what can cause numbness on left side of thoracic region of spine, radiating out over a large portion of the thoracic ribs?

Posted by raini

A woman I know injured the lower lumbar region of her spine about two months ago. Since then, she has been experiencing numbness on her left side over a large region of her thoracic ribs, from about T4-T7. She has also inexplicably gained 50lbs since her injury. A doctor told her that she had shingles. However, if shingles was in fact the cause of her numbness, the outbreak would follow a specific dermatome, which would lay directly over one of her ribs and would extend from her spine, and trace the rib to the front of her abdomen. The complete numbness she is experiencing is too widespread to be a result of shingles. Her physical therapist does not have any answers for her either.