Afib, flecainide and numbness-oh, and RA!

[Missyanne]

Have had AFIB for a year now. Also dx'ed with Rheumatoid Arthritis two years ago, placed on Methatrexate and Humira for that. Heart stress test shows strong, normal heart. Doc does not consider me a candidate for ablation and even said that with the type of afib I have, ablation often leads to more problems. Was on 100mg of flecainide /day. I found that I was getting numbness in my left leg and dizziness. This happened twice and scared me. Then third time my left arm went completely numb as well as my left jaw. No pain, but a dead numbness. I was on vacation in a remote location, so I decided to just quit it and the numbness stopped. Next visit to cardiologist, now on pill in pocket. Take 100 mg of Flec. when I find myself in afib, but it doesn't take it away and I end up going to bed with it, luckily waking to find it gone in the AM. Anyone else have this numbness problem? Not sure the flecainide is working for me. I know I am in afib when my chest gets "heavy" and my throat and eustation tubes hurt.

[jennydog]

I had problems with numbness in my feet and left hand. I thought flecainide was to blame. After Orthopedic input and then referral to Neurology it was discovered that I had severe cervical stenosis caused by 2 herniated discs in my neck. It needs an MRI scan to confirm diagnosis. It is apparently very common and 20% of sufferers have no pain with it.

It important to understand that the nerves to your limbs originate in your neck.

[Enjoy]

Years ago I suffered from numb fingers. An old doctor I saw said to let my head fall backwards for a short while and I would feel the fingers coming back to normal. I have done this ever since for numb fingers and it works.