Arm discomfort

Hello I am twenty-four-year-old female and my father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. About two years ago I had a weird sensation in my hand, sometimes pins and needles and coldness when I went to the dr. they said it was from sleeping on my hand. Recently I began am experiencing a heaviness and tightness in my same hand and arm, but no tingling. I feel like my hand is weak, but I can still squeeze tightly. Should I get screen for MS? Are these symptoms of the disease?

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

You are experiencing paresthesia, which means alteration in your skin sensation. in genereal paresthesia can be either transiet or chronic. the transiet type is not uncommon, and usually occurs in the setting of hyperventilation or stress-related. the chronic paresthesia on the other hand, is a very non-specific manifestation that can be due to a variety of things. in your age group, the possibilities might include the following:

- mechanical compression of the nerves (like in carpal tunnel syndrome, compression from disc disease in the neck or back, or positional compression like what happens when you sleep on your arm)
- Migraine headaches can be associated with a wide variety of neurological symptoms, including numbness, tingling, weakness (it's called complicated migraine). so if you are experiencing headaches as well, this might be a possibility
- Nutritional causes like vitamin deficiencies
- Dehydration and low blood sugars can sometimes cause sensory changes
- some inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, but these are usually associated with many other systemic symptoms
- Multiple sclerosis, this is a possibility, given the symptoms and the age, but it requires further workup (neuro exam, Brain MRI, labs, sometimes spinal fluid analysis to make the diagnosis)
Neuropathy, which means direct damage to the nerves. more typically in an older person. usually associated with conditions like diabetes and systemic inflammation

so given your age and the family history of MS, I suggest you see a neurologist to get a thorough evaluation and the appropriate workup to determine the cause of your symptoms.

Thanks for using the forum. Good luck