Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Tingling In Arms And Fingers?
Question: I went to a neurologist in August of 2014 for slight unbalance, foggy brain and tingling arm, hands, and fingers. I had a mri of the brain and neck. I was verbally told that both were negative. To make a long story short, I just picked up my reports (will be going to chiropractor and he wanted all test reports) and it says normal brain MRI but it does mention that I have mild right inferior mastoid inflammation and mucosal thickening (i sporadically feel pressure and pain on the right side ear. Can this be the cause of my unbalance and fogginess that is actually getting worse now as the months go on? Although the brain mri is normal, is there a connection between the mastoid bone inflammation and my lightheaded unbalances? Also the neck mri states slight herniation on c4-5, causing mild right sided theca sac compression, minimal posterior bulging disc annulus and bony production change, c5-6 causing mild sac flattening, mild to moderate central and slightly more left-sided disc herniation, c6-7 causing minimal left anterior cord deformity, and NO large disc fragment, significant spinal stenosis or intrinsic cord lesions are present at any level. My other question is should I have been told about the neck mri issues ? Are these mild/moderate herniation the cause of my tingling/numbness in the arm and hand?
Brief Answer:
Mastoid not the cause, spinal changes could be related to tingling.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Regarding the mastoid findings I do not believe they are the cause of lack of balance and fogginess. It could be related to the pressure and pain in the ear, as mastoiditis is usually a middle ear infection complication and the pressure and pain could have been in the setting of a middle ear infection. It shouldn't affect balance though, unless it's a severe case with brain involvement which is excluded by MRI and lack of other signs.
As for the question of whether you should have been told of your neck changes, yes I believe you should have been informed. I suppose your neurologists intentions were good, perhaps he didn't want you to panic, most people start to have some degenerative changes of the spine as years go by. Also I assume he thinks the distribution of your neck symptoms doesn't correlate with those findings.
Whether these mild to moderate changes can be responsible for your signs is a little hard to say. Nerve root compression can certainly cause those symptoms but to be sure whether that is the case, the distribution of the sensory changes (tingling and numbness) should correlate with the territory covered by the compressed nerve root (also changes in deep tendon reflexes and muscle strength can be present).
As I said I am assuming that by saying MRI was normal the neurologist didn't think the MRI findings correlated with his neurological exam.
If in doubt nerve conduction studies could help in determining whether there is nerve root involvement (or other peripheral nerves).
I remain at your disposal for further question.
Mastoid not the cause, spinal changes could be related to tingling.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Regarding the mastoid findings I do not believe they are the cause of lack of balance and fogginess. It could be related to the pressure and pain in the ear, as mastoiditis is usually a middle ear infection complication and the pressure and pain could have been in the setting of a middle ear infection. It shouldn't affect balance though, unless it's a severe case with brain involvement which is excluded by MRI and lack of other signs.
As for the question of whether you should have been told of your neck changes, yes I believe you should have been informed. I suppose your neurologists intentions were good, perhaps he didn't want you to panic, most people start to have some degenerative changes of the spine as years go by. Also I assume he thinks the distribution of your neck symptoms doesn't correlate with those findings.
Whether these mild to moderate changes can be responsible for your signs is a little hard to say. Nerve root compression can certainly cause those symptoms but to be sure whether that is the case, the distribution of the sensory changes (tingling and numbness) should correlate with the territory covered by the compressed nerve root (also changes in deep tendon reflexes and muscle strength can be present).
As I said I am assuming that by saying MRI was normal the neurologist didn't think the MRI findings correlated with his neurological exam.
If in doubt nerve conduction studies could help in determining whether there is nerve root involvement (or other peripheral nerves).
I remain at your disposal for further question.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
