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What Causes Persistent Numbness In The Neck After Injury?

Posted on Tue, 4 Oct 2016

Question: Hi, i have had a neck muscle injury for 6 months. I woke up in april with a stiff neck (which has always been a problem for me) and the pain radiated out to my entire left side (numbness in arm, uncomfortable feeling on left side of chest). The doctors checked this for heart issues but all fine (EKG, stress test, bloodwork were all fine). Then two weeks ago I leaned on my left elbow for too long which again damaged the muscle and I experienced numbness in my arm, left side of head and face. I am now on meloxicam and robaxin and facial numbness still continues. Not quite done with the treatment (2 days left) but I wonder if it is still an inflamed muscle or if there is another issue

Answered by Dr. Dholariya Sagar Jayantilal (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
As mention below

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear
Welcome to HCM and thanks for query
I understand your concern

Muscle injury generally will resolves in 6 months.
But you have still numbness suggests nerve damage/radiculopathy.
Proper physical examination, MRI scan of neck and never conduction study after consulting the neurologist help in rule out the nerve damage.
Following advises will help you along with meloxicam and robaxin
Tablet pregabalin 75 mg at bedtime at the bedtime for 1 months
Tablet methycobalamine 1000 mg once daily.
Wear soft cervical collar and apply warm pad application.
Give proper rest to your neck and use soft pillow during sleep.

Hope I have answered your question
If you have further question then I will be happy to help you
Best regards
Dr. Sagar

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dholariya Sagar Jayantilal (19 hours later)

Hi Dr XXXXXXX

Thank you for your response. I just wondered, as I live in an area where Lyme is prevalent (several people I know have or have had Lyme) could these symptoms be Lyme-related?

Perhaps my muscle strains masked these symptoms as they occurred at the same time that the symptoms started (i.e. heart palpitations, facial numbness etc)?

I have no tick bites that I know of. How would a doctor test for Lyme, do you think this could be an explanation?

Many thanks,

XXXX

Answered by Dr. Dholariya Sagar Jayantilal (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Less possibility of Lyme disease

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear XXXX

Welcome back and thanks for query
I understand your concern

I think possibility of lyme disease is very less as you have no tick bite history.
Following are the common symptoms of lyme disease: localized rash, fever, joint pain, abnormal heart rhythm,headache. (you have not these type of symptoms)
Again your blood work and Electrocardiogram was normal, suggest less possibility of lyme disease.

Doctor will test the lyme disease by serological blood test.
ELISA test: If ELISA will come positive then
Western blot test specific for IgM help n diagnosis.
You can clear your doubt by serological blood test.

Hope I have answered your question
Feel free to ask further query
Get well soon XXXX
Best regards
Dr. Sagar

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj