Mild Pain, numbness and pins and needles down left arm hand, leg and foot

[Kay528]

I've been having numbness and pins and needles feeling down my left side from my shoulder down to my left foot. It's not really painful, just annoying as I feel my left side's a bit clumpy! I'm 43 and have always been in good health and walk regularly, but this has been going on for about 3 months.
I tend to overdo the salt, and friends and family have commented that I have too much - could this cause the problem.  I'm obviously abit worried as I know strokes and heart attacks etc often start with this symptom. Any advice?  

[darlingdivatx]

See a doctor. These are typical neurological symptoms. Nothing to take lightly. Good luck.

[justneedinghelp]

I am having the exact same problem...were you able to find a solution to this problem?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Numbness and parasthesia on the left side of the body means that there may be an abnormality in the right side of the brain.It can be a neurological pathology like motor neuron disease,TIA or stroke or autoimmune condition like multiple sclerosis in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system (CNS), leading to demyelination.It can be diagnosed by MRI brain and MRS of the brain.

Other possibilities are vit B12 deficiency,diabetes(already ruled out in your case) , hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism or peripheral nerve trauma or compression.

If tingling is there only on the left half of the body,it means a right side pathology of the brain.So I feel that clinical evaluation from a neurologist is necessary to rule it out.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[ced2261]

I have the same thing, I also have fainted a few times, usually on my menstral cycling, the numbness and tingling is getting worse though.

[momto2grls]

I have been having a lot of the same symptoms also on my left side, and am also 43. I had some x-rays done through my GP and they showed "Minimal Spondylosis" at L3. I am also to see a neurologist to rule out anything else. I have had numbnes/pins and needles off and on from head to toe on my left side. The other day my left cheek felt numb for about an hour and then it just went away. I haven't had it again since then. Also on occasion the tip of my tongue gets a slight feeling of pins and needles. Most of my numbness and tingling is in the left leg and foot. Sometimes in the left arm and hand. I was hoping my GP would order an MRI instead of the x-ray, but I guess that will be done through the neurologist.  My symptoms started in the left foot and have worked their way up my whole left side. Everyday is different. It can be quite frustrating.

[Cathy09]

Hi I am nearly 52, reasonable fit but gaining weight. My family have a history of thyroid problems, and angina. I have had some tingling before on the right side but today all of a sudden I had it develop on the left. It started in my foot (most noticible) and I also had it go down my arm to my hand. It felt really strange in my upper arm and now that it is abating I feel like I have muscle fatigue. My friend who is a nurse had me sit down and rest. I have gained weight recently and do have a multi nodula goitre ( I haven't seen anyone to review this in quite a few years). Any suggestions on which way to go medically - I would be a public patient?

[Jary08]

These symptoms sound a lot like Peripheral Neuropathy.

I know cause my gran has it and it seemed to affect her pretty quickly..it started with just tingling and pins and needles and then numbness.

Her treatment seems to have worked a bit so she has more strength in her hands now but still struggles to walk.

Its definately neurological, so something to be looked at asap.

[maggiemay238]

I have been having alot of pain in my left arm just down from my shoulder and it does not feel good. I have had an xray done and they say that they cannot find anything.. I am a cancer patient and want to know if this could have anything to do with this.. I have follicular lymphoma.. it bothers me alot this pain in my arm just below my shoulder. top part of left arm..can anyone tell me what this might be.. my mom has ms and diabetes

[joyce222]

i have numb toesand burning soles its in my feet and legs and my hands its also very painful i went to a specialist he put me on gabaapentin i take 2400 mg a day if yu tpe in peripheral neuropathy it will tell yu the symptons i got 3 books thro the internet on it   joyce

[clwnface]

I am 36, and in good shape, but my diet has been poor, My father has diabetes, and a few years ago my mother had a stroke. Also, I have been on the antibiotic Levaquin for a recurring sinus infection, and I take Advil for headaches. Today I was doing something physical when all at once my left hand and forearm went totally numb and I felt a bit woozy. It went away in about an hour and a half, but it scared the **** out of me, and according to my Yahoo searching, these are among the symptoms of a mini-stroke. I'm going to see a doctor in a few days, but I am confused, since even with a family history, I'm two decades away from the risk zone for strokes. Any knowledgeable advice would be appreciated.