Unexplained parethesia

Hello. I have had 11 weeks of intermittent paresthesia and burning in my right hand and right foot, and a very  occasional minor set of the same symptoms in my left hand or foot. The neurologist can find nothing in his neuro exams. The brain and spinal MRI's are normal except for some long-standing osteophyte/ bone spur at the C6-6 level. Nerve conduction studies and EMG are normal I had been taking over 200 mg of B6 in my various supplements until February, when I stopped all supplements. My B6 blood level, tested for the first and only time last week, is 27, at the high end of normal. I have no help for the severs intermittent pain but Tramadol and ocaionall some diazepam to try to lessen the symptoms. Is there anything left to test or anyone else to consult with? Or any ideas? Perhaps I have lingering neurotoxicity from the B^, and being hypothyroid? Pinched nerves not strong enough to show on nerve conduction studies? Any ideas?


This discussion is related to Burning Sensations.

[SharmonB]

I don't know what intermittent paresthesia is but I sometimes have tingling on the left side of my body particularly my left arm and fingers. I notice it mostly when I lay in certain postions. This is a new symptom because I never noticed it before...I don't know if it related to hypothyroidism or not. I am just surprised the doctors couldn't find anything. Alot of people on here get ultrasounds of some sort. maybe you can try that. Keep us posted.

[magster123]

Thank you for your comment. Intermittent just means every once in a while, not every minute. I think that your tingling on your body when you have slept a certain way is totally normal, especially if it disappears after a while, once you get up and move around. My symptoms are much stronger- deep pain, burning, pins and needles, electrical shock-feeling for hours and hours. Thank you for your suggestions. I will ask my neurologist if an ultrasound would be of any use. Best wishes!

[superscope]

have you had a recent infection or serious viral condition lately? These symptoms can be post-viral. I have had the same thing for 3 months now and all normal tests too.
From what I have read, recovery is greatly varied from person to person.
Hope you get well soon!

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. You have been worked up in detail for the paresthesiae in the limbs. The bony spurs at C5-6 level could cause paresthesiae in the upper limbs. If there is associated cervical canal stenosis, there could be compression of the passing lumbar nerve roots causing the lower limb symptoms. There may be tingling and numbness in body with extremities involved. Muscle twitches and tremors are common with grave’s disease and hashimoto’s throiditis. Consult an endocrinologist if you had hypothyroidism. Autoimmune disorders also need to be looked into for possible causes like rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin B12 levels and folate levels need to be assessed and deficiencies addressed. Hope this helps. Take care.

[magster123]

Yes, that is great advice, and very reassuring. Thank you very much, Dr. Sharma, I really do appreciate it.

[magster123]

Dr Sharma. I thought that it might be helpful to you to read my whole cervical spine MRI report.of 03/09/11. (The brain MRI was fine). Findings: The The prevertebral soft tissue and posterior pharynx appear unremarkable. The cranioverttbral junction is intact. The cervical and thoracic vertebrae show normal height, signal and alignment. The C2 vertebral body shows prominent fat replacement with no loss of height. The disc spaces are well-maintained. The canal is ample and the cord shows normal signal.
C2-3: The neural foramina subarachnoid  and cord signal appear normal.
C3-4:: Mild loss of subarachnoid space  with intact neural foramina.                                 Normal canal and mild facet joint hypertrophy right greater than left.
C4-5: Normal disc height and signal with normal neural foramina. Mild loss of subarachnoid space..
C5-6: Degenerative disc changes with osteophytic spurring and right paracentral osteophyte median bar, and disc complex abutting and slightly distorting the cervical cord with right-sided foraminal narrowing.
C6-7: Mild loss of disc height with loss of subarachnoid space abutting the cervical cord without distortion or compression and intact neural foramina. Facet joint hypertrophy seen bilaterally.
C7-T1: Unremarkable. Upper thoracic height, neural foramina and cord signal.
T1-2: Normal. Upper thoracic cord disc and vertebral bodies intact.

Impression: Abnormal MRI cervical spine demonstrating C5-6 disc degenerative changes, osteophytic spurring and median bar formation with right paracentral protrusion slightly distorting the cervical cord and narrowing the right neural foramina at C5-6. Mild degenerative changes at C6-7 as well without foraminal narrowing. Facet joint hypertrophy seen at C4-5, right greater than left. Normal prevertebral soft tissues.
I am having a lumbar/thoracic MRI next week, but don't expect much negative findings, Based on what I read to you now on this report, could this MRI explain my right hand/arm and right foot pins and needles, burning oain,  tingling etc? If so, is there any treatment or any ways to prevent this from getting worse? I am having a complete thyroid profile  work-up repeated this week to see if I am close to being stabilized in my long-standing, difficult-to-balance hypothyroidism. Any advice and thoughts on this MRI and its relationship to my sudden 3 months' duration of paresthesia and sciatica -tyoe pains on the right side would be so very appreciated!!! Thank you again, Dr. Sharma,