Numbness on left side of body from brain, diaphragm to hands

[johnjacky]

For last two months, my father was reporting stiffness/heaviness at left side starting from the left side of the skull .. down to neck, diaphragm along with stiffness in left shoulders down to finger tip. All on left side of body.

MRI scans were done and an old infarct in the right thalamus is detected which is said to be as a result of mild stroke which went unnoticed.

His problem now is that, he is having a feeling of heaviness as if, some weight is hung on his left side of the body. Just that the whole left side is acting as one unit (not physically, but I guess it's just a feeling) He can move his hands or there is no physical weakness detected. Its just the numbness. He feels irritated in the left part whenever his body is exposed to below room temperature, like taking bath, being in an AC room etc.

Doctor said, it is a feeling, and have to live accepting the fact. Though a few medicines like Pregalin, Tryptomer, Clopilet, Amlovas and Nootropil is being taken, he is wondering whether the stiffness or the feeling of weight can be cured with physiotherapy or medicines.

Do we have any medical term for this situation ? And how long it would take him to be normal. What measures needs to be taken inorder for him not to get another stroke ?

His BP is at 140/100. Age 62.

[RhiannonsMoon]

Hi johnjacky, love that name

I'm sorry your father is unwell, there is nothing worse than being a stroke victim and not knowing it. The limitations it creates are fundamental and life changing. I know that I am on warfarin to stop pulmonary odema. My partner had a heart attack and is now on daily asprin coversil, which is a high dose asprin to stop the blood from getting clogged through the heart. But a stroke is a different thing, involving the brain.

I would have thought your dads doctor would have prescribed something for him by now. Some people take half an asprin a day, but you can't take that as advice because I'm not a doctor. I would go to his doctor with him and a written list of questions, ask all the questions you have, write the answers down so you don't forget them, and follow her/his advice.

Physio is a great idea because it will give you a good idea of your dads limitations, and also a clear idea of what he can do at the moment; the physio will help to place goals and work with him to achieve them. The human body is an amazing thing, so is the human brain; where there has been a train wreck, the brain seems to be able to reroute some of the signals and use other parts of the brain instead.

Please let us know how your dad is going,

Cheers,
Rhian