If Sqad's About

[Psybbo]

OH complaining about numbness on his left side. pain and heat in his big toe.
Tests back, normal.
Thanks for any ideas

[Buenchico]

While you're waiting for Sqad:

The two conditions could be unrelated. You might well be describing gout in his big toe:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gout/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

A TIA (transient ischaemic attack = 'mini stroke') could be the cause of the numbness. Tests often come back negative after a TIA, as there's nothing left to show what has happened.
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Transient-ischaemic-attack/pages/introduction.aspx

[Psybbo]

Thanks Chris, I thought it might be gout. Having watched the interview with Liam Neeson this morning, I wondered if caffeine might be the problem as he loves his coffee

[lcg]

could be a stubbed toe/injury, but the numbness is concerning. even if it seems stable and tests are normal.....exclude gout and revisit your gp tomorrow or walk-in centre if you cannot get an appointment. i'm a nurse and i would want an explanation for it, and i don't think it is unreasonable to do so. any other health problems? (recent or chronic?) x

[Psybbo]

Thanks Icg, no toe injury, GP said wait a couple of weeks and see if it gets any worse

[jourdain2]

Numbness is odd, is it all the way down his left side? Waiting for medical answer, but nerve damage/trapping causes numbness. Has he done anything to trap a nerve/wrench muscles? Gout is unmistakeable, the joint below the big toe swells like mad, is red and hugely painful. (1st husband suffered from it - you really can't mix it up with general pain.)

[Psybbo]

Hi joudain, from your description, looks as if that rules out gout, thanks for that x

[lcg]

no....i don;t think he should wait (sorry). numbness should not just appear, and neither should it be ignored/undiagnosed. there should be more conversation going on about it than that, and tests. different ones to the usual, and repeated if necessary. there are lots of non-serious/acute reasons.....but also some major ones. make sure the gp knows he needs to be seen and get the toe sorted too x

[Sqad]

\\\OH complaining about numbness on his left side\\\

left side of what?...leg, thigh ?

For how long has this numbness been going on?

Has he any underlying medical problems?..e.g diabetes ?

Is he taking any medication?

Tests would exclude gout and mini-stroke is a non-starter.

Doesn't sound a big deal.....but i will await you reply.

[Psybbo]

Hi Sqad, he is on simvastatin and cholesterol medication, no diabetes. Numbness mainly in hand leg and foot, left side.
Thank you all for the replies

[Sqad]

Aaaah!....right...thanks.

The pain in his toe and the numbness, with that distribution are unconnected.

More than one cause............which I don't like.

The pain in his toe is certainly arthritic in nature and would certainly respond to Ibuprofen.

The numbness, with completely normal blood tests is a "mystery" and I am afraid that one cannot exclude the suggested diagnosis of Buenchico, which I "kicked into touch"...........ministroke. Unlikely, but is the best suggestion.

He needs an MRI scan in my opinion and one would go on from there.

That's my contribution.

[Psybbo]

Thank you Sqad, I'll try to get him to discuss that when he sees his GP in a couple of weeks.