<p>At this moment, I am typing strictly with my right hand, because my left is not functioning properly! After taking a nap this afternoon, I awoke to find my left arm wholly unresponsive! It gradually regained some range of motion, but its been eight hours, and I still cannot so much as pick up a cup with my hand, nor grasp anything in it properly! When I do, my hand goes limp; if I try to force it, it convulses! This is scaring the heck out of me!</p>
<p>ARGH! WHAT IS GOING ON?!?</p>
<p>I really fervently wish this was a joke thread, but it's not! What should I do? Give it more time? Go to the doctors?</p>
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I really hope it's not CTS or anything.
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<p>I've suffered from CTS in the past (and all CTS is really is a compressed nerve) and what you have sounds far more "sudden." I used to get CTS from playing too much WoW. You play computer games at all?</p>
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Don't be stupid. If it has been several hours and you cannot use your hand call 911 RIGHT NOW. Even young people can have a stroke. Just DO IT.
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<p>Yes, it may be. But it's unlikely. I mean, every time someone has chest pain it's not exactly smart to rush to the ER unless they're at risk.</p>
<p>You probably slept funny. However, if you are concerned, go to the ER. Calling 911 is a bit extreme (and not to mention costly.) </p>
<p>How old are you, BTW?</p>
<p>Are you experience difficulty with speech? Motor functions? Trouble walking? Memory deficits? Decreased sensations in your face? Those are signs of various kinds of strokes.</p>
<p>As for slept funny, that's what I initially thought, but as the hours passed and its improvement came abnormally slowly (I can barely move my fingers, but still better than no movement at all), I got a bit freaked out. I started the thread when I tried to extend my fingers, and found my hand just hanging there limply. </p>
<p>Maybe I am overreacting, but this is really odd!</p>
<p>I've made two trips to the ER in the white wagon. Both times it turned out not to be life-threatening (actually turned out to be atypical reactions to prescription medication), but NO ONE in the medical world ever suggested I did something wrong by calling 911.</p>
<p>Are you an expert in the symptoms of stroke? Have you ever had medical training? Why not have the EMTs check you out and then decide how bad it is? Or, if you are on campus, why not have a friend walk you to the health clinic? Sudden loss of motor control, even without a headache or other symptom, can be a sign of a stroke. You don't have to have numbness or pain, and it doesn't have to affect the whole side of your body. </p>
<p>I agree that it's not likely to be a stroke (especially if you are young and healthy), but what's the cost of finding out compared to the cost of being wrong? If you were my kid I'd be calling the paramedics for you, whether you liked or not.</p>
<p>I'd drop by the student health center tomorrow if you're not 100% by tomorrow. It does sound pretty odd & better safe than sorry. If the folks there think it's something that needs follow-up, they can refer you to a specialist. Would not blithely ignore this & definitely think you should at least be seen by whomever is at the student health center (hey, that's why us parents pay the big bucks for tuition & fees, so you can get covered health care).</p>
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Sudden loss of motor control, even without a headache or other symptom, can be a sign of a stroke.
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<p>It can also be a bajillion other things. I'm not saying that the OP shouldn't see a doctor, but if the OP can simply get driven/walk to a clinic, why not just go that way? I mean, imagine if everyone experiencing acid reflux called 911 every time...</p>
<p>Besides, it may not even be a stroke or CTS. It may be onset of MS. Or even Parkinson's.</p>
<p>But it may not. That's the point. Go if you're concerned, but don't panic at the immediate onset if you're not at risk.</p>
<p>This is going probably to sound really stupid, but I'm not in college; I just don't want to needlessly worry my parents, who are both pretty stressed already.</p>
<p>If it doesn't subside soon, though, I will. It just doesn't seem likely enough to be a stroke to warrant urgent action.</p>
<p>OK, one last try. Call the health center. Even if it isn't staffed, they will probably have an RN answering the calls after hours. Or, call your local hospital and ask if they have an on-call nurse service. If it is a serious problem (and yes, I agree that it probably isn't) waiting until tomorrow is not a Good Thing.</p>