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What Causes Tingling, Numbness And Heaviness Around The Occipital Bone?
Question: My 13 year old daughter is experiencing tingling, numbness and a feeling of heaviness around the occipital bone area of her eye, lasting a few minutes to 20 minutes. It's happened on and off for a week. No other symptoms. No pain, no temp, no color change, no drooping. Healthy otherwise, except for constant cold hands and feet and complaints of tingling and numbness in the toes and fingers that she has had her entire life.
Brief Answer:
Hi, please point out the area again..
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing to Health care magic,
Occipetal area is actually at the back of the head this is no where near the eye..please can you re describe the location ....?
Regards..
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad.
Resident M.D.
Hi, please point out the area again..
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing to Health care magic,
Occipetal area is actually at the back of the head this is no where near the eye..please can you re describe the location ....?
Regards..
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad.
Resident M.D.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
What am I thinking about then? Its the bone that makes up the eye socket. The numbness is from the ridge of the eye socket to the edge of the eyelid and up onto the inner portion of the upper eyelid.
Brief Answer:
I need you to help me by giving me some info.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back,
I am sorry for inconvenience but i had to make things clear so that i could come up with a more helpful answer to your query.
Ridge of eye above upper lid is made by frontal bone and lower ridge below lower eyelid is made by maxillary bone, any ways i now know what location are you talking about.
I understand your concern , I would like you to answer a few questions this will make me help you in a better way.
1) How is her general health? is she thin lean or fine?
2) How is her appetite?
3) How is her growth going?
4) What foods does she take?
5) Does she get anxious early?
6) Numbness occurs in one eyes or both at the same time?
7) When was the last time you got her blood works done ? can you upload a pic of them ? or if you can't can you tell me her: HB,MCV,MCHC?
8) Did you consult any doctor in this matter?
9) Is there any med she is taking?
10) Can she be exposed to any poisonous thing like lead or paint?
11) Since when is this issue happening?
12) Any particular info about her behaviour which is strange?
13) Did she ever had any stomach issues?
I am waiting for your input.
Regards
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad
Resident M.D.
I need you to help me by giving me some info.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back,
I am sorry for inconvenience but i had to make things clear so that i could come up with a more helpful answer to your query.
Ridge of eye above upper lid is made by frontal bone and lower ridge below lower eyelid is made by maxillary bone, any ways i now know what location are you talking about.
I understand your concern , I would like you to answer a few questions this will make me help you in a better way.
1) How is her general health? is she thin lean or fine?
2) How is her appetite?
3) How is her growth going?
4) What foods does she take?
5) Does she get anxious early?
6) Numbness occurs in one eyes or both at the same time?
7) When was the last time you got her blood works done ? can you upload a pic of them ? or if you can't can you tell me her: HB,MCV,MCHC?
8) Did you consult any doctor in this matter?
9) Is there any med she is taking?
10) Can she be exposed to any poisonous thing like lead or paint?
11) Since when is this issue happening?
12) Any particular info about her behaviour which is strange?
13) Did she ever had any stomach issues?
I am waiting for your input.
Regards
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad
Resident M.D.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Sorry for the location confusion. And I'm a former L & D nurse. Embarrassed.
Anyway, she has been exceptionally healthy. Nothing other than a couple of yearly colds and an intestinal virus or two.
She is very tall and lean. She 5'11" and 140 lbs.
She eats like a high school linebacker. Very healthy appetite. She has a very wide range of foods that she will eat. However, she doesn't eat a wide range of veggies. But the ones she will eat, she eats regularly. No food allergies up to this point, however, she mentioned her tongue tingles when she eats pineapple...so no more pinapple just to be safe.
She can worry, at times and if she thinks there is something wrong, she will obsess about it and become more aware of whatever it is that concerns her. But I don't think she is really anymore anxious than the average 13 year old girl.
She has only experienced numbness around and below her eye for about a week and the right eye is the only one effected. And it's not consistent. It comes and goes, without any regularity.
Because she has never really been ill, she has only seen a doctor for a general yearly checkup and required vaccines. No blood work has ever been done.
I have yet to contact a doctor. However, I was going to make an appt for her this week.
She does not take any meds, nor has she ever been exposed to any poisonous substances.
Behaviorally, she is a happy, silly, social, well adjusted, well liked, 13 year old, teen girl. Nothing unusual at all.
The only stomach issue is constipation. She does not have a BM everyday...maybe every 3 days or so, and that is normal for her.
That's it. The only reason I contacted this website is because I don't expect her doctor to take it too seriously and it's probably nothing, but because she also experiences the numbness in her fingers and toes and how it can occur at odd times, even when it's a warm day..I thought it could somehow be related. I am worried about an underlying condition. A 15 min appt with her pediatrician will not allow for questions or concerns I might have.
Anyway, she has been exceptionally healthy. Nothing other than a couple of yearly colds and an intestinal virus or two.
She is very tall and lean. She 5'11" and 140 lbs.
She eats like a high school linebacker. Very healthy appetite. She has a very wide range of foods that she will eat. However, she doesn't eat a wide range of veggies. But the ones she will eat, she eats regularly. No food allergies up to this point, however, she mentioned her tongue tingles when she eats pineapple...so no more pinapple just to be safe.
She can worry, at times and if she thinks there is something wrong, she will obsess about it and become more aware of whatever it is that concerns her. But I don't think she is really anymore anxious than the average 13 year old girl.
She has only experienced numbness around and below her eye for about a week and the right eye is the only one effected. And it's not consistent. It comes and goes, without any regularity.
Because she has never really been ill, she has only seen a doctor for a general yearly checkup and required vaccines. No blood work has ever been done.
I have yet to contact a doctor. However, I was going to make an appt for her this week.
She does not take any meds, nor has she ever been exposed to any poisonous substances.
Behaviorally, she is a happy, silly, social, well adjusted, well liked, 13 year old, teen girl. Nothing unusual at all.
The only stomach issue is constipation. She does not have a BM everyday...maybe every 3 days or so, and that is normal for her.
That's it. The only reason I contacted this website is because I don't expect her doctor to take it too seriously and it's probably nothing, but because she also experiences the numbness in her fingers and toes and how it can occur at odd times, even when it's a warm day..I thought it could somehow be related. I am worried about an underlying condition. A 15 min appt with her pediatrician will not allow for questions or concerns I might have.
Brief Answer:
Thanks for such a comprehensive response
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back,
There is nothing to be embarrassed of, in fact you being a nurse provided me with really organized , comprehensive and relevant medical information and history which was really helpful in considering the possible causes.
I understand your concern and will try to come up with all possible causes even if there is very little possibility of them being a culprit.
1)General Anxiety:
Well you would know that the first cause any doctor will consider is psychological influence, and i too will say that there is a probability that she being a kid and being anxious about her health has anxiety about her issues and her symptoms are getting exagerated by the anxiety , but still we need to address this problem considering all other possible causes as well.
2)Hormones
Why is she so tall in this age ? is it according to your family pattern or she is extra ordinary? if this is extra ordinary then you better get your child a checkup regarding this extra ordinary tall height may be there are any hormonal issues, but if is growing normally and you or her father have such growth patterns in family then its just fine and there is nothing to be concerned of.
3)Vitamins:
Vitamine B and folate deficiency can cause numbing, pins and needles , these disorders can be checked by proper clinical check up and they also show in blood folate levels plus MCHC,MCV is on upper limits or more, in CBC ...and macrocytic picture is there on blood film... This is usually found in kids with congenital enzyme issues or kids who are very selective in what they eat...it can run in families too.
4)Nerves:
Peripheral neuropathies can cause it, cause of neuropathy is determined after neuropathy is confirmed on clinical sensory motor examination.
5) Poisoning:
Some poisons in paints ,pipes, lead damage nerves but this doesn't seen to be a cause in her case.
6) Type 1 diabetes:
This usuaally have a family history and you would have seem other symptoms too in her , but if there is not history in family and no such symptoms over these years then this cause shouldn't be of much concern too.
7) Worms:
Some worms cause megaloblastic anemia, some cause neuropathy , these are easy to diagnose through easy tests , talk to your doctor about them .
For example
Diphyllobothrium:In a small number of cases, this leads to severe vitamin B12 deficiency due to the parasite absorbing 80% or more of the host’s B12 intake, and a megaloblastic anemia indistinguishable from pernicious anemia. The anemia can also lead to subtle demyelinative neurological symptoms (subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord). Infection for many years is ordinarily required to deplete the human body of vitamin B-12 to the point that neurological symptoms appear.
there are abdominal and other systemic symptoms too like constipation abdominal pain diarrhea which aren't there in your daughter.
SUGGESTIONS:
1) Don't panic and calm her down too.
2) Make an appointment with a doctor.
3) Prepare yourself some good questions for appointment.
4) I believe she won't be having any issues, you can start her with some nutritious food and fruits rich in iron and folate.
5) She looks to be a perfect 13 years old kid in my opinion she wont be having any big issues.
6) I think if basic tests are normal and examination doesn't reveal anything, counsel her well that she is fine and don't pay attention to minor issues.
I would suggest you to deal with things calmly don't show much worry in front of her , hopefully things will stay fine and if there is anything it must be very controllable and treatable.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help if not then don't forget to close the discussion and rate it.
Wishing you good health !!
Regards:
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad
Resident M.D.
Thanks for such a comprehensive response
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back,
There is nothing to be embarrassed of, in fact you being a nurse provided me with really organized , comprehensive and relevant medical information and history which was really helpful in considering the possible causes.
I understand your concern and will try to come up with all possible causes even if there is very little possibility of them being a culprit.
1)General Anxiety:
Well you would know that the first cause any doctor will consider is psychological influence, and i too will say that there is a probability that she being a kid and being anxious about her health has anxiety about her issues and her symptoms are getting exagerated by the anxiety , but still we need to address this problem considering all other possible causes as well.
2)Hormones
Why is she so tall in this age ? is it according to your family pattern or she is extra ordinary? if this is extra ordinary then you better get your child a checkup regarding this extra ordinary tall height may be there are any hormonal issues, but if is growing normally and you or her father have such growth patterns in family then its just fine and there is nothing to be concerned of.
3)Vitamins:
Vitamine B and folate deficiency can cause numbing, pins and needles , these disorders can be checked by proper clinical check up and they also show in blood folate levels plus MCHC,MCV is on upper limits or more, in CBC ...and macrocytic picture is there on blood film... This is usually found in kids with congenital enzyme issues or kids who are very selective in what they eat...it can run in families too.
4)Nerves:
Peripheral neuropathies can cause it, cause of neuropathy is determined after neuropathy is confirmed on clinical sensory motor examination.
5) Poisoning:
Some poisons in paints ,pipes, lead damage nerves but this doesn't seen to be a cause in her case.
6) Type 1 diabetes:
This usuaally have a family history and you would have seem other symptoms too in her , but if there is not history in family and no such symptoms over these years then this cause shouldn't be of much concern too.
7) Worms:
Some worms cause megaloblastic anemia, some cause neuropathy , these are easy to diagnose through easy tests , talk to your doctor about them .
For example
Diphyllobothrium:In a small number of cases, this leads to severe vitamin B12 deficiency due to the parasite absorbing 80% or more of the host’s B12 intake, and a megaloblastic anemia indistinguishable from pernicious anemia. The anemia can also lead to subtle demyelinative neurological symptoms (subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord). Infection for many years is ordinarily required to deplete the human body of vitamin B-12 to the point that neurological symptoms appear.
there are abdominal and other systemic symptoms too like constipation abdominal pain diarrhea which aren't there in your daughter.
SUGGESTIONS:
1) Don't panic and calm her down too.
2) Make an appointment with a doctor.
3) Prepare yourself some good questions for appointment.
4) I believe she won't be having any issues, you can start her with some nutritious food and fruits rich in iron and folate.
5) She looks to be a perfect 13 years old kid in my opinion she wont be having any big issues.
6) I think if basic tests are normal and examination doesn't reveal anything, counsel her well that she is fine and don't pay attention to minor issues.
I would suggest you to deal with things calmly don't show much worry in front of her , hopefully things will stay fine and if there is anything it must be very controllable and treatable.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help if not then don't forget to close the discussion and rate it.
Wishing you good health !!
Regards:
Dr.Muhammad Ahmad
Resident M.D.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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