Nerve Pain - Strange Symptoms Left Side of Body

[simonp_au]

Since April the 9th 2011 I have had very strange symptoms that cant be explain thus far.

Please note I have no understanding of anatomical or medical terminology, I have never had to explain symptoms before. I am 33yo, 6'3, 130kg.

Since December 2010 I have had a type of postural sinus tachycardia. When I lay down my heart averages 80-90 beats a minute when I stand it will increase to 120-130bpm and up to 150 bpm. This is in the absence of exercise and occurs regardless of a calm or anxious state.

On April the 9th 2011 I was laying in bed and suddenly, out of the blue, I had an ache in the left hemisphere that radiated down. at the back of my head - around the inside area of the base of the skull ( and I could feel it radiate down the back my throat), to my heart and upper left abdominal. As this occurred my heart raced at 130 Bpm, there was no anxiety present. The 'headache' seemed to also cause a my eyes to quiver. Also, a strange clicking sound in the front of my head (left side) which pulsates along with my heart beat. I have never experienced these symptoms before nor have I ever experience hypochondria.

Also, on the 9th of April I experienced numbness on the left side of my face, upper left arm, and the outer left thigh, I have never experienced these symptoms before.

The strangest of all symptoms, which has worsened along with the upper left abdominal, tachycardia, headache and nerve pain is a type of hypersensitivity in the genital area and continuing erectile dysfunction. It feels as if I'm about to orgasm (but wait!) its not pleasurable it verges on painful.

I went to hospital a few days later and these symptoms couldn't be explained. Whilst in hospital I was unusually calm and relaxed. I eventually noticed that things that would normally cause anxiety or trigger the 'fight or flight' response weren't happening. There was no panic, no elevated heart rate, it was as if the 'butterfly' (or adrenaline rush) just stopped working. My abdomen felt hollow.This is very unusual.

As the days and weeks past I felt tremendous pain, 'shooting' nerve pain, particularly in my upper left abdomen that radiated up into my chest. This type of pain was also present in my groin, left arm and at the inner base of my skull and within my neck.

Antidepressant medications that once worked are now causing these symptoms to come on with a vengeance which makes no sense to me, even a cup of black tea causes immense nerve pain and a cup of coffee is worse. I have had to discontinue the medication.

Over the last week, after a stress test at the cardiologists (for tachycardia), I have had terrible shooting pain across the area of my heart. The pain seems to occur in conjunction with the head, neck, groin and abdominal symptoms. However, now the nerve pain at the back of my head has worsened and a clicking and crackling sound occurs when I walk. Also, these symptoms seem to be causing a physical anxiety I have never experienced, the anxiety occurs independent of thought.

I doubt if I will get many answers here but I have to try as the symptoms are worsening. At times they are debilitating, I have returned to the hospital a few times as my blood pressure was up to 190/120 and heart rate peaked at 150bpm, yet by the time I got to the hospital these numbers lowered a little. Actually I didnt want to go to hospital but Medical helpline recommended I go give the symptoms I explained above and the fact I did not sound at all anxious. I believe there must be an underlying cause to these symptoms. I do not believe they are simply somatic, if they are then that is a first.

If you've read this far thank you!!!

[MG (Admin)]

OK..there seems to be a lot going on ..please can you give us a list of
1) Any previous diagnoses you have received.
2) Previous and current medications with doses.

You mentioned receiving antidepressants...do you see a psychiatrist regularly?
Have you had a neurological exam?
How long do the headaches last?

[simonp_au]

Prediabetes, Sinus Tachycardia Current meds Metformin 1.5grams, Mirtazapine 30mg, Propranolol 80mg

Yes Ive seen a psychiatrist he tells me he doesnt deal with the physical symptoms I have described, to be honest I cant figure out what exactly it is he does do.

I guess what I would like to do is not confuse things and focus on the nerve pain.

Ive had an mri of my brain no abnormalities were detected.

Im seeing a Neurologist in December.

The Headache can last all day its like a dull ache. At time it can be rather painful and that can last a few hours.

I can feel nerves running down my neck, I can feel it at the back of my throat and I feel sharp pains across the area where my heart is and the upper left abdominal area.

Please view this wikipedia picture http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Gray793.png

Just above what ever that blue area is in the picture is I have had extremely sharp pain that caused my heart to race and beat extremely hard like nothing Ive ever experienced before it really hurt not only in my head but my also my heart. I hope this helps.

[MG (Admin)]

OK...it is important that you get the neurological exam as there are a number of possible causes, many of which would not turn up on an MRI.
The man thing is to exclude a blood flow issue and it may be a good idea to get a duplex of the neck arteries.
If there are signs of diabetic nerve damage a nerve conduction study and blood tests may be needed.
Please update us after the neurologist's exam.
all the best

[simonp_au]

Just a quick question....Is it possible for the brain to fail in its attempt at signalling the adrenal glands to release Epinephrine during the fight or flight response.

I have lost my ability to achieve an Erection via visual or cognitive stimulus (and even the feelings of sexual arousal have been significantly dampened - its not a hormonal issue, when I first realized I had bloods done and my bloods showed normal testosterone and other hormone levels) and now I'm wondering, given these strange symptoms, that certain nerves in the brain responsible for carrying signals to certain organs are failing or being disrupted somehow. I have Pre diabetes. It was only diagnosed a few months ago and I am on Metformin. All Blood sugar readings prior to this test have been perfect. I cant see how it could have be diabetic nerve damage. Thanks, Ill donate some more $'s on Wednesday.