Neurologist recommendation - Paresthesia / peripheral neuropathy

[inigo]

Hello,

 

I’m looking for a good neurologist. More specifically, invoking the knowledge of @Sheryl - in all the searches I’ve made you always made good recommendation and had some interesting input, could you please let me know what are your thoughts on this case? Thanks

 

Symptoms: feeling some random “phantom” water drops over multiple body parts (arms, hands, face, neck), meaning it feels exactly as if a water drop had just fallen on my skin, but there is no water. Sort of akin to a very light and tiny electrical shock. Not painful at all, but disturbing. 1 month before it starting happening I had a fall so I may have had a slight concussion, no sure if it could be related.

 

After doing some research, it appears it may be called “paresthesia”, and may be due to “peripheral neuropathy”. As such, I started looking at potential options at Bumrungrad in order to make an appointment with a neurologist, but have no idea how to pick the right Dr.

 

Request: would anyone be able to recommend a very good neurologist for this case? Not necessarily at Bumrungrad, it’s mainly my default hospital as it’s generally easy to find a good Dr there. Also, if anyone has ever had those symptoms and has some experience with this, please let me know.

 

Finally, in my home country I would normally see a generalist in order to know which type of specialist to consult, but generalists are not very common in Thailand, and I’m not even sure that I should directly see a neurologist. Cf a message I found elsewhere about this kind of symptom, showing that it could come from a wide array of reasons:
 

Quote

 

The abnormal sensations of water dripping are due to paresthesia { the medical term of abnormal sensation (such as tingling or pins and needles) and it is often caused by damage to the peripheral nerves} seen in peripheral neuropathies or vascular pathologies. Hence peripheral vascular pathologies like deep vein thrombosis have to be ruled out either by angiograms or by dopplar studies( A Doppler ultrasound is a test that uses high-frequency sound waves to measure the amount of blood flow through your arteries and veins, usually those that supply blood to your arms and legs). Vascular flow studies,(also known as blood flow studies) can detect abnormal flow within an artery or blood vessel. There are several causes for peripheral neuropathies(The peripheral nervous system works with your body sending messages to the brain. Peripheral neuropathy indicates damage to this function) including diabetes, hypothyroidism, chronic involvement of liver or kidney, chronic alcohol use etc. Hypoparathyroidism too should be looked into apart from hypothyroidism(own experience).

 

Neck strain, spondylotic changes in cervical vertebrae, bone disease or bad posture also require a look in.The answer given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. Hence this answer should only be considered as a reference line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.

 

 

Thanks for your help

[Hellfire]

Better save your money and time. Neurologists are not any better than astrologists. Accept your condition and get used to it. They know nothing about the brain, but they will happily accept any money from somebody feeling worried about their new and strange sensations. Unless you feel a real discomfort (a physical one, not psychological) - take it as a part of the normal ‘getting older’ process.

 

 

Edited May 4, 2022 by Hellfire

[Sheryl]

12 hours ago, Hellfire said:

Better save your money and time. Neurologists are not any better than astrologists. Accept your condition and get used to it. They know nothing about the brain, but they will happily accept any money from somebody feeling worried about their new and strange sensations. Unless you feel a real discomfort (a physical one, not psychological) - take it as a part of the normal ‘getting older’ process.

 

 

 

On the contrary, neurologists know quite a bit about the brain, and can treat a wide range of neurological conditions.

 

True that what the OP is experiencing might not be a treatable condition, but what your blanket statement about neurologists is n ot at all true. 

[Sheryl]

OP:

 

First of all, given the large area involved, if as it sounds it is bilateral (on both right and left side) it cannot be due to peripheral vascular pathology. Nor is a cervical spinal issue at all likely.

 

Secondly, post-concussion effects can include parathesias like this. So, sometimes, can slow brain bleeds.

 

If you had had a neuro exam after your fall which ruled out any intracranial bleeding, a case could be made for waiting this out for a bit and seeking help only if it failed to spontaneously resolve in say a month.

 

But as it sounds like you did not, it is best you see a neurologist now.

 

At Bumrungrad I suggest one of these neurologists:

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Sureerat-Suwatcharangkoon

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Sombat-Muengtaweepongsa

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Sasitorn-Siritho

 

Aside from effects of your fall, other possibel causes include thinsg like Parkinsons Disease and Multplke Sclerosis. Unlikley in the absence of motor symptoms, but possible.

 

By the way did you by any chance have a COVID vaccine or booster in the weeks or month before this started? As temporary parathesias sometimes occur from that. I had itching sensations, on and off,  in my hands and other spots   for a good month after my last booster. Due to immune system being a bit hyperactive

[Hellfire]

On 5/5/2022 at 10:16 AM, Sheryl said:

 

On the contrary, neurologists know quite a bit about the brain, and can treat a wide range of neurological conditions.

 

True that what the OP is experiencing might not be a treatable condition, but what your blanket statement about neurologists is n ot at all true. 

My own experience (which, of course, might be quite limited) tells me the opposite. Brain is the most complex (by far) and the least understood organ of the human body. What are the serious neurological conditions which are successfully treated by the modern medicine? Are there any? All those I know of are incurable. They might call some of them as being "manageable", but those are just words' game and a marketing trick.

 

Edited May 6, 2022 by Hellfire

[inigo]

On 5/5/2022 at 3:35 AM, Sheryl said:

OP:

 

First of all, given the large area involved, if as it sounds it is bilateral (on both right and left side) it cannot be due to peripheral vascular pathology. Nor is a cervical spinal issue at all likely.

 

Secondly, post-concussion effects can include parathesias like this. So, sometimes, can slow brain bleeds.

 

If you had had a neuro exam after your fall which ruled out any intracranial bleeding, a case could be made for waiting this out for a bit and seeking help only if it failed to spontaneously resolve in say a month.

 

But as it sounds like you did not, it is best you see a neurologist now.

 

Thanks a lot for your reply. Indeed I did not have a neuro exam at the time.

 

Quote

 

At Bumrungrad I suggest one of these neurologists:

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Sureerat-Suwatcharangkoon

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Sombat-Muengtaweepongsa

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Sasitorn-Siritho

 

 

Thanks for the recommendations.

 

I also initially found this neurologist: https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Weeraworn-Nakarawat, as there is “Disease of peripheral nerve” as part of the clinical interests. What are your thoughts on this one?

 

Quote

By the way did you by any chance have a COVID vaccine or booster in the weeks or month before this started?

 

I had another shot several months before those symptoms started, but no effects during the few months following the shot.

 

 

[Sheryl]

6 minutes ago, inigo said:

Thanks for the recommendations.

 

I also initially found this neurologist: https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Weeraworn-Nakarawat, as there is “Disease of peripheral nerve” as part of the clinical interests. What are your thoughts on this one?

He is certainly well qualfiied but his main clinical focus seems to be movement disorders (such as Parkinsons, very common in Thailand)