Still experiencing body numbness
 

HI all,

Firstly, I would like to express my absolute relief at having discovered this forum/support group. Reading about others experiences has assisted greatly in pulling me out of many an irrational anxiety hole - most of which are attributed to when the right hand side of my body goes numb, notably my right hand and foot. This is a sensation that is almost constant but appears to increase in severity when fatigue is high.

Does anyone else still or has experienced this? I am just assuming that the numbness is a bi-product the site of the brain where I sustained by injury - but it is just an uneducated guess. Ideas?

I should provide some background...
So it all began 3 months ago when I was walked home with my housemate. Like one of my brothers she put me in a playful headlock however I *think* I must have lost my footing because I've fallen back onto the pavement and smashed the lower left hand base side of my head (just above the neck) into her sturdy Mont Blanc expensive watch, completely smashing it(oops!). A few days later I recalled having had a waking up sensation after the accident but then my memory is blank. Apparently I passed out asleep for a few hours, got up, then went back to sleep. I remember feeling completely out of it and was throwing up. Later that night I went to A&E which was non-productive. I was back two days later, dazed and confused, too exhausted to walk and just functioning at 25%. I was given a full neuro-sensory look over and told I had concussion and was sent to bed without tv or computer access. The right hand side of my body was numb for a good few weeks and I had severe heat pains across my wound and could often hear pressure fluid circulating. It was a horrible few weeks. In the end (third visit to A&E after the tremors became too much) I refused an MRI as I knew that this would only confirm a concussion etc etc, as a bleed was not at risk. If I'm honest I suppose I was also fearful of seeing my brain in the actual - abstract existentialism is a battle at the best of times! :)

Being the completely always positive and 'I'm fine' stubborn person that I am I went back to work (administrator at an infamous University) and just gradually burned myself right out to the point where I had to admit defeat and returned to my doctors (I was also studying which after 2-3 hours of reading would then see me unable to get out of bed for 24 hours) for a medical note to assist with my studying. I was then told to cut my hours at work in half which assisted greatly as I would come home and nap (very new to me!) and then be able to function for a few hours. Meanwhile, I have had some emotional personal stress which I am finding increasingly more difficult to deal with. Normally, I am your go to girl for all types of advice! Now everything appears too difficult. This week I have stopped napping during the day by replacing this with a lay down rest and have increased my work hours by 25% - however after a weekend of very little sleep the anxiety has returned to astronomical levels and the numbness is worse than ever, to the point that I occasionally stumble when I walk and struggling handling some items. My head also feels flu like and a few dizzy spells are creeping into the mix. I once had an anxiety attack 2 years ago but otherwise have not and do not normally suffer from anxiety - any tips here would be amazing. I am really reluctant to have to concede to this weakness and go to the doctor for some meds.

Being mentally weak now for 3 months has been my biggest test to date. My self-confidence, personality and academic merit has been cut in half. I am almost ready to decide that perhaps there is not a positive to be found from this entire experience - I know I will persevere past this sentence...but a weak unproductive life is now having noticeable and detrimental affects. Is withdrawing to recuperate my inner strength the answer? When the numbness and anxiety lessen, life is accessible again.
I don't think I have ever been this consistently scared and exhausted.

After this internal monologue (I've never conveyed this in it's entirety before), I am in short seeking some reassurance and advice from my fellow PSC whose symptoms have been going through the motions (insomnia to mood swings - both thankfully subsided) and/or changes.

Thanks for reading (Yikes!)

Yours, Michaela

Hugs to you! I didn't have the numbness, but so much of the rest sounds SO familiar. Someone on here should be able to give you more specific advice.

My tiny tidbits are...

Rest as much as possible! If you're able to do the withdrawal thing, I'd say go for it. It allows your body to recover and life to get closer to "normal".

Admit when you need something, and accept it from those who are willing to give it. Try to find someone you can talk to.

Also, while it's true that an MRI usually doesn't show a concussion, it can bring peace of mind. If it doesn't show problems, that's wonderful! If it does show problems, then you will be able to work more effectively towards your recovery.

With your flu "feeling" and dizziness - is it possible that you have allergies or sinus problems? Sometimes the concussion symptoms can mask the symptoms that normally alert you to such problems.

I know this isn't all that helpful, but I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone in this, and it DOES get better. :hug: