numbness and tingling

Posted By  CCF Neuro MD msf on April 23, 1999 at 14:12:50
Topic Area: Neurology - General
  I am a 31-year-old female who has been experiencing some weird sensations
  over the last six months.  I have had burning sensations in my left calf, my
  forearms (top, not bottom), my knuckles.  I've had chest pains (muscular,
  we think), and pain under my left arm.  My biceps on both sides (but mostly
  on the left) have been sore for no good reason. More recently I began having
  pinprick pains on my arms and legs, fingers and toes, even in my chest and
  around my eyes.  My doctor gave me a B-complex which seemed to help.  But
  now I've got tingling and numbness in my toes -- one toe on each foot --
  as well in my little finger and on the right side of my face -- near my
  eye, almost at my temple.  The numbness is not complete -- I do have
  sensation -- and it's constant over a time period ranging from a couple
  of minutes (on my face) to longer (my toes).  My left leg feels heavy --
  the only word I can think of to describe it -- from the knee down and over
  the last couple of days I've got some pain in my left knee.
  The only other thing I can say is that I've lost 30 pounds over the last
  six months and I'd thought that this weight loss should make me feel good.
  Instead I feel worse.  Of course my doctor says that this is all stress-related,
  and I'm hoping that is the case.  But as is the case for many people, the
  weird sensations are certainly a cause of stress in and of themselves.  I've
  been under stress before and I've successfully dealt with it without any
  adverse effects.  But this stuff -- nothing I do (relaxation techniques,
  etc.) helps.  Any advice/information that might be offered would be
  greatly appreciated.

[CCF Neuro MD msf]

_
Dear Korillian,
Thank you for your question. The sensory symptoms that you are describing are not specific of a disease. The main question is to determine if they are due to a neurological problem, because the list of possible causes is long. Stress is a possible explanation. Vitamin B12 deficiency may also cause sensory symptoms. Did your doctor check the blood level of vitamin B12 before giving you B-complex? It is not clearly indicated in your message if you saw a neurologist. If not, I would encourage you to do so, especially if your symptoms are getting worse with time, in order to rule out any underlying neurological disease, based on clinical examination, and if necessary appropriate tests. Also, treatments can be prescribed to relieve your symptoms if they are bothersome. I hope this helps.