I thank God that your mother did not have a stroke, as I thought surely that's what you were going to say, as I read your opening remarks! My thoughts will be with you and your mother as you try and sort through the medical system for a dx. The neurologist should be able to advise you. You must have a medical background, and I can see that you will be a real help to your mother. I wish I could offer more substantive input as to what the problem might be. I have heard that Aspartame can be harmful but had never taken the time to learn any particulars. Don't they make some Spenda-based soft drinks now, such as Coke Zero, [?] that she might switch to? I should think that even fruit juice or sugars would be preferable if this problem HAS developed secondary to Aspartame, but I find it incredible that something still on the market has led to the type and severity of symptoms that your mother has. Please keep us updated on developments, and I feel that the expertise available in this forum will be of help and support to you. billie

Welcome to NT

My mom has had a stroke, with left-sided paralysis. She don't have pain, thank God, and never has had a lot of pain on that side from the stroke. she has numbness and tingling.

It's comforting to know she has all those "normals." That's the good news.

A good neurologist should give you the correct dx.

I'm thinking it could be bulges or herniations in her cervical spine, but you said her MRI was normal. (MRIs are a definitive diagnostic tool, but not 100 percent - they do micro slicing - not every inch of the neck. There's also mylograms that show more details)

Although bulges or herniations could cause her to be out of whack and be a little dizzy, that could be positional vertigo, meniere's disease or equalibrium problems (inner ear). she can have more than one dx. I have had pain behind my right eye from my neck injuries. I would have headaches on that side pretty bad. I also think my neck was causing a lot of my back pain, because the cervical epidurals X3 helped my back, a lot. I also had pain from the top of my head to my foot, on the right side... and when I would walk on concrete, I could feel the unpleasant impact of my foot to the top of my head. I also think my scalenes are causing some lack of oxygen to the brain issues. Not confirmed by a doctor, but when I drive too far and upset my arms and scalenes, I can't think straight that evening.

Did she have a brain MRI or myelogram yet. There could be some kind of occlusion some way that could cause all that.

It was also suspected that I might have unilateral MS (one-sided), which can happen, but my problems were caused by an auto accident.

Just my thoughts...

Keep us posted.