Buzzing sensation in foot

For the past 2 days, I've had this constant buzzing sensation in my left foot. It comes and goes every 6 seconds. However, when I walk, and when I do other activities that require a lot of attention, the sensation disappears.

I seem to be getting different sensations, all paresthesia, that come and go every couple of weeks.

During these periods, I also get anxious, so I'm not sure if its anxiety or the paresthesia that's the cause.

What could this be?

I also have epilepsy and panic/anxiety attacks. I am currently on Tegretol and Paxil.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH]

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 'buzzing' sensation that you describe in your foot is non-specific and could represent a number of different pathologies.  Getting odd sensations that disapear when focused on another task can happen in some neuropathies (diseases of the nerves) and also in anxiety/depression.  In addition, given your epilepsy history it is best that epilepsy is also ruled out as a cause (by getting an EEG[brain wave test] while having the 'buzzing' sensation).  I would also recommend some standard blood tests that are used to evaluate neuropathies such as B12 level, B6 level, RPR, ANA, monoclonal protein (blood and urine), TSH, copper, ceruloplasmin, glucose tolerance test (2 hour), HGB A1C, paraneoplastic panel, and lyme antibodies.  I would also suggest an EMG with nerve conduction studies to look for any elctrical signs of neuropathy.  Another condition that presents with multiple areas of sensory disturbances that each last a few weeks is multiple sclerosis MS).  If you have not had an MRI of your brain and cervical spine, this would help evaluate you for possilbe MS (although this is less likely).
I hope this has been helpful.

[JCmcc]

Dear Friend,
Please be advised that my response to you is not professional, is not medical advice, is educational, and that I am not a representative of MEDHELP.

Paresthesia is interesting. It can be caused by a few variables such as viral or spinal cord compression and low and behold, stress/anx.

If it is caused by compression it could be from a bulging/protruding/slipped disc, a plaque/lesion/sclerosis (call them what you will), or a synrnx to name a few.

If you already have EP and ANX then unless it has become worse I may not be so quick to think that parsis is coming from that variable.

You are perphaps the first person on this site to describe your feet sensations so clearly? Is it a pulsating feeling, rolling like waves?

I had that type of paresthesias in both feet until I was treated with antiobiotics for late stage Lyme disease induced Multiple Sclerosis. The lesions cause that parethesias in my feet were due to the fact that I had exstensive signal abnormalities (lesions) throughout the entire cervical spine.

There is so much that I do not know about your situation and there are so many important variables: age, locale, sex, onset, et seq.

I will be glad to be of assistance to you.

Good Luck!
JCmcc.

[JCmcc]

also, one more thing that can cause this is vascular problems, such as CNS Vasculitis.

So, with the parethesias I recommend a visit to a neurologist for you. Start first with your family doctor.

[medco]

Thanks for your comment. I am 22 and I live in a suburb in Ontario, Canada. However, I doubt the tics that cause Lyme disease are in my area, as there are no deer around here. My anxiety has gotten a bit worse, so maybe that's the cause. I've had all kinds of paresthesia that seem to come and go every few weeks. I think it my fluctuate with my anxiety, but I'm not sure. This buzzing sensation is the most annoying. When I don't pay attention to it, it seems to disappear. I saw a GP and he said it was nothing. But the sensation can be annoying at times.

[Carol in PA]

medco:
For information about Lyme Disease in Ontario, see this article.

http://www.canlyme.com/ontario.html

Quote (edited)

The blacklegged tick...has a wide geographical distribution in Ontario, Canada....

The Lyme disease spirochete...was detected in 12.9% of I. scapularis adults collected from domestic hosts with no history of out-of-province travel....

Moreover, our findings...reveal that people and domestic animals may be exposed to Lyme disease vector ticks, which have wide-ranging distribution in eastern and central Canada.

For more information, see the Canadian Lyme Foundation, at www.canlyme.com/

Wishing you the best,
Carol

[momofmeg]

Sorry to do this, but I have been reading a lot on this forum and for weeks I've tried to post and can't seem to ever get into this side of the forum.  I have made my post on the patient to patient forum under neurology and just wondering if you might take a look at my questions and provide any insight that you might have.  You seem very knowledgeable on this subject and I need some opinions.
Thanks for your consideration.  Sorry to put this on this post.

[JCmcc]

I will look at your posts tomorrow, of you can ask your question to me in here.

JCmcc.

[JCmcc]

Actuall, if you could simply copy and paste your question in here this would save me time and get you a quicker response from me. :)

Thanks,
JCmcc.

[momofmeg]

**here is my post**
I've been reading this forum for a while to see what help or answers I can come up with for my dd, but since I haven't been able to post on the Dr side I thought I try here. Some on this forum seem very well educated in this area.
My dd is 4 yrs and in Sept she had an unexplained seizure. She was sitting on a sit n spin for a couple seconds when she fell back and went into a seizure. We got her into a Ped neuro Dr since it wasn't fever related or anything. Since the seizure she has had headaches several times a week (only lasting a few min) and complains that her R eye 'hurts'. At first we thought something was in her eye, but after the 3rd time we figured something else was going on. She does have glasses (vision -2.0 R eye & -3.0 in L). She had a MRI and EEG done which came back ok only thing noted was Paranasal Sinus Disease. They put her on antibiotic for 10 days, no change. Over the past month and half she has started having tingling (needle feelings) in her hands and feet. Again, only lasting a couple minutes at a time until yesterday. We were in the car and this time it lasted for about 20 minutes in her R foot. She was screeming so hard I almost took her to the ER.
As you can imagine I'm concerned for her and have talked to the Ped Neuro Dr and they have ordered another amblitory EEG in March.
Just wondering if anyone out there may have some other suggestions about what could be going on with her. She is otherwise a VERY active kid.
Oh, I have had her eyes examined by a Ped Optho Dr as well.
Thanks in advance for your help!!

[JCmcc]

Dear Friend,
Please be advised that my response to you is not professional, is not medical advice, is educational, and that I am not a representative of MEDHELP.


With that said,
I am sorry to hear of your daughters seizure and headaches and the associated anxiety that is accompanying these sequences. I am glad to hear that her MRI was clear.
I am sure that you are aware that Paranasal Sinus Disease (PND) can cause migraine, general headaches, and head pain? The parethesias that you describe in her can commonly be experienced in a viral situation and perhaps ten days and the dosage (unknown) was not powerful enough for whatever was the problem to begin with?
Headache and eye pain (I am assuming that there is no neuritis) are common side effects of PND but are non-specific.
It seems to be one of those unfortunate situations where the test is time and waiting. I would hope and imagine that if she was in serious danger these specialists would have noted that and taken proper precautions and thus I would not worry too much on that level.
She may have a migraine disorder, a viral infection or this may all be tied to unfinished business with PND. I would perhaps consider a combinatory effect with a virus (perhaps now dead or present) with PND.
Unfortunately there can be so many causes that I am left with little more to give for ideas. If you have the insurance I would now see an ear and headache specialist. The seizure/s is the biggest concern here.  

Good Luck!
JCmcc.

[momofmeg]

Thanks very much for your response.  It did help to calm the nerves down a bit!  
As you can imagine I just hate seeing her go through this almost daily now.  Time will tell.

Again, thanks!

[396SS]

I am so sorry that you haven't had the opportunity to post.  It must be luck of the draw - It tried for about 1 mo. and then some time in the middle of the day it let me in.  Anyway, you have Lyme Disease induced MS?  I was unaware that Lyme could do that, of course, I don't know much about Lyme yet.  However, if you've seen my posts, I am going to get tested for it soon hopefully.  I was bitten 20 yrs ago and the head of the tick (in Indianapolis) stayed in my scalp for a week, then I developed lumps all over my head that disappeared a bit after a doctor removed the tick.  I grew up in WV, w/ plenty of deer and dogs/cats.  I don't know what to make of it.  Thanks in advance for any input.

[396SS]

I just want you to know you are not alone.  I'm an educated individual that to anyone around me seems perfectly together.  Little do they know I have grappled with some severe panic disorder episodes since 2001.  9/11/01 actually was the starting point of my anxiety (army wife).  I spent a couple nights in the hospital (couldn't eat/sleep) over it in 2003, so believe me when I say, I was about and panicky as they come.  The positive note here is that after some good old fashioned therapy and a reluctant Zoloft and now Cymbalta taker (Valium in emergencies)- I have controlled my panic disorder pretty well.  I even went med free for almost a year - but stress led me back to a low dosage "just in case."  I now have burning feet etc. (see my post a couple weeks ago) and I do think anxiety makes it worse, but I do not think that mine is solely caused by anxiety.  I DO NOT want physical symptoms to be blown off as anxiety, although anxiety can cause an amazing array of physical symptoms.  Sooo, just cover all your bases, go to the doctor and make sure you are taken seriously.    Most importantly, when you feel anxious - your body is sending out chemicals for fight or flight (adrenaline, cortisol I believe).  That is truly physically happening, although you and others can't see it.  I try to calmly focus on the fact that, "ok, now my adrenaline etc. is being released, so I will feel flushed, shaky, etc"  That is just basic biology and survival instincts (and you feel like a gun being pointed at you, right?).  What helps me is to run around the block (hate exercise but do it anyway) or do anything to burn off those chemicals right then.  Also, I learned how to do abdominal breaths and count to four on inhales and exhales.  I was really skeptical...but it helps.  Sorry about the book I just wrote but anxiety is no fun - and more people suffer from it than we know.  

[JCmcc]

Lyme disease can do just about whatever it wants. Google the words, Lyme and Net, with the "and" and see what you get.

Plaques from Lyme cannot be differentiated from thos of MS. Whether it be the typical round to ovoid or Dawson's Fingers.

JCmcc.

[JCmcc]

Also, these lesions can be present in any area of the CNS and LPs also cannot always have a differential as LD patients may also present with oligoconal bands.

[*Robin*]

I also have the same buzzing and vibrating in my left foot. Please let me know if you figure out what is causing it.

[cjzabel]

I just wanted to let you know I also have the same buzzing in both of my feet on and off, it seems like they rotate. We are not alone because I know of three other people that this has happened to, and nothing was seriously wrong it just either went away or comes and goes with no real pattern. I can't find anything linking it to anything, maybe it just irritated nerves. I don't know if you do but I stand almost all day long. I hope the neurologist can give us an answer when he/she post. Good luck

[JCmcc]

Folks,
  My buzzing (parethesias) in the feet was due to exstensive signal abnormalities in my cervical spine due to Lyme disease. I no longer have lesions in the spine thanks to Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). Those sensations are gone now.
  I do not know what you have but the sensations described are exactly what I had and they are called parethesias (it can make many funny feelings).
  So-does this mean that you have a neurological condition? NO! It means you may. But b-12 def, electrolite problems, and so on can produce similar findings.

Hope that this helps,
JCmcc.

[JCmcc]

And, the same parethesias can be caused by other nerve inter conflicts such as bulging discs, annular tearings, tumor, synrx, to name a few.
These, however, tend to be accompanied with some pain.

[cjzabel]

I was just wondering if you could answer my question. If a person like me has been to the neurologist and had every blood test ran that the doctors can think of, but still having problems with the foot buzzing with nothing neurological  turning up what would the next course of action be? I would also like to add that I had muscle fasciculations to begin with those have mostly gone away, the foot buzzing has been going on on and off since they put me on Lexapro for the anxiety the fascicultions were causing. The doctors on this forum think I may have Celiac disease with is a possibility but I have my doubts, thanks in advance for any advise.

[JCmcc]

There are some missing variables that I need:

1. Sex
2. Age Range
3. Locale
4. Onset was when?
5. and any other info you think would be helpful.

[cjzabel]

To answer your questions I am 27 year old female 5'6 130 pounds, born and raised in Kansas. I have been living with Graves disease for 10 years had RAI treatment. My problems started the summer of 2006 with dull pain in the upper left quadrant. Gi doctor did upper gi, colonoscopy, cat scan with barium fluid and contrast, all normal. One week after all this calve muscles started fasiculating. Within two weeks it had spread all over. Went to gp she tested thyroid it was high she said this was the reason for the muscle problem. Six weeks later still having the muscle problems. Went to neuro who specializes in MS. Exam was completely normal, he said there are some things that just happen. One month later still having muscle issues neuro ordered EMG with nerve conduction all normal. Around thanksgiving started the Lexapro, "major side effects at first" but they thought I mite just have anxiety. I started taking a multivitamin and the muscle fasciculations improved, but by Christmas I started getting the buzzing in my feet on and off not constant, and it also rotates feet. I am a student trying to finish a BA in nursing, my medical bills are getting high so I am trying to stay away from the neuro. My gp is testing me for Celiac disease today. Thanks for any help.

[lat67]

Hi,

Read your post and just wanted to give you my opinion. I was dx with Lyme disease in May and have these sympyoms listed...especially the buzzing.  It is not anxiety for me me it is 100% physical.  I live in New Brunswick but do wondering if I got Lyme in the Gatineaux about 20 minutes out side Ottawa.

At any rate Lyme disease can really be anywhere so if you can't find any other answers have a look at the symptoms of lyme and get properly tested.

Best of luck.

Lesley

[Tania24]

I am curious about the symptoms lat67 was experiencing and it turned out to be lyme disease. If you see this is it possible to ask you more about your symptoms?

[lat67]

Hi Tania,

Sorry I did not see your post sooner....feel free to email me about my symptoms and or questions about lyme disease.

***@****

Lesley

[inquitique]

I have been experiencing a buzzing in my foot.  This is the second month I've been dealing with it.  The first time, it was preceded by an unexplained pain in my heal, and didn't remember injuring it, it felt like a bruised bone and I had to limp, but I haden't injured it.  This was after I'd been in a smoky location.  I wondered, if it had anything to do with me getting on BC pills for cramps etc. and then the combo of being around the smoke.  I'd describe it as though you have a cell phone inside of my instep on vibrate and it rings.  I wonder if a vessel is having issues.  

[cjzabel]

That is the exact way my foot feels.