Left hand/arm numbness and weakness UPDATE

[[be...]]

Hi!

 

So the most persistent symptom Ive had through this ordeal is the numbness and weakness of the left side of my body. In tapered off clonazepam rather quickly and jumped 6 months ago. Ive had this maddening symptom since 3 months ago almost persistently.

 

Loosing the strength in the left arm and hand while you take care of a 1.5 year old and have to work full time to support the family can be devastating, believe me. Yesterday I finally convinced myself to go to the doctor's as Im well aware that you can have another illness while on benzos.

 

So the general practicioner to my surprise was rather professional and understanding (that would be a first for my insurance company). He had about 10 xrays done on my back, left shoulder and neck.

 

To my surprise he discovered I have mild scoliosis on the neck, plus military neck syndrome. He explained that they were both mild and that it looks like theres enough space between vertebrae.He also noticed a lot of nerve inflamation and no apparent reason for it.

 

I was referred to the orthopedist and have an appointment with him plus an mri for next week.

 

I will keep you posted on the subsequent results, but on the meantime, has anyone had to go through a similar ordeal?

[[Wi...]]

I have numbness in my right foot left arm and other patches around my body that wont seem to go away. Some parts are always numb. In the beginning i also went to the Dr. but ive concluded that if any of my "new illnesss" werent there before this wd madness then it is nothing but withdrawal. I had an mri for my internal organs at 3 months wd because i had stabbing pains that i was convinced was appendicitis liver failure etc. but the mri came back cool. These benzos really mess with every nerve in the body which creates numbness pain and seizures but its all only withdrawal. Good luck dude.

[[be...]]

Hey,

 

Thanks for the reply man.

 

I went to the doctor for many of my previous symptoms and was waiting for this numbness symptoms to die out. The thing is, Im not very patient hehe.

 

I'll keep updating this post with the hopes of helping somebody out in the future.

 

Hope you find relief as well.

[[be...]]

Hi Everyone!

 

Im posting an update in the hopes of helping someone with any similar symptoms out.

 

So I finally got the appointment to see the orthopedist. He checked all my xrays and spend about 45 min checking my joints, neck, vertebrae, shoulders and hands. He came to the following conclusions:

 

1. I have a healthy and strong spine with enough space for the nerves inbetween.

2. The scoliosis and military neck are very mild and should not be causing any symptoms.

3. He was baffled because he saw some spine nerve inflamation with no physical reasons for it. He stated that I have all the symptoms of a neuritis in my left arm without an evident cause. He sent me more nerve conduction tests.

 

Allright, so the conclusion I came about was that all the weakness and numbness problems Ive had have been caused by the benzo WD process. Since Im finally seeing some small improvement on the left hand sensibility and weakness issues, I'll actualy hold a couple of months for th next round of tests.

 

I did not see any improvement at all for the first 3 months of this awful symptom, but for the past 3 weeks Ive had about a %25 increase of hand sensibility and strength.

 

I will continue posting any updates on regards to my case.

 

Hoping for a quick recovery for everyone! 

 

 

[[bl...]]

benzojoe:

I have same symptoms in my right hand/lower arm. It keeps me awake at night and I drop things. I've had every test. I think it's w/d but do the tests to set your mind at ease and try not to think about it. I found that L Theanine helps as does Apple Cider Vinegar--tho it tastes disgusting. It's hard with small kids. I know!! Hang in there.

Blue

[[Be...]]

Our darn nerves and nervous systems are inflamed from these pills.  Not the first time I read about inflammation being a problem with withdrawal.

[[El...]]

Benzo Joe

Im curious how your arm are now? Is it better?

All my best

Angelene

[[Co...]]

That's so interesting that they're actually able to see the inflammation.  I wish I could understand the science behind the healing a little better.  It wouldn't help, but would maybe be a decent distraction!   

 

Please keep us posted - I'm so glad someone has a doctor taking them seriously enough to try to find the source of the problem.  If the numbness/weakness are due to benzo damage, then you can be assured you'll get better, and if not, you can be assured they'll find a cause and probably a solution too.  If I recall correctly, Colin had a similar story of numbness only on his left side that improved. 

 

Good luck and speedy healing! 

[[Si...]]

I've had a lot of problems with this too (among other issues). I know I have kifosis in my back (similar to scoliosis but the back hunches forward. I had some numbness in my left arm even before taking a benzo. It's way worse now though. I also drop thinks like my keys all the time now. Hope it keeps improving for you.

 

Never heard of military neck. I'll have to look that up.

[[be...]]

Benzo Joe

Im curious how your arm are now? Is it better?

All my best

Angelene

 

Greetings Angelene!

 

Ive recovered about 20% of sensibility and strenght in my rm thankfully. Still a long ways to go but its definitely something.

 

The doctor gave me a lot of information but no real solution. He doesnt think it has anything to do with benzos but cant explain the neuropathy either.

 

Ill hang in there for a while longer before I soend any more money in more testing.

 

Thanks for asking! How are your symptoms lately?

[[be...]]

Thanks Siggy and ComingHome,

 

Your replies are really appreciated.

 

At this point even my physiscal therapist thinks this may be benzo related. The doctor had a lot of information but no real solution.

 

He said it made no sese that I was seeing spontaneous recovery it this was a neuropathy and sent me more tests.

 

I will wait for a couple of months to see if improvement continues, and definitely keep you posted.

[[El...]]

Benzo Joe

Im curious how your arm are now? Is it better?

All my best

Angelene

 

Greetings Angelene!

 

Ive recovered about 20% of sensibility and strenght in my rm thankfully. Still a long ways to go but its definitely something.

 

The doctor gave me a lot of information but no real solution. He doesnt think it has anything to do with benzos but cant explain the neuropathy either.

 

Ill hang in there for a while longer before I soend any more money in more testing.

 

Thanks for asking! How are your symptoms lately?

Hi there and thanks for reply.

Well I've had a lot of life preassure in my life since end of February, the office who pays out sick money here has refused to do so, they claim that my boss hasn't filled out a note properly and that I'm not sick enough and the fact that I'm able to attend school 3 half days a week and blah blah blaa, I have a lawyer on the case, but I have now no income until this is settled, and he office has sat like 20 weeks for the processing time

So all this has been thrown me into a huge adrenaline stress mode and the heart palpations and sleep has been a complete mess, also has it rowed up my back pain symptoms, I do hope my body and brain will heal even when I'm going through this. My doctor refuse to recognize this as benzo w/d and think I'm severely depressed and mental I'll and push on me for taking anti drepressives constantly, I want to switch doc but it's diff when I'm in the middle of this lawyer thing and she's the one who has given me sick leave from the start. All in all I just really want to heal so I can manage to go back to work and not have this system hanging over my head.

About my arm, my right arm is still very painful like inside the upper muscle, and in the shoulder, there's still this weird sound inside it, like bones meeting bones. I've notices that in this stressed state, I've started again the bite my jaws and teeth very hard at night and I can actually feel how it effects all the neck upper back and shoulder muscles and tendons, so I think my arm pain has something to do with this, when I never relax and everything's tense constantly the bloodstreams perhaps not so well in the arm. My doc hasn't even looked at it and only talks about the pills I should take. My chiropractor thinks like me and that I have a tendinitis in my shoulder. I'm hoping it's all due to benzo stress crap, and that things will ease up soon.

All my best to you🎈

[[be...]]

Hey,

 

I'm so sorry to read about the trouble you're having with work and the medical  office. I sometimes wish that the people who keep saying we are mentally ill, depressed or making everything up would walk in our shoes for a day to see what its like.

 

I hope you can get things settled quickly. In my case Ive also noticed that symptoms get worse when under a lot of stress.

 

I continue working full time and some days I sure hope I was just resting, but at least it keeps me distracted.

 

I also hope we heal quickly, and without any more crazy symptoms.

 

Best Regards!

[[sa...]]

hey there!

 

just wanted to share my own experience with numbness, and my agreement that it's certain WD.

 

my very first symptom when my body was reacting to ativan was severe numbness in my right foot during tolerance withdrawals, and eventually constantly. (this was when i had no idea how serious the drug i was taking was)

 

fast forward, i am now about 14 months off of ativan. i had serious numbness in my right foot up until about month 11. it's pretty much gone now. i still get leg weakness and numb patches throughout my body some days, but that specific, intense numbness has pretty much abated.

 

just goes to show the ways our body and nervous system are flaring up, healing, and getting back to normal ... at a sometimes painstakingly slow rate.

 

hope your numbness and weakness continue to lessen and lessen!

[[be...]]

Hi Sarah!

 

Thank you for your reply. Today I read a quote that stated that when you share happiness it grows bigger, and we you share sadness or hardship it gets smaller. (i hope it makes sense, as English is not my first language)

 

Its always great to know of people that are further into the process and have survived! 

 

Id trade my hand numbness for foot numbness. My left hand numbness is a nuisance at work were I have to use a computer all day.

 

I hope we can both find complete relief soon!

 

[[sa...]]

i LOVE that quote. there is so much truth in that -- sharing sadness is comfort. we're not alone!

[[Co...]]

I love that too!  Sharing sadness divides it; sharing happiness multiplies it. 

[[Be...]]

I like that quote too.  Makes sense.

[[be...]]

I love that too!  Sharing sadness divides it; sharing happiness multiplies it. 

 

I think it makes more sense written that way 

[[Ca...]]

I have felt numbness in my hand and arm too,and it feels like I cant control how I move the hand or arm sometimes,it's really scary

[[be...]]

Camela Im sorry to hear that. 

 

Ive hade dozens of awful symptoms after the jump, but to me, this has been the most horrible/ hardest one.

 

I have a nerve conduction test on Monday. Its the last test Im willing to have done as all the rest have come back  negative.

 

I will keep everyone posted.

 

I hope you find relief.

 

[[Be...]]

benzojoe, did the docs run an antibody screening blood test?  I had an ANA, anti-nuclear antibody, screening test and it came up positive.  I had it done while in tolerance and interdose withdrawal.  I had other blood tests done then and I was then diagnosed with Lupus and have a procoagulant antibody in my system.  I think it was caused by the damage from the pills. 

[Guest [Cl...]]

I can't play piano anymore because my arms are too weak due to benzo withdrawals and reinstatements over the course of 10 years. They messed up my nerves so bad.

[[be...]]

Hello Everyone 

 

Becksblue: The doctors did run that test, twice actually during the past 6 months. It came back negative.

I do believe benzos cause actual physical damage, not only weird symptoms, so you are right to believe it was the pills.

 

ClaraBrahms: It makes me really angry and sad to think that someone with an amazing talent has to stop playing due to this awful crap they keep prescribing. Ive had a ton of hand issues but mostly on my left hand, thankfully I draw and design with my right hand and the symptoms on this side haven't been as awful.

 

I just came back from having a nerve conduction test on the whole left arm. It came back negative. The doctor congratulated me on the great results and said it sounds like fatigued nerves but has no actual explanation for this. I now convinced myself that it IS benzos, and I wont be going for any more medical tests any time soon. Ive spent enough time role playing a lab rat. 

 

[[ho...]]

I can completely relate with you benzojoe123!  Having the awful symptoms of numbness and weakness with no clear medical answers is so frustrating. I've had similar problems with my left leg. Not exactly the same, not numb just a terribly stiff, nervy sometimes weak feeling.  I have had so many medical tests and have spent thousands of dollars trying to figure out what is wrong with me.  There is absolutely no denying what we are feeling and to be told by so many doctors they really don't have an answer is beyond depressing. Like you I no longer will be having any more testing unless something major comes up. I guess we have no choice at this point but to blame this all on the benzos. We do have to be thankful that our EMG test results are negative for anything serious. A lot of nasty things can be found on those buggers. Take Care!