osteoarthritis but didn't think it was affecting me yet. Not sure why he said that, but that is what he said. Anyway, I am scared and have no idea what is wrong with me and since the docs have done all these tests, they are now blowing me off and treating me like I'm crazy. Any ideas or suggestions would be of help to me. Thank you!  

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Avatar universal
I AM fEMALE OF 41 YEARS, I HAD A STROKE LAST MARCH THAT LEFT MY LEFT SIDE USELESS. I AM CURRENTLY HAVING ALOT OF BURNING AND TINGLING SENSATIONS, I CANT SEEM TO FIND AN ANSWER FOR IT CAN SOMEONE HELP PLEASE?
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the implications of your symptoms are. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

In general, burning and tingling on one side of the body including the face can be due to one of several causes. Given that your symptoms on the left side occur in assocation with a headache, a migraine is one possibility; many patients with migraine can experience associated sensory symptoms. Migraines are more common in women, can start at your age, and are typically described as being throbbing, one-sided, associated with light and sound sensitivity and sometimes nausea.

Theoretically (in general, please understand I am not trying to imply that I think you have one of these diagnoeses), a process on the R side of the brain (which innervates the L side of the body), including but not limited to stroke, demyelination such as multiple sclerosis, or tumor are all possibilities. However, in the absence of weakness or any other symptoms, these are somewhat less likely, though a small lesion in one part of the brain called the thalamus could theoretically cause face, arm, and leg symptoms. A CT scan of the brain with contrast also makes these less likely, though an MRI of the brain would be needed to definitively exclude these. If the symptoms occur in episodes, seizures are a possibility as well.

Overall, migraine is one of the more likely causes. Evaluation by a neurologist may be of benefit to you if you have not seen one yet; it sounds like you have had an extensive work-up which is certainly reassuring, but further evaluation by MRI may be indicated depending on your physicians' concerns, and if a diagnosis of migraine is confirmed, then certain treatments that are very effective for many patients are available for this.

Thank you for using the forum I hope you find this information useful good luck.
Helpful - 1
1036936 tn?1254752987
Thank you. This information is very helpful. The CT I had did not include contrast (I'm not sure why not) but I think I will seek out a neurologist, since I am still having these difficutlites. They do come in episodes, and recently, they have come without the headache.

Thank you kindly!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello:  I also suffer with burning pain in both arms and legs also down my spine and I also experience a tight band around head and around my abdomen.  It feels soooo weird.  My head feels also numbed.  and the band around my abdomen sometimes is so tight it takes my breath away.  
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