facial numbness and tingling?

[Wittesea]

I don't know where else to post this, but I'm hoping someone here has some ideas for me....

My face goes numb and tingly and it makes my skin feel heavy and my left eye feels like it's wiggling. It's weird. It makes my face feel frozen, but it doesn't look frozen or different.

My ability to use my facial muscles doesn't seem any different when it happens (but it could be slight and I don't notice?)

It's been happening for a while, and it just keeps getting worse and it happens more often.

I had an MRI of the head/neck which was normal.

My medications have been ruled out as a cause.

My current diagnoses -
Anxiety, fibromyalgia, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, raynauds, sicca syndrome, and I'm sure I am forgetting something...


So any ideas as to what can cause facial numbness/tingling? It's mostly confined to my forehead and the left side of my face, but it occasionally wanders to the left side of my neck as well.

It's starting to really scare me, mostly because I don't know what is causing it, and my doctors seem stumped as well.

[Curious]

((((((wittesea)))))))

i really don't have a clue. i'm sorry you are going thru this on top of everything else. :(

have you looked at the tn forum?

[Bobbi]

Maybe a type of facial nerve palsy, TN, or... I dunno either :(.

Have you seen a neurologist?

[Wittesea]

Thanks curious and bobbi.

I have seen a neuro, rheumy, and my primary.

I asked about TN (I forget which doc I asked) and they said nope. I also asked about bells palsy, trigger points annoying nerves, a type of migraine, and a few other things that I had found and the answer was 'no, that's not it' to all of them.

The only other thing I want to ask about is (to me) the scariest thing.... MG. I am so afraid of that one that I'm too scared to ask if it is possible.

[Bobbi]

I think, I'd go ahead and ask, even though it is scary. The reason? Treatment. That can't begin until a dx has been made.

[Mari]

My medications have been ruled out as a cause.

My current diagnoses -
Anxiety, fibromyalgia, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, raynauds, sicca syndrome, and I'm sure I am forgetting something...


So any ideas as to what can cause facial numbness/tingling? It's mostly confined to my forehead and the left side of my face, but it occasionally wanders to the left side of my neck as well.

It's starting to really scare me, mostly because I don't know what is causing it, and my doctors seem stumped as well.


Hi Witt,
Is it Paresthesia?
Two and a half years ago I got this on my face around 9:00 at night while driving home from work. When it got worse instead of better I went to Urgent Care to rule out anythiing acute.
My neuro sent me for an EEG and an MRI. They were normal.
So then I started looking at my meds.

Benzos can do this. So can other meds.
I used to get this all over my body -- it would start on face and spread from ears to toes.

It came back a couple nights ago because of Calcium supplements reacting to Verapamil. The two don't mix well.


National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: definition of paresthesia
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/paresthesia/paresthesia.htm

Wikipedia says that Fibromyalgia can cause it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paresthesia

Check your meds again. Do a google search with paresthesia and each med separately and you will see that a med might come up. Two of mine do.

Mari

Is it the whole of your forehead or just the left side?

[Mari]

W,
B 12 might help since b 12 protects the nerves.
Mari

[linniec]

Just guessing
1. Could this be a form of peripheral or other neuropathy?
2. Could it be a left-over from a stroke?
solution--- Contact Rowland on the stroke forum--he is very erudite.
4. Sensory related Bell's Palsy
Any way, I am no doctor, and you may very well have had extensive tests for all of these. How maddening.



Linnie
Atlanta

[Llonghair]

Hi Wittesea I don't have a lot of time to post but wanted to get this info to you,

Gosh your symptoms mimick many of the ones I had!

I had double vision, wiggley eyes, blurry vision, weakness, autonomic problems, B12 deficiency....and the list goes on.

After my first double vision, I continuously had a feeling in my left cheek of numbness and tingling like I had had a stroke.

First I was dx with B12 Deficiency. After about a year I was dx with MG. although I took massive B vitamins, this tingling and weakness never went away. Eventually my face looked very much like a MG or parkinsons face, very droopy with pitosis in the right eye. I refused MG meds as I found most people that went on the drugs only progressed...I never could take meds and figured it would kill me to do so.

I kept reading and finally someone pointed me to Celiac Disease. It is an autoimmune disease with strong connections to other autoimmune diseases such as MG, sjogrens, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

I was tested for Celiac Disease (CD) against my primary doctors wishes as she felt I was looking for a disease. I tested positive much to my primary and neurologist surprise.

If you have been tested please do NOT think you are free and clear.

Testing only rules in the disease. 90% of primary, neuro's and gastro's do not know how to test or what to look for according to some of the top Celiac Doctors in the world. They are just getting the word out this year about the disease and the devastation that can occur if not diagnosed in time.

Many people who test negative go on the gluten free diet anyhow and find amazing results. If you read the original Braintalk there is a thread with many people stating how sick they were and how much better they are now.

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showthread.php?t=989


It took me 15 months on a gluten free diet and I am just noticing the most amazing things. I actually got worse for awhile but now my energy is returning. My brain is becoming organized again. My eyes rarely droop.

All this was actually caused by malabsorption from malnutrition. There actually was a diet on MG that almost mimicks the GF diet. I had read it but ignored it at the time, maybe because I was so weak and brainfogged but now I realize that many diseases are actually caused by what we eat.

Please don't let yourself get as bad as I was, scroll down to the Gluten Sensitive/Celiac Disease forum, they are great there. http://forums.braintalk2.org/forumdisplay.php?f=13


This is a good place to read up on Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitive: http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/

Good luck, and even if you have heard this before please don't ignore as your symptoms sound too much like mine and I only got worse as the days passed!

[dahlek]

Just what you want/need, a NEW wrinkle in life...I'd just call up the docs and do the 'dumb question'& 'what about the X'es' route. After all, phone calls are cheap..the next step isn't...because if it's the NERVES, we all KNOW how those kinds of tests go after the first diagnosis...

It may be a pipe dream, but, could it be possible for you to see ONE doc w/a conference call to the others? Getting all brains working on the overlapping issues would be ideal...tho I know most docs don't work that way - to our detriment.

I personally find it distasteful that we all have to do this very bad 'disco-dance' with even worse dance partners..

For the interim, big hugs and fuzzies that comfort? - j

[Wittesea]

Thank you everyone for your ideas and support :) I have a lot to think about now, a lot of info to go and read, and a LOT of questions for my doctors - and hopefully with some prodding from me, the docs will find some sort of reason for this.

It's just frustrating. I'm tired of new symptoms and changes that don't make sense and doctors who have few (if any) ideas or suggestions.... and I'm really tired of having doctors tell me my medical history is "interesting and confusing". I don't want to be interesting and confusing anymore.

Thank you all,
Liz

[Bobbi]

Liz... first of all ((( Huge Hugs ))).

I can definitely relate to how you feel about docs viewing you as "interesting and confusing."

I don't know if you know, yet I learned this the past year or so. There are classifications docs retain in patients' files that denote our "ranging." By that, they mean, a scale by which patients are placed within.

I'm on the "moderately complex" or "complicated" level. The one "above" ranks as "severe." (That's the life and death patients.).

I totally "get" how you feel.

Yet, too... I also don't like that if your facial (non)feeling/symptoms remain without dx, that you aren't possibly getting all that might be available that could possibly help you.

I do like where someone mentioned the idea of your docs doing a conference approach or "round table."

These days, with so many specializations within med., it's also so important that each references the others in testing results, etc.

Mine, to cut through it all, cross-reference one another - on films, lab tests, insurance things that arise and so on.

If you have a doc whom presents as more assertive or open than the others, I'd ask if that doc could be the "team coordinator" and work with the other docs. Someone has to take the lead :).

[Rhapsody]

My face goes numb and tingly and it makes my skin feel heavy and my left eye feels like it's wiggling. It's weird. It makes my face feel frozen, but it doesn't look frozen or different.

It's been happening for a while, and it just keeps getting worse and it happens more often.

I had an MRI of the head/neck which was normal.

My current diagnoses -
Anxiety, fibromyalgia, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, raynauds, sicca syndrome, and I'm sure I am forgetting something...

It's starting to really scare me, mostly because I don't know what is causing it, and my doctors seem stumped as well.


Hello....

I just joined today and I saw your post and it hit a nerve in me, for I too have been having this type of problem for the last 8 months and the doctors (GP - Rheumy - Neuro - ENT) have all had me tested: X-rays, blood work, Cat Scans and a MRI.... still with no clue or cause for my issues (and) personally I am at my wits end and I am about to give up hope of any of them ever finding the reason/problem to my year long nightmare of Sleepless Nights & PAIN.


My symptoms are:

1 - Face & Head numbness w/ tingling
2 - Infected Right Eye (off & on)
3 - Daily (or weekly) Migraines
4 - Pain in head - increases when I lay down, w/ sleep disturbance
5 - Swollen Neck w/ Pain (and ears) - (some diff swallowing)
6 - Burning in Right eye & Throat (off & on)
7 - Sinus Pain & Pressure
8 - Couching w/ yellow to white phlegm
9 - Chronic Fatigue
10 - Heartburn w/ GERD side effects


... I personally suffer from: RA, Fibro, Bursitis, Meniere's disease, Anxiety, PMDD and Depression.


Maybe one day they will find the cause for both of us, and then a treatment.... Fingers Crossed x x



LoVe,
Rhapsody - :)

[Wittesea]

Rhapsody,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk :)

Yes, it seems as if you and I have a lot in common. I can relate to many of your symptoms and your diagnoses.

I try to stay positive when it comes to finding an answer for my symptoms - but it is soooo hard to stay positive and optomistic when the doctors literally scratch their heads in confusion. I have been on this roller coaster of frustration and confusion for over 5 years. I'm sure you can relate to that frustration!

My doctors have been great in terms of symptom management.... but symptom management brings temporary relief and allows me to live a more normal life - but I wonder how much better things could/would be if we could treat the actual cause instead of just the symptoms. Of course, they have to find the cause to be able to treat it!

I am having yet another round of blood work done soon. I have the order from the doc, I just have to drag myself to the lab to get it done... So maybe the new bloodwork will lead to something, but I'm not holding my breath.

It stinks that anyone else has to feel this way, but it's good to meet you and good to be able to talk to someone who knows what it's like to live on the roller coaster.

take care,
Liz

[ConsiderThis]

I don't know where else to post this, but I'm hoping someone here has some ideas for me....

My face goes numb and tingly and it makes my skin feel heavy and my left eye feels like it's wiggling. It's weird. It makes my face feel frozen, but it doesn't look frozen or different.

My ability to use my facial muscles doesn't seem any different when it happens (but it could be slight and I don't notice?)

It's been happening for a while, and it just keeps getting worse and it happens more often.

I had an MRI of the head/neck which was normal.

My medications have been ruled out as a cause.

My current diagnoses -
Anxiety, fibromyalgia, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, raynauds, sicca syndrome, and I'm sure I am forgetting something...


So any ideas as to what can cause facial numbness/tingling? It's mostly confined to my forehead and the left side of my face, but it occasionally wanders to the left side of my neck as well.

It's starting to really scare me, mostly because I don't know what is causing it, and my doctors seem stumped as well.

Hi Wittesea,
Years ago I had so much trouble with my head feeling numb, and I had a lot of trouble with my vision. It was before I had B12 replacement so I don't have any notes from the exact time.

I remember that it was very scary, and the doctor couldn't find a medical reason for it.

I know you know these forums very well, so I'm sure you've read about B12 before.

I noticed that Mari mentioned it, too.

Have you tried taking the 5mg Methylcobalamin, say a few times a day?

I used to have the most awful peripheral neuropathy in my right thigh. It went away totally by accident when I was having B12, a lot of it, for tetanus nerve symptoms.

I was having a shot a day, which is about equal to 6 of the 5mg Methylcobalamin lozenges a day. It took about two months for the peripheral neuropathy to significantly resolve on that dose... a shot a day.

But now I sleep on a mattress, albeit a foam mattress, and I don't have to keep getting air mattresses any more.

When I touch my right thigh it feels like my left thigh... not so wooden and numb the way it used to.

((((((((((Wittesea)))))))))))))))))

I hope it sorts out for you. I think head things are very scary.

[Ellie]

I had my face do that, but it's weird. Like, it feels numb and like I can't move it..but I can (feel silly even typing that). My Neurologist said it WAS in relation to my Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN). My Epileptologist told me it was in relation to my low blood pressure.

Me? I think it goes with everything else that randomly goes numb. I know the first time it came, my arm happened to do it to and my friend tried to convince me I was having a stroke (at 28, mind you). I know it's *something* but I know more what it isn't. The only times I feel a great burden is if something is numb and I don't notice it.

I watched my ankle and my leg almost touch, I didn't feel a thing but the sight of it nearly made me throw up.

A way to do a quicky test for TN is to rub the trigger points. If something shocks the heck out of you for 1 second (but feels like 10 and with super force) - that may be it. It's a cheap way to self test and works most of the time. If someone touches above my right eyebrow or rubs my right temple it doesn't take long before I jump up like something shocked me.

There was something else, but I forgot. :(

[steph]

Hi, I have had the same symptoms you are describing. I finally got some answers that actually make sense after numerous doctor visits, MRIs, CTs, and cervical epidurals (NOT FUN!!). for some reason or another, my occiptal muscles(there are four pairs at the base of your skull, where the neck and skull meet) are soooo tight, like rocks (MY traps are, too). Apparently, these muscles are constricting the occipital nerve, which serves the skin on your head and face (hence the tingling, numbness, etc). I recommend seeing a physical therapist (although you might need a referral from neurosurgeon or general practitioner). The physical therapist I'm seeing says its a lot more common than you might think, and can be caused by having your head down for long periods of time (such as reading a book, laying on couch watching tv, etc...It's often referred to as students' neck or teacher's neck). Oh, and chances are it wont show up on MRI or Ct because it's muscular). I hope this helps. Try looking occipital neuralgia up on the web. May God bless you!! Let us know how ypu're doing!

[Raema-Jean]

Your symptoms sound a lot like mine. Ask you doctor about the "classic migraine". that is what it is called and it causes facial numbness and that wiggling sensation that you describe. I have had these for years and I know the prelude: tightness at the back of the head/neck area. I lay in the tub and drop my head backwards until my ears and eyes are underwater. that relieves the pressure enough to stop the twitching. Then I go into a darkened room, drink water, take Tylenol or Motrin and go to sleep.
I first had this happen in my early 20's and I thought that I was having a stroke or something because my tongue also went numb. Emergency sent me across the street to the opthamologist. He froze my eye and then declared that I had a migraine. I REFUSED TO BELIEVE HIM until a couple of years later, long before the internet, I saw a book in the pharmacy that accurately described all of my experiences. It is a migraine...just a different one than the "head-ache" model that we think of.
My worst attack had numbness in my hand on the same side as the face...The doctor told me that they would probably go away when I reached menopause...and they have...it only took 30 years but I learned to live with them by being able to predict the circumstances that brought them on.
Good luck

[painfree]

Hi, I have had the same symptoms you are describing. I finally got some answers that actually make sense after numerous doctor visits, MRIs, CTs, and cervical epidurals (NOT FUN!!). for some reason or another, my occiptal muscles(there are four pairs at the base of your skull, where the neck and skull meet) are soooo tight, like rocks (MY traps are, too). Apparently, these muscles are constricting the occipital nerve, which serves the skin on your head and face (hence the tingling, numbness, etc). I recommend seeing a physical therapist (although you might need a referral from neurosurgeon or general practitioner). The physical therapist I'm seeing says its a lot more common than you might think, and can be caused by having your head down for long periods of time (such as reading a book, laying on couch watching tv, etc...It's often referred to as students' neck or teacher's neck). Oh, and chances are it wont show up on MRI or Ct because it's muscular). I hope this helps. Try looking occipital neuralgia up on the web. May God bless you!! Let us know how ypu're doing!

Some of these symtoms may be the result of Myofascial Trigger Points in the muscles of your neck especially the Sternocleidomastoid and Temporalis muscles and Zygomaticotemporal (branch of trigeminal nerve) can be entrapped ny the temporalis muscle.
Read the below link and review. Some of these can be self treated. There are many ways to treat trigger points in the muscles. The most important treatment is a home stretch program.

Head and Neck Pain
http://www.round-earth.com/HeadPainIntro.html

Especially read about the Sternocleidomastoid muscle which can cause atypical TN at:

http://www.round-earth.com/SCM.html

also Nerve and Vessel Entrapments by Muscles: Zygomaticotemporal (branch of trigeminal nerve) can be entrapped ny the temporalis muscle.
http://www.round-earth.com/Entrapment.html

[BlackRoze]

Thank you everyone for your ideas and support :) I have a lot to think about now, a lot of info to go and read, and a LOT of questions for my doctors - and hopefully with some prodding from me, the docs will find some sort of reason for this.

It's just frustrating. I'm tired of new symptoms and changes that don't make sense and doctors who have few (if any) ideas or suggestions.... and I'm really tired of having doctors tell me my medical history is "interesting and confusing". I don't want to be interesting and confusing anymore.

Thank you all,
Liz

I know this may be a little late, but with me being a newbee here better late then never. I was wondering if they ever found the reason behide your symptoms.
OK i DON'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD HELP,
But have you ever been tested for Lyme Disease?.
If you haven't gotten any answers , I think i would be requesting one. Some of the symptoms you spoke of is what i went threw before i knew i had Lyme Disease, Now don't take me wrong many disorders and diseases are out there, but Lyme Disease can and often do mimic many other diseases, so Please if you haven't yet been tested, then please do get tested if you have yet to have any answers to this. Many with Lyme Disease never knew we was bitten in the first place, till we got really sick months or even years later.

[cassie5963]

I have started getting numbness in my face as well. It stays below the cheek bones on both sides of my face and lasts for about 30min at a time. I have not went to the doc. about it yet. I do have teeth problems and sinus problems, do you think these could have something to do with it? It feels really wierd and it is starting to worry me. I have no other symptoms besides the tingling, numb feeling.

[ConsiderThis]

I have started getting numbness in my face as well. It stays below the cheek bones on both sides of my face and lasts for about 30min at a time. I have not went to the doc. about it yet. I do have teeth problems and sinus problems, do you think these could have something to do with it? It feels really wierd and it is starting to worry me. I have no other symptoms besides the tingling, numb feeling.

Hi Cassie,
I was taking a lot of Ibuprofen when I had teeth problems and pain from tetanus... then the periodontist told me that I had an infection around my old implants and that Ibuprofen is known to weaken the bone of the jaw. So I stopped taking the Ibuprofen and started taking Serrapeptase.

It's not the same, but now I have less pain from my teeth and my teeth are also less loose. (I forgot to say that I increased the amount of magnesium I was taking.)

When I have those face feelings now, I have a B12 shot, and I rest without moving for awhile because I'm afraid it's related to my heart.

I was having those feelings very intensely, and my left arm was dead-weight numb. But now I'm better...

[paulmethyl]

I have the exact same problem. Facial numbness, tingling, skin problems. I was diagnosed with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and placed on methotrexate and enbral. I was also diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease and placed on synthroid. None of it worked. In fact, it just made me sicker and more depressed. After nine years I got a new doctor who placed me on Methylcobalamin (B12) injections twice weekly (they are easy to do so don't be afraid of self injecting yourself). My problem was B12 absorbtion, not defeciency. Within three weeks, all the numbness/tingling went away, and my energy was restored. The only problem is that Methycobalamin has a nasty side effect, and I no have intense cystic acne. Although I feel great, I don't look so good. So, I'm trying to find another type of B12 that works on neuropathy (which sounds like what you have), that doesn't have the nasty side effect. Try B12 injections, it probably will work for you. And, it is very inexpensive.


Hi Wittesea,
Years ago I had so much trouble with my head feeling numb, and I had a lot of trouble with my vision. It was before I had B12 replacement so I don't have any notes from the exact time.

I remember that it was very scary, and the doctor couldn't find a medical reason for it.

I know you know these forums very well, so I'm sure you've read about B12 before.

I noticed that Mari mentioned it, too.

Have you tried taking the 5mg Methylcobalamin, say a few times a day?

I used to have the most awful peripheral neuropathy in my right thigh. It went away totally by accident when I was having B12, a lot of it, for tetanus nerve symptoms.

I was having a shot a day, which is about equal to 6 of the 5mg Methylcobalamin lozenges a day. It took about two months for the peripheral neuropathy to significantly resolve on that dose... a shot a day.

But now I sleep on a mattress, albeit a foam mattress, and I don't have to keep getting air mattresses any more.

When I touch my right thigh it feels like my left thigh... not so wooden and numb the way it used to.

((((((((((Wittesea)))))))))))))))))

I hope it sorts out for you. I think head things are very scary.

[john jdsn]

Hello everyone, I realize this topic has been dead for awhile but I've been having some similar encounters as the ones described although it seems not as severe.

I woke up from a nap one day and about one hour later ate a fat cheeseburger. I'm not sure whether or not it started before or right after, but the left portion of my face became tingly; almost like a stabbing with pins and needles sensation. It was not my entire left face, it was the left part of the forehead, temples, and upper cheek. It also ranged from my temple to my eye. My eye did not feel tingly, but instead it felt sore. To the touch it is noticeably more tender than my right eye. I can see out of it fine; it is just sore. It has been 4 days now and the feeling does not seem to be getting any better or worse.

About 2 years prior to this one of my eyes (can't remember which) was similarly sore and hurt to the touch and could feel the soreness with each blink. This lasted about 1 - 2 weeks. I'm not sure if this incident is related at all to the my current state.

I've been trying to self diagnose by reading up on forums and it has ranged from bells palsy to even cancer. I am quite nervous and scared at this point. I am a student and my insurance probably won't kick in until another week so I can't see a doctor. I'm 27 years old. What could this be and is there any way to treat it before I see the doctor? Thanks everyone.

[laureleaf]

Mine are exactly the same. My face tingles, then my left eye twitches and wriggles strangely. It's always when I'm really upset.

I'm vegan and I know that that often comes with B12 deficiency but I am taking supplements. My dad has celiac disease but last time I was tested I didn't have it.

Should I seriously go see a doctor?

[rose]

Malabsorption is the most frequent cause of B12 deficiency, and if you were damaged by "malabsorption" it was because you developed a deficiency.

The B12 test and CBC cannot reliably rule out deficiency. That is probably why you weren't told you were deficient.

Methylcobalamin is safe, inexpensive, and the best type of B12. A very small percentage of people may develop some side effect due to lack of some other important nutrient or because the body is working to repair. Methylcobalamin is safe even in humongous quantities.

rose

[rose]

You can also learn a great deal about celiac (and gluten deficiency). This is very important because 1) most doctors are decades out of date regarding both 2) there are things you can do about both, with or without a doctor.

rose

[allu0412]

I too have the same experience with tingling and numbing on my left side of my face. I have had numerous CT's and MRI's revealing nothing. I suffer from migraines and my neuro swears it is a form of a migraine. Some people get the tingling right before a migraine (which apparantly can be a "silent" migraine with only neuro symptoms and no pain) I seem to be in the category of having these symptoms for days after the migraine instead of before. Just thought I would throw that out there.

[LynnPat]

I just read about how people who don't make enough stomach acid, suffer from a whole host of symptoms, some of which are vitamin deficiencies. I have this problem myself. The problems you mentioned are among those mentioned in an article I just read. go to an MD/naturopath and have them test your stomach. A supplement of HCL may solve the other problems.

[davio]

I too have very similar symtoms to yours. I had the MRI and blood tests but nothing was found by my doctors. So I am still living with this and hoping that it doesn't have to get much worse before anything is done. The articles on a gluten free diet sound interesting. I have actually thought of trying something like that before but haven't done it. It's a little hard to do with a family of four. I would need total support from them, which is sometime hard to find.

[shylajune]

I also have facial numbness and tingling. Mine is caused by various allergic reactions. I can always tell when I must leave an area when my face gets numb.

I had an experience yesterday at the chiropractors when I smelled something that was like peppermint. Well, it turns out that the doctor had put a peppermint in his mouth and my face was numb instantly. I have very server reactions to all sorts of chemicals, foods, preservatives etc.

Hopefully someone here can replay and share their experiences with me.

[mikebrant]

My symptoms are:
1. Intermittent tearing and partial closure of the right eye.
2. Numbness of the right side of the head, tongue and face.

These symptoms began within about a week of being rear-ended in a car accident. The first symptom was pain in the right side of the neck and inflammation of the occipital plexus on the right side. I began visits to a chiropractor 3 times a week and a massage therapist twice a week and, although the neck pain is gone, the facial and cranial numbness continues.

My PCP ordered a cranial MRI and it did not indicate anything other than some thickening of the mucus in my sinuses. A regimen of antibiotics was not effective and a subsequent regimen of systemic steroid (prednisone) was not effective. I was then referred to an ENT who advised that it was probably my trigeminal nerve and he referred me to a neurologist who I'll be seeing Tuesday.

I don't know where else to post this, but I'm hoping someone here has some ideas for me....

My face goes numb and tingly and it makes my skin feel heavy and my left eye feels like it's wiggling. It's weird. It makes my face feel frozen, but it doesn't look frozen or different.

My ability to use my facial muscles doesn't seem any different when it happens (but it could be slight and I don't notice?)

It's been happening for a while, and it just keeps getting worse and it happens more often.

I had an MRI of the head/neck which was normal.

My medications have been ruled out as a cause.

My current diagnoses -
Anxiety, fibromyalgia, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, raynauds, sicca syndrome, and I'm sure I am forgetting something...


So any ideas as to what can cause facial numbness/tingling? It's mostly confined to my forehead and the left side of my face, but it occasionally wanders to the left side of my neck as well.

It's starting to really scare me, mostly because I don't know what is causing it, and my doctors seem stumped as well.

[tnkrbell]

Hi All,
I was just browsing the posts and noticed this one about numbness and tingling of the face.

Bells Palsy (numbness of one side of the face) can be caused by several things. In my case it is caused by late stage Lyme disease...actually it is such late stage lyme that I was dxd with MS due to the lesions on my brain that are actually caused by the lyme bacteria...and that "we don' have lyme disease here" attitude kept me from getting treated.

Testing for lyme is rather useless since it only detects about 50% of those infected. Igenex is the only lab that tests for the different strains semi-accurately.
These days a clinical diagnosis may be made if you can find a lyme literate Dr.

Some of the symptoms of lyme disease include chronic fatigue, brain fog, bells palsy, dizziness, muscle spasms, vision problems such as double vision and eye floaters, swollen lymph glands, memory impairment etc.
Heart palputations, neurological symptoms and swollen joints are common manifestations of late lyme disease.

Anyway that may be something worth researching if you have any of the other symptoms.

Hopefully my info can help some of you that are searching for answers.

[seekfind]

I have the same symptoms. My right cheek is numb and tingling as I'm typing this. For me the cause is Lyme disease.

[mdelia]

Hi my name is Millie and I have the same symptoms as you wittie. Right side of my face is numb and feels heavy. Lower lid of the eye is wiggling on and off, in the morning I have to rub the eye before I can feel or see anything. The whole right side of my head, neck all the way down to my foot is burning, tingling for the past 3 weeks. Right neck and shoulder very stiff and sore with bad headaches only on one side. I had 2 MRI both normal, nerve conduction test normal. No cancer, no stroke I am very scared still. I just had many different blood test done awaiting results.

millie

[sabimax]

I see this is older post, but in case any reading.. I have had facial numbness/tingling pain for about 10 years... no for sure diagnosis.. I have many other neuro symptoms too. MRI of head is always clear...

I am now on neurontin for the nerve tingling pain.. as it is bad!! it helps totally.. so I will feel the numbness but not the tingling...

mine happens when humid outside, or if I am overheated/stressed! weird but that is me..

just wanted to let you know how long this has been going on... so do not be scared.. it has not caused more or worse things for my body.. irritating but only has gotten stronger till painful but the meds are helping... hugsss,sarah