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What Do Numbness On The Forearms And Elbows Indicate?
Question: I have a numb feeling in my forearm area near my left elbow and also have a droopy left eyelid. For the previous few days, I believe I have been recuperating from a pinched nerve in my left shoulder-blade to the neck area and down into my left arm. Do you think the droopy left eyelid is also Being caused by the suspected pinched nerve??
Let me know.
XXXXX
Let me know.
XXXXX
Brief Answer:
Droopy eyelid UNRELATED to any pinched nerves from spinal cord
Detailed Answer:
Good afternoon and Happy Holidays. Many thanks for your question.
There are typically a couple of different ways that an eyelid can droop.
1. Dehiscence of the lid (not a neurological phenomenon at all but is just a product of aging where the skin of the eyelid because separated from a structure called the Tarsal Plate which is a bit of cartilage). Result: DROOPY lid...easily correctable with surgery
2. Neurological damage which could be from a stroke or dysfunction of the 3rd CRANIAL NERVE and this can happen in diabetics or as the result of an aneurysm intracranially.
There is no anatomical way that a PINCHED NERVE which you suspect is responsible for the numbness in the left forearm could cause a droopy eyelid since there is no connection between the nerves coming out from the spinal cord and the 3rd CRANIAL NERVE which is located way up inside the head. I'll repeat that....there is no anatomic relationship or connection between fibers of any spinal nerve..including the one that you feel may have something to do with your left forearm numbness and the OCCULOMOTOR NERVE (that's the name of the cranial nerve that controls the eyelid in terms of opening). And just for the sake of a bit of trivia....there is a SEPARATE nerve that allows us to CLOSE our eyelids....that's the FACIAL NERVE or the 7th CRANIAL NERVE.....
Interesting, huh? We have to activate one nerve to open the eyes (OCCULOMOTOR) and another nerve to close them (FACIAL). That's why people who have suffered from BELL'S PALSY always have a WIDE EYED staring looking with one eye because they have weakness in actually CLOSING THEIR eyelids ont he affected side. No trouble opening them but because Bell's affects the Facial Nerve...people cannot shut the eyes...
So, I've completed the mission of "Letting You Know" sir.....The droopy eyelid is either due to a process of dehiscence which is rather common in people between 60-65 and gets more prevalent with age, or it could be caused by neurological deficits involving the 3RD CRANIAL NERVE and this generally comes about as a result of stroke, demyelination (MS or similar diseases), pressure by an aneurysm but we'd expect you to be telling us about other symptoms, or as a result of decompensated metabolic problems such as out of control diabetes.
If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for posing your question and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 26 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Droopy eyelid UNRELATED to any pinched nerves from spinal cord
Detailed Answer:
Good afternoon and Happy Holidays. Many thanks for your question.
There are typically a couple of different ways that an eyelid can droop.
1. Dehiscence of the lid (not a neurological phenomenon at all but is just a product of aging where the skin of the eyelid because separated from a structure called the Tarsal Plate which is a bit of cartilage). Result: DROOPY lid...easily correctable with surgery
2. Neurological damage which could be from a stroke or dysfunction of the 3rd CRANIAL NERVE and this can happen in diabetics or as the result of an aneurysm intracranially.
There is no anatomical way that a PINCHED NERVE which you suspect is responsible for the numbness in the left forearm could cause a droopy eyelid since there is no connection between the nerves coming out from the spinal cord and the 3rd CRANIAL NERVE which is located way up inside the head. I'll repeat that....there is no anatomic relationship or connection between fibers of any spinal nerve..including the one that you feel may have something to do with your left forearm numbness and the OCCULOMOTOR NERVE (that's the name of the cranial nerve that controls the eyelid in terms of opening). And just for the sake of a bit of trivia....there is a SEPARATE nerve that allows us to CLOSE our eyelids....that's the FACIAL NERVE or the 7th CRANIAL NERVE.....
Interesting, huh? We have to activate one nerve to open the eyes (OCCULOMOTOR) and another nerve to close them (FACIAL). That's why people who have suffered from BELL'S PALSY always have a WIDE EYED staring looking with one eye because they have weakness in actually CLOSING THEIR eyelids ont he affected side. No trouble opening them but because Bell's affects the Facial Nerve...people cannot shut the eyes...
So, I've completed the mission of "Letting You Know" sir.....The droopy eyelid is either due to a process of dehiscence which is rather common in people between 60-65 and gets more prevalent with age, or it could be caused by neurological deficits involving the 3RD CRANIAL NERVE and this generally comes about as a result of stroke, demyelination (MS or similar diseases), pressure by an aneurysm but we'd expect you to be telling us about other symptoms, or as a result of decompensated metabolic problems such as out of control diabetes.
If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for posing your question and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 26 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your comments.
I am also currently trying to get completely over a sinus infection with sinus congestion in my lower forehead and eyes area.
Could this sinus congestion possibly be related to my droopy eyelid condition??
I am also currently trying to get completely over a sinus infection with sinus congestion in my lower forehead and eyes area.
Could this sinus congestion possibly be related to my droopy eyelid condition??
Brief Answer:
Unusually severe sinusitis of frontal sinus can cause droopy lid
Detailed Answer:
Very good observation and good point to address.
It is a rarity that upper eyelids are affected by sinusitis but if the infection is severe and on the same side as the affected eyelid AND if the patient's VERTICAL EYE MOVEMENTS are normal and unimpeded then, the droopy lid COULD be caused by extension of swelling and compression of a branch of the 3rd CRANIAL NERVE that is traversing in the region of the superior lid next to the infected sinus. CT of the sinuses or MRI should show a lot of swelling and compressive forces typically extending into structures beyond the orbit to really ground that theory.
The other thing would be resolution of the eyelid droopiness upon clearing up the infection.
If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for posing your question and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 41 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Unusually severe sinusitis of frontal sinus can cause droopy lid
Detailed Answer:
Very good observation and good point to address.
It is a rarity that upper eyelids are affected by sinusitis but if the infection is severe and on the same side as the affected eyelid AND if the patient's VERTICAL EYE MOVEMENTS are normal and unimpeded then, the droopy lid COULD be caused by extension of swelling and compression of a branch of the 3rd CRANIAL NERVE that is traversing in the region of the superior lid next to the infected sinus. CT of the sinuses or MRI should show a lot of swelling and compressive forces typically extending into structures beyond the orbit to really ground that theory.
The other thing would be resolution of the eyelid droopiness upon clearing up the infection.
If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for posing your question and please let me know how things turn out.
Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.
This query has utilized a total of 41 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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