“I am having numbness in my right leg. What test do you recommend? I am worried if it is an early sign of a stroke.”
For the last 2 days I am experiencing periodic numbness in my right leg. Should I undergo any tests? I am very worried if it could be an early sign of stroke.
11 Answers
RadiologistNumbness
STROKE (CVA) is an emergency where every minute counts!
Your doctor may order a noncontract CT scan of the brain, a noncontract MRI of the brain, MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram of the brain and carotid arteries), carotid US, or all of those imaging tests.
Numbness or weakness of leg, arm, or face, especially on one side of the body could be symptoms of TIA (transient ischemic attack), or CVA (cerebrovascular accident). Other stroke symptoms might include confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, vision troubles, dizziness, loss of balance, or severe headache.
If you or anybody near you experience sudden:
"F" Face drooping
"A" Arm or leg weakness
"S" Speech difficulty, or Severe headache it is
"T" Time to call 911.
Call 911 F.A.S.T.
Your doctor may order a noncontract CT scan of the brain, a noncontract MRI of the brain, MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram of the brain and carotid arteries), carotid US, or all of those imaging tests.
Numbness or weakness of leg, arm, or face, especially on one side of the body could be symptoms of TIA (transient ischemic attack), or CVA (cerebrovascular accident). Other stroke symptoms might include confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, vision troubles, dizziness, loss of balance, or severe headache.
If you or anybody near you experience sudden:
"F" Face drooping
"A" Arm or leg weakness
"S" Speech difficulty, or Severe headache it is
"T" Time to call 911.
Call 911 F.A.S.T.
It can be a sign of a stroke but also commonly is related to spine pathology.
Start with your primary care physician. All tests should be done under direction of the physician.
MRI of lumbar spine and area of pain in the leg.
If you think it is signs of a stroke, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. F.A.S.T. Following that, an MRI of the lumbar spine is a good place to start, but a physician trained in such matters should direct the ordering of subsequent tests.
Thank you and all the best.
Thank you and all the best.
It may be a central cause ie a lesion in the brain, or it may be a peripheral cause such as nerve compression or neuropathy. I would start with getting an MRI of the brain. If this does not show a potential cause, the next step is an MRI of the lumbar spine to look for herniated disc or other source of nerve compression. If the L spine MRI and brain MRI are
negative, then you may have neuropathy related so something systemic such as diabetes or renal disease. It may be also related to peripheral nerve compression such as can occur when wearing tight clothes. In these latter cases, an EMG or conduction study would prove helpful to evaluated for peripheral neuropathy.
BRIAN DECOSTA
negative, then you may have neuropathy related so something systemic such as diabetes or renal disease. It may be also related to peripheral nerve compression such as can occur when wearing tight clothes. In these latter cases, an EMG or conduction study would prove helpful to evaluated for peripheral neuropathy.
BRIAN DECOSTA
MRI L/S SPIME
lumbar MRI without contrast
You should be seen by a neurologist.
Numbness in extremity is not necessarily due to a stroke. It could be secondary to a “pinched nerve”. My first choice would be an MRI of the lumbar spine. If nothing explains your problem there, then you would probably be a candidate for an MRI of the brain.
Robert Cruz
Radiologist
A thorough physical exam by your regular family physician is necessary to try to determine a list of potential causes and therefore a list of potential appropriate tests. Cheers!
