Tingling when I get hot or change temp.

[TinglesAgain]

For the past year or two I have noticed that sometimes when I get hot my legs tingle. This does NOT happen in a shower/hot tub, but only when my body is warming up. Sometimes it passes. For example, I can go cycling, and when I first start getting hot, I get tingling, then it passes. The main symptoms is when I go inside, from being outside, and the heat is up in the building, or if I get into a hot car, I get extremely uncomfortable and tingling (Especially in legs, but sometimes a tingle or two on an arm). I have seen one three MD's and a neurologist and cardiologist. Each one of them says "I don't know.". I have had a full blood panel, thyroid test, Brain, Neck, and Spinal MRI to check for MS, all came back clear. Any ideas? I do have anxiety, but this happens when I get hot, not when i am anxious. Sometimes, even cleaning my house and my body warms up, the tingling starts. it resides when I cool myself down by getting in the wind, or in a cooler room. I am 28 years old, athletic, male. This is NOT itching, it is NOT numb, it is NOT really painful (Just uncomfortable). Even going up a flight of stairs which makes my body increase in temp causes it. Yet I can go mountain biking in the mountains or road biking in the sun and sometimes it doesn't happen, yet sometimes just the increase in body temp. from standing over a stove cooking will cause it. i also have anxiety / palpitations, but these are separate. I can be in a great mood, doing fine, walking in the shade, but when I get in my hot car, or walk into the sun, the tingles happen. As soon as I cool down they go away as fast as they came. I have not had a lower back MRI. It usually starts in the ankles if it's jsut a slight change in temp, but more extreme changes make it go all up my legs and sometimes a little bit on my arms/body.

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

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 a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

It is not clear if you have a neurological or a vascular problem. There is a condition called claudication, which is reproducible discomfort of muscles with exertion that is relieved with rest. It is related to decreased circulation of blood in the area affected. It is most common in the calves. One way to diagnose is by taking and analyzing the blood pressure to create an ankle-brachial index. This is done at most vascular laboratories. Another possibility is a neuropathy, which is nerve damage, but your history would be quite odd. There have been cases of nerve damage from repetitive ischemia during repetitive muscle stretching/exercising. Do you feel as if your muscles have spasms instead of warmth? Is the tingling symmetric? Is there low back pain?

These are only two possibilities. With more history and an examination, other possibilities may become more apparent. I would suggest that you follow up with your primary physician for an evaluation. You probably should have basic laboratories checked, including glucose and thyroid studies. You may also benefit from getting an ankle-brachial index, if your physician feels that is appropriate.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[whatswiththetingles]

A related discussion, Tingling in legs when hot was started.

[TinglesAgain]

I do occasionally have back pain (lower), but it is not always a correlating factor. I am sure it is not spasms nor warmth, but simply tingles. It is symmetrical as well, both sides. Usually starts in ankles but can go up to legs and even arms if I get hot enough.