Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Foot and hand tingling?
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Foot and hand tingling?
by bilbo5911, Sep 14, 2006 12:00AM
Hi Doctor – thanks for your help in advance.
I am a 27 year old male. About 1.5 years ago I began developing a strange sort of tingling sensation in my left palm and left foot. The sensation is sometimes not present at all in my left foot, but is usually a constant in my left palm area (sometimes only very mildly and other times more exacerbated). Visibly, I also notice that my left palm also seems to be sort of “pulsing” a lot of the time. Something which is not visible in my right palm. Also, there are times when I am lying on my back where I can sense a strange sensation in my left lower shoulder area. I also started developing mild constipation problems around this time as well. Very recently (1 month or so), both palms also started feeling funny (kinda clammy). They are not exactly numb since I can still feel things fine, but just feel weird.
About 6 months ago in late February, I was coming off a series of major stressors and quite suddenly started feeling bad, lost a great deal of energy, developed anxiety and began having significant sleep problems. I basically did not know what was happening to me, but visited with an internal medicine doctor who ran what he called a “complete series” of blood tests (and said I was “ok” in that area – just elevated blood pressure and slightly high cholesterol readings). Based on the major symptoms of energy, insomnia, etc and especially coming off the major stressors, he suspected clinical depression however and referred me to a psychiatrist. I have been prescribed 20mg of prozac by the psychiatrist for about a month and have noted mild improvements though not much. The only other symptom of note is that around December of last year, I was engaged in a very heated conversation with a friend and suddenly became dizzy. The dizziness only lasted for a few minutes and has never repeated itself. The only other medicine I take is 12.5mg atenolol to control the blood pressure.
My question though is in regards to the tingling sensations which I mentioned to my internal medicine doctor, but he said most likely it is nothing serious and not be too concerned with it even when I suggested a possible neurological component. Obviously, because of my other symptoms though (life has basically stopped for me the past 6 months), I’ve been concerned whether the symptoms may somehow be related or not? Again though, I had the tingling problems well before the February event. I know that tingling sensations are often due to neurological problems (my dad is diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy) and just wanted to double check. I belong to an HMO so it is hard to obtain second opinions and I can’t see a neurologist without my internal medicine doctor’s referral. If you do feel this needs further investigation, any practical tips on how to convince my internal medicine doc as well?
Thanks again for your help.
I am a 27 year old male. About 1.5 years ago I began developing a strange sort of tingling sensation in my left palm and left foot. The sensation is sometimes not present at all in my left foot, but is usually a constant in my left palm area (sometimes only very mildly and other times more exacerbated). Visibly, I also notice that my left palm also seems to be sort of “pulsing” a lot of the time. Something which is not visible in my right palm. Also, there are times when I am lying on my back where I can sense a strange sensation in my left lower shoulder area. I also started developing mild constipation problems around this time as well. Very recently (1 month or so), both palms also started feeling funny (kinda clammy). They are not exactly numb since I can still feel things fine, but just feel weird.
About 6 months ago in late February, I was coming off a series of major stressors and quite suddenly started feeling bad, lost a great deal of energy, developed anxiety and began having significant sleep problems. I basically did not know what was happening to me, but visited with an internal medicine doctor who ran what he called a “complete series” of blood tests (and said I was “ok” in that area – just elevated blood pressure and slightly high cholesterol readings). Based on the major symptoms of energy, insomnia, etc and especially coming off the major stressors, he suspected clinical depression however and referred me to a psychiatrist. I have been prescribed 20mg of prozac by the psychiatrist for about a month and have noted mild improvements though not much. The only other symptom of note is that around December of last year, I was engaged in a very heated conversation with a friend and suddenly became dizzy. The dizziness only lasted for a few minutes and has never repeated itself. The only other medicine I take is 12.5mg atenolol to control the blood pressure.
My question though is in regards to the tingling sensations which I mentioned to my internal medicine doctor, but he said most likely it is nothing serious and not be too concerned with it even when I suggested a possible neurological component. Obviously, because of my other symptoms though (life has basically stopped for me the past 6 months), I’ve been concerned whether the symptoms may somehow be related or not? Again though, I had the tingling problems well before the February event. I know that tingling sensations are often due to neurological problems (my dad is diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy) and just wanted to double check. I belong to an HMO so it is hard to obtain second opinions and I can’t see a neurologist without my internal medicine doctor’s referral. If you do feel this needs further investigation, any practical tips on how to convince my internal medicine doc as well?
Thanks again for your help.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH, Sep 17, 2006 12:00AM
First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.
The symptoms that you describe are odd (the pulsing hand part) but, anyone with isolated numbness of the extremities deserves a workup for MS (multiple sclerosis). Unfortunately, many people with real MS are passed off for years as "anxious" (and some other patients pursue the diagnosis of MS despite exhaustive testing). You should have a comprehensive workup for MS, so that you can know the truth (as we know it) and you can continue with your life. I would recommend a MRI of the Brain and C-spine with contrast. Based on the results of this test you may need further testing. Sometimes an MRI is sufficient to diagnose MS. If not, you should have a lumbar puncture to look for inflammation (Tourtelotte panel/IgG index, oligoclonal bands) and visual/somatosensory evoked potentials. MS cannot be diagnosed by any "blood test". MS is a chronic disease and has many implications that cause anxiety, the sooner you get the workup you will know if you need disease modifying treatment or to pursue another diagnosis.
I hope this has been helpful.
The symptoms that you describe are odd (the pulsing hand part) but, anyone with isolated numbness of the extremities deserves a workup for MS (multiple sclerosis). Unfortunately, many people with real MS are passed off for years as "anxious" (and some other patients pursue the diagnosis of MS despite exhaustive testing). You should have a comprehensive workup for MS, so that you can know the truth (as we know it) and you can continue with your life. I would recommend a MRI of the Brain and C-spine with contrast. Based on the results of this test you may need further testing. Sometimes an MRI is sufficient to diagnose MS. If not, you should have a lumbar puncture to look for inflammation (Tourtelotte panel/IgG index, oligoclonal bands) and visual/somatosensory evoked potentials. MS cannot be diagnosed by any "blood test". MS is a chronic disease and has many implications that cause anxiety, the sooner you get the workup you will know if you need disease modifying treatment or to pursue another diagnosis.
I hope this has been helpful.
I was curious, did your symptoms started after you start you blood pressure medicine?
I am having neurological issues (tingling, paresthesias, fatigue) for about 1,5 year, and everything started after I started taking my BP meds...
Good luck!
Basically, I think "wisdom" would tell me to just go with the advice of the professionals I've seen and asked many questions to. They've told me its very obvious that most of these physical symptoms (sleep, energy) are from depression and the tingling is not related. But when you're a young guy like I am and been laid aside this long, it's hard not to get a little antsy and impatient.
Anyways...wish ya well on discovering the cause of your symptoms.
About seeing a neuro, I honestly think for your peace of mind you should talk to a good neuro (to me it was hard to find). Keep asking your PCP for a referral, at one point he will give it.
I live close by a few University hospitals, and was really happy with the doctor and everybody that I had to deal with. Also, I had a few exams and I got the bill in a month I had many unnusual expanses, so I called to see if I could pay a few days later, and I was surprised that I could make monthly payments without interest through my credicard. I'm sure that you can find a place like that.
Good luck! :)
Also, my dose is really, really low (only 12.5...just half of one of those little tabs). I take it for the blood pressure, but my bp is kinda weird. For instance, when I check it at home its always fine, but when I check it at the grocery store or dr's office..it always goes up alot. I mentioned that to my my dr and even showed him the records I keep at home, but he still wanted me on it. He said it was really high at his office and I'm probably just alot more comfortable at home.
Finally, I was aware of the side effects of atenolol, but understand they are pretty rare. I read somewhere that atenolol was actually designed to replace a drug (Propa something) which had alot higher rates of depression, nightmares, etc in people because it crosses the blood-brain barrier. Atenolol supposedly does not cross taht barrier. Again though, who knows what these drugs do in different people? We're all different...
Thx again
Was wondering if we could touch base a little and discuss Lyme. I am being treated for Lyme and just started my second anti-biotic...would love to run some stuff by you. I have read your posts and you sound very familiar.
At any rate if you get a chance a would appreciate the opportunity to pick your brain.
email: ***@****
Thanks,
Lesley
Also, it's really hard to get a LLMD close to your area, and when you can there's a HUGE wait for it... I think we have to fight too much, and in a moment we are so fragil, where we can't even think straight...
But I think people like you is needed, to let a bug in our minds to pursue the right dx, even if it is not Lyme,
Thanks for your time, really appreciated.
My problem though is not that I don't want to consider the possibility of lyme, but rather the difficulty I have seeing any specialist I want to given that I am part of an HMO and very, very financially limited (grad student).
As I mentioned before, I've seen my internal medicine dr on a number of occassions and he is just proceeding cautiously. I even called him a couple of times to reiterate the "tingling" issue and he just ran some more blood tests and said to wait until our appointment in Oct (I'll mention lyme to him as well then). At that point though, I'm also really going to push him for a referral to a neurologist who I hope will be willing to check me out more from that angle (i.e. mri, etc). Obviously given the option and financial ability, I'd love to be able to go to any specialist I want, fly to see a LLMD paying out-of-pocket, but just don't have that ability right now so have to take it a step at a time.
Regarding the depression symptoms though (sleep, energy, etc), I have to admit that the simplest explanation is really not lyme. When all those things started in Feb, I had just come off a series of major stressors (I could literally feel myself totally burnt out). I actually have repeatedly asked the professionals treating that area if this all could be the result of some disease -- and they say they really, really doubt it -- that this is a pretty textbook case of how someone slips into clinical depression. Also, I recently had a dosage increase in the antidepressant I take and about the last week or so have really started telling the difference.
Again though, it would really be good to investigate this stuff from other angles as well (i.e. lyme), but just have no choice but to take it step-by-step....i guess it helps that I have been feeling alot better too in the last week or so.
Thanks again