Lori,
I will certainly keep you in my prayers for a full a speedy recovery and that your diagnosis is found to be something much less severe than a stroke.
I hate to overstep my bounds but this is one time when I just can't help myself. I am NOT a doctor, but I am a nurse and I have had a pinched nerve, or herniated disc--whatever you wish to call it. I don't know your doctor--who s/he is or what his/her specialty is, but I can tell you most assuredly, you CAN have a herniated disc without pain. It depends on several factors, including whether or not your nerve is a little pinched (could be very painful), or if you have a compressed spinal cord (may not have any pain at all). I had the later which resulted in loss of muscle tone and atrophy, weakness (I could not grasp anything with my hand, or even turn the deadbolt lock on our door), but I didn't have any pain at all. This is not that unusual and an MRI is most definitely in order, and I sure hope thay get a good image of your cervical discs when they do it!
Hang in there--I don't mean to second guess your doctor, but I sure think there's room to consider a much less devasting event here than a stroke.
Michele
