Is numbness normal? : Hi, I've been... - National Migraine...

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Is numbness normal?

Wave_pattern profile image
5 Replies

Hi, I've been getting migraines for about 6 years now and I wanted to ask about my numbness. Like most migraine suffers I get numbness but I also get weakness/paralysis with the numbness like hemiplegic-migraines except it's not only on one side. The numbness basically usually starts on my fingers then spreads up my arm until my shoulder. Meanwhile this is also happening on my other arm and my legs. Usually my entire face doesnt become completely numb but I get patches of numbness where I cant move. These attacks are getting worse and worse to the point where I feel like I'm trapped in my body. I'm too young to be getting heart attacks and none of my family have a history of hemiplegic-migraines I've only just wondered is this normal?

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Wave_pattern
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5 Replies

Well, I can only confirm on the basis of my daughter's very similar affliction, also eventually diagnosed as HM which had not appeared earlier in the family, that the numbness and the way you describe it affecting both sides of your body can be an integral part of the complex migraine illness. Her - reasonably competent I now think- neurologist said it all fitted. As I say, I can only speak of this one case I know well; I hope this will be in some way reassuring to you. She has had severe numbness/paralysis symptoms on both sides fairly relentlessly for about three years now. Migraine in various guises, with progressively worsening aura, probably since early childhood, probably started with tingling sensations in both legs which she remembers from when she was around than six. Best wishes, G.

Wave_pattern profile image
Wave_pattern in reply to

Thank you for your reply I thought it was to do with a migraine but I wasn't sure because I couldn't find anything about migraines with numbness and weakness on both sides. Thank you for reasurring me its normal.

Aundrea profile image
Aundrea in reply to

Hello I get numbness and pins and needles in my hand going up my arm. Also my face and tongue. I don’t get every time but I do get it.

Alexa49 profile image
Alexa49

Sometimes with hemiplegic migraines the paralysis and numbness can be on either side of the body as it rotates sides but always end up having the paralysis on one side of the body per episode. Its a good idea to get an MRI done often patients with HM have white matter lesions and can be prone to having mini-transient strokes.

Oohzo1 profile image
Oohzo1

Yeah totally can relate to this post, most people that don't suffer don't understand how scary it can be even after suffering for years, what do you take hope u get some relief soon x

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