What Causes Dizziness With Numbness In Cheek Bone And Neck Pain?

Posted on Wed, 16 Jul 2014

Question: Very worried something deadly is happening. My off balance lightheaded feeling is back. Last night my left cheek bone fell asleep it wasn't completely numb but it felt like your arm falling asleep then got pins and needles and it went back to normal after thirty seconds it has to be a brain tumor MS or XXXXXXX palsy . I played wiffleball yesterday in a cancer fundraiser for five hairs my neck is killing me but it's opposite side of neck. Not sure what caused the feeling in cheek. I may have leaned against it falling asleep but that's not something I've never done. I have severe anxiety disorder and tapering off Xanax after four years of 3 mg of it. Panic attacks all the time. I am thinking the worst. I have been off balance lightheaded and high anxiety for 4 months it goes away sometimes days or a week at a time and yesterday it all came back with a vengeance. I'm afraid that falling asleep feeling in my left cheek bone area is from something terrible and my anxiety it through the roof. I have seen ENT neuro and doctor about my off balance feeling bunch of times and all said it's anxiety. Please help me calm down. The pins and needles feeling went away when I was done rubbing my face to "wake it up." Would it have came back to normal to easy if it was something terrible.? My eyes also feel wierd sometimes like feel unfocused or seem shaky vision like I can't stare at a spot for long it feels like my vision wants to shift somewhere else. But when I look in mirror my eyes don't stagger and move wierd or anything.

Answered by Dr. Sudhir (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
A MRI can help.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Both MS and Bell's palsy seem little unlikely as they would cause symptoms persisting for little longer duration.Even tumor would cause symptoms persisting for long duration.

But TIA(transient ischaemic attacks) caused by momentary reduced blood supply to brain can cause such symptoms.

Sometimes blood vessels pressing on the nerves particularly near brain stem can cause this.

Ideal step at the moment would be to get neurological examination done and if needed doctor would want you to get a MRI done.But since symptoms were short lasting, you shouldn't be worried to much.

This can help to know the cause of symptoms and relieve your anxiety.Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir (25 minutes later)

Would you think if it was something serious that it would be constant ? Since a tumor pressing on a nerve to cause pins and needles in left cheek bone would not let up on the symptom and would continue and be persistent and get worse. Same for MS, etc.

I have good blood pressure and I eat fairly healthy can it still be TIA? I think a stroke I would have had other symptoms as well right like weakness and slurring words ?

In your honest opinion what does this sound like to you doctor? Can it be anxiety? Or something simple?

Thanks!

Answered by Dr. Sudhir (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Its seems simple to me.

Detailed Answer:
Its seems simple to to me but should be investigated before it is left unattended.

TIA typically is short of stroke symptoms like weakness or slurred speech.These symptoms occur when TIA progresses to stroke.

And yes, anxiety is known to cause focal numbness or twitching in muscles.So before labelling it as anxiety related one has to rule out other serious issues.

So ideal step would be clinical evaluation.You might not be able to pick of some symptoms which can be obvious to doctor.Regards.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad