does anyone know anything here at this blog about 6th cranial nerve palsy?

Question

I have been diagnosed with this by a er md, I do not have insurance and am unemployed at this time.. to see a neuro opthalmologist is not an economic option for me.. we have explored the net for any and all info and have found that the cause needs to be found asap to prevent furhter damage.. we live in the ft worth tx area.. I have called the social services agencies. they want to base my income qualifications on last year.that makes sense doesn't it? so any body got a idea on this?

Answer 1

Please contact me and I'll explain this..every time I write it all out, when I'm about done it just says, please log in again....but I'll try again...

6th nerve palsy is fairly straight forwards.

The 6th nerve nucleus is adjacent to the 7th nucleus. When it exits the base of the brain, it travels over the petrous portion of the temporal bone, then forards to the orbit and into the orbit. Anywhere along that course it can have a problem.

Have you had a recent cold? OR upper Respiratory infection or ear infection? As the nerve passes over the petrous ridge, it can become inflammed if you have an ear infection that affects the bone. A chronic Mastoiditis is the most common problem in this area. Tap your mastoid bone behind your ear. If it's really tender or feels different than the other side, this could be a sign that tells us you've got an infection.
That's called Gradinego's Syndrome. You might also have tinnitus or a sound in your ear on that side, feel the ear is stopped up, have ear pain, have post nasal drip.

As the nerve goes further forward, it gets into the area of the Trigeminal nerve. That gangion has three branches. IT's sensory to the face. Do you have pain or funny sensation in your forehead or cheek area or jaw area?

Further forward it comes into the orbital fissures and will be next to the third and forth nerves, so other oculomotor symptoms would be present, not just the 6th, which is manifested by double vision as the eye on that side won't move out past midline.

Once it's in the cavernous sinus area, you could have a field defect or loss of vision as the optic nerve is right down there too.

If it gets into the orbit and there's problems there you'd notice pain, eye might bulge out a little, lid might drop on that side. A chronic sinus or regular sinus infection could affect it there.

Most of these things are really rare. The most common, really most common cause is Diabetes.

If you've none of the associated signs, You might want to see a Family Practicioner or go to a lab and get some blood work done (fasting blood surgar), CBC with differential...those things.

Let me know if you need more help....

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Sixth nerve palsy can be caused by lesions at the nucleus of that nerve, near the midline and just below the 4th ventricle. But the nerve travels along the base of the skull, so any lesion or tumor pressing on it may give rise to palsy, manifest by the inability to voluntarily turn the eye outward.

The most common cause for this is hemorrhage or tumor. Early diagnosis is key. Talk to the practice manager of the neuro ophthalmologist or the neurosurgeon. I bet you can find one who will treat you first and worry about payment later.