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What Causes Brain Fog, Tingling In Face And Lips Numbness Post Spine Surgery?
Question: Thank you. I have "brain fog," and generally feel as if I am not living in my own body. I feel uncoordinated at times, almost as if I am driving my body, like a robot. I also have tingling in my face and chin with numbness in my lips and chin. My chin feels like it just had a novocain shot, 24/7. All this could be due to surgery 3 months ago when I had an artificial cervical disc installed. I also fatigue very easily, and sleep 10 hours a day. Are these symptoms just a result of healing from the surgery? They appear to me to be neuological. I feel as its I should farther along than this. I am a 59 year old male in good shape.
Brief Answer:
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. I read your question carefully and found that you are suffering from brain fog, weakness, incoordination, fatiguability, numbness over lower face. These symptoms could be due to
: Cervical spinal cord damage - It can lead to flaccid weakness in hand/arm muscles while spastic weakness in lower limbs, incoordination due to muscle weakness/sensory dysfunction, muscle fatiguability, repeated attacks of vertigo/light headedness/brain fog.
As you have undergone artificial disc surgery, there is possibility that previous disc prolapse had damaged the cord and the present disc surgery did not relieve the symptoms. It might be due to
Permanent cord damage like myelomalacia
Prolapse of artificial disc
Cord compression at above or below level due to new pathology
Facial numbness due to cervical cord compression occurs only if 5th cranial nerve damage occurs. It can get damaged by "syringobulbia". It is central dilatation of CSF pathway leading to nuclear damage (origin) of 5th nerve.
If we are suspecting it, then you should consult your treating doctor. He will confirm your symptoms by neurological examination (sensory examination, power, reflex, tone, coordination check, 5th nerve function).
He will advise
CT and/or X ray cervical spine
MRI cervical spine
If doubt in diagnosis, he may advise NCV/EMG of specific nerve /muscle
Further treatment will depend upon degree of cord damage/disc prolapse or ne pathology.
You are right that it might be related to surgery. Your symptoms are more likely to be neurological than psychological.
At home, you should
: Avoid pillow use
: Avoid weight lifting/forward flexion of neck/extreme neck movement
: Take bed rest
: Do physiotherapy under supervision.
: You can take neutron specific vitamin like Methylcobalamin, Pyridoxine, Pantothenic acid, Folic acid, Thiamine. It will correct any deficiency state.
: Get yourself checked for sugar (Diabetes mellitus).
Hope it will help you. Still in doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. I read your question carefully and found that you are suffering from brain fog, weakness, incoordination, fatiguability, numbness over lower face. These symptoms could be due to
: Cervical spinal cord damage - It can lead to flaccid weakness in hand/arm muscles while spastic weakness in lower limbs, incoordination due to muscle weakness/sensory dysfunction, muscle fatiguability, repeated attacks of vertigo/light headedness/brain fog.
As you have undergone artificial disc surgery, there is possibility that previous disc prolapse had damaged the cord and the present disc surgery did not relieve the symptoms. It might be due to
Permanent cord damage like myelomalacia
Prolapse of artificial disc
Cord compression at above or below level due to new pathology
Facial numbness due to cervical cord compression occurs only if 5th cranial nerve damage occurs. It can get damaged by "syringobulbia". It is central dilatation of CSF pathway leading to nuclear damage (origin) of 5th nerve.
If we are suspecting it, then you should consult your treating doctor. He will confirm your symptoms by neurological examination (sensory examination, power, reflex, tone, coordination check, 5th nerve function).
He will advise
CT and/or X ray cervical spine
MRI cervical spine
If doubt in diagnosis, he may advise NCV/EMG of specific nerve /muscle
Further treatment will depend upon degree of cord damage/disc prolapse or ne pathology.
You are right that it might be related to surgery. Your symptoms are more likely to be neurological than psychological.
At home, you should
: Avoid pillow use
: Avoid weight lifting/forward flexion of neck/extreme neck movement
: Take bed rest
: Do physiotherapy under supervision.
: You can take neutron specific vitamin like Methylcobalamin, Pyridoxine, Pantothenic acid, Folic acid, Thiamine. It will correct any deficiency state.
: Get yourself checked for sugar (Diabetes mellitus).
Hope it will help you. Still in doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Answered by
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