Numbness, Pins and Needles in hands and fingers

[KennyGardner]

I'm a 47 year old male, computer programmer. I was a smoker for 30 years and a moderate drinker (no longer do either). My Mitral Valve was replaced last September (I'm on lifelong Coumadin).

Prior to the surgery, I had numbness in my left thumb. My doctor thought it was probably related to my heart condition. The numbness went away after the surgery but it is now back and is spreading to other fingers.

Currently the numbness is in my left thumb and 4th (ring) finger. A couple of days ago, it appeared in the 4th finger of my right hand and is slowly manifesting in my right thumb. The numbness is in the tips of the thumbs/fingers.

I thought it might be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome but the symptoms of that include pain while sleeping. My thumb/finger tips are not painful, they are simply numb.

I do have pain, however, when I stretch my arm and clench my fist (either side). For instance, when reaching out to pick something up; anything where the arm is stretched and the hand is either clenched or fully stretched. The pain is a pins and needles feeling and pain on the inside of the thumb. I will also experience pain in my thumb by simply stretching it.

Any thoughts on what this could be?

[Laura32]

opera,
     I too have tingling from head to toe.  It's been for two years now.  A little twitching here and there, but that's it.  Neuro. ruled out MS saying that I would have other symptoms by now.  He also said the symptoms usually wax and wane and mine are every single day.  It's just annoying, not knowing the cause.  No other explanations were given.   Laura32

[opera]

I am experiencing pins and needles all over also prickly burning sensations all over my body. Numbness in my hands and feet at times. I was diagnosed with a pinched nerve in my neck and I had surgery.  The doctor told me I should have an M.R.I. to find out what's going on with my lower extremities. thank you

[TheMack]

A related discussion, pins and needles in left arm and hand was started.

[Georgette]

Could anyone pleae help me to understand my problems. I am 27 years old, It started with a disconfort in my chest, now it is numbness all over my body but mainly localised in my hand. My arms are very weak. I had these symptons about 3 months ago but they went away and now came back but worse. There is heart history in my family and other cancer such as Leukemia and lung cancer. I went to the doctor and I almost felt that I was hypocondriac but the bad disconfort is there.

[NatureBoyOfAR]

I'm greatly confused by what is happening to me...When I sleep, if I'm sleeping on my Right-Side, I'll wake up sometimes with my right wrist and all fingers numb...Not really any pain or tingling to speak of...Same thing happens when I sleep on my Left-Side, I'll wake up sometimes with my left wrist and all fingers numb...I'm a 48 y/o white male, I've never smoked, drink alcohol or done drugs, PLUS, my cholestrol comes back @ about 170-180...I've always been healthy...What could possibly causing this ???????

[6Roberts]

I have pins and needles in my little, and ring finger on my left hand any ideas?
Its been there for a while now.

[JLyne]

On October 30th my employer offered free influenza vaccinations to any/all employees that were interested to be given by a Nurse from the local hospital. My employer sent our numerous different emails to everyone inviting and suggesting us to all participate. I had never had a flu shot before in my life, but figured that since I am getting older (41), and my husband had taken them with the Military for many years, that I would go ahead and take one, especially since they were free and I didn't have to miss work in order to take it. By November 15-20th my right arm started aching and burning and my last three fingers on my right hand were totally numb. I tried to deal with it, but by the 27th of November I just could not stand the pain any longer, so I called my doctors office and told them that my arm was hurting and my fingers were numb. They told me to go straight to the ER. To make a long story short, the ER physician referred me to a Neurologist, who diagnosed me as having "Brachial Neuritis". The Neurologist said he felt it was due to complications from the influenza vaccine that I had received in my right arm. I've had a chest X-ray, MRI, EMG, Nerve Conductor test, lab work, etc., I'm off work as TTD. The EMG & Nerve Conduction Study showed: R brachial neuritis. R Ulnar conduction velocity was slowed. R MACN latency was prolonged. R Ulnar terminal sensory latency was prolonged. R Ulnar F wave latency was prolonged. Momopolar needle EMG examination showed chronic neurogenic changes in proximal as well as distal group muscles of RUE. Interpretation: These findings are consistent with R brachial neuritis. My MRI came back okay according to the Neurologists. He said that he just needed to "rule out" any other cause, including a tumor or other growth. I had blood work done by my family physician just a week prior to the shot and it was clear. My Neurologist ordered blood work which all came back fine. I had never heard of any adverse reactions like these that I am going through before, so I did some research on this illness/injury on the Internet. I contacted the Nat'l Vaccine Injury Commission, the CDC, VAERS, Avantis Pasteur, and finally was told maybe I should contact a Social Service Organization or an Attorney. When I inquired with my employer, she stated, "You signed the form stating that you were aware of possible risks". The ONLY thing that was stated to me was "Are you allergic to eggs, and do you have a fever". I need to know what is going on and get better. I had a sinus headache & was a bit tired about a week prior to the vaccination, went to doctor and he did CBC & Lymes blood tests, He gave me two injections just as a precautionary measure - Depo-Medrol and Rocephin. Within a day I was fine again. I did agree to take the vaccination, but NEVER thought I'd end up with anything like this!!! It seems to me that someone needs to stand up and be responsible for the lack of properly warning people about the very serious possible adverse reactions that people can suffer from these and many other vaccinations. I can promise you that I will NEVER ever take another flu shot!!!

I have constant severe pain in what seems to be the muscle in my right arm. My arm and shoulder is weak and burns. I have tingling and numbness in my fingers of my right hand. I cannot even grip a cup, glass or plate, whether plastic or glass, without help of my other hand or someone else. I have pretty much lost  the ability to concentrate and suffer terrible memory problems. I have had changes in my vision requiring new glasses within the last 6 months since receiving the flu shot. I get a lot of headaches. I get fatigued easily. I go through constant changes in body temperature. My blood pressure jumps up erratically, and then goes back to normal, (my Neurologist suggested that this is probably due to the pain). I get occasional leg cramps at night that are so bad that I have to sit up and just wait for it to stop. I cannot sleep flat in a bed. We recently purchased an adjustable twin bed just so that I would no longer have to sleep in a recliner every night. When sitting up in a chair I have to prop up my arm with several pillows just to try to ease the pain in my arm & shoulder. My Neurologist has me on Neurontin (400mg X4 daily); Naprosyn (500 mg X2 daily); Lortab (10/500 mg as needed); Diazepam (.05mg X1 nightly); Celexa (20mg X1 daily).

He had me set up for PT 3 X weekly, but my Employer's Ins. Company said no. My Neurologist referred me to a Pain Specialist for a Nerve Block in my right shoulder, but my Employer's Ins. Company cancelled the appointment without consulting me. I currently have two choices - Take my medicines and pretty much sleep all the time or be miserable with the pain. Either way, my family & I are all miserable due to complications from a flu vaccine that I THOUGHT was to help me, not hurt me over 6 months ago! Also, I have been in Real Estate since 1988. I am a licensed Real Estate Appraiser and Real Estate Broker, yet cannot do my work for my own business OR for my other Employer.

PS

[beezer]

i have been having this problem for over a year now. back in 1996 the emg showed entraped nerves in the elbows i had wore the hand braces for carpel tunnel and the pain went away. then last year i had another emg because of my hands going to sleep and the numbness and i also had alot of pain. that emg showed carpel tunnel. so this pass year i had the surgury on both hands. well my left hand never recovered the feeling correctly in the thumb,index or middle finger.they are like they are constinly sleeping. also i started to have the nerve problem again in both elbows. were the hands are like pin and needles and the pain travels from the elbow down and the shoulders are like they are discomfort.i had a emg back in oct that showed nothing then the emg i had last month showed entraped nerves. i have been told that they both need to have surgury. but my question to you is could this type on thing be work related. i have one doctor saying yes and one saying no. the carpel tunnel was work related. now i work retail and do alot of computer work and alot of repetitive work like unload trucks and stock constantly. and is the surgury succeseful? thank you

[paint95118]

Hi been reading some forum thought id put in my 2 cents ive Been a house painter for 20 + Years in 1991 i had the numbness in my right hand almost  every time id use it holding a cup of java would put it on numb and tingle i put up with this for about a year  then i was hurt falling off a ladder sufered a broken Wrist that made the carple tunnel even worse started getting major shck feelings when id move my arm  had the sugury the old fashion way but instant relief had a few months of rehab my hand as good as new  a few years ago the left started in  i waisted no time in makeing an appt. i had the lft. done arthoscopic instant relief and very little Trauma if youve been diagnosed with Carple tunnle get  it fixed i just dont no why i waited so long

[Kay Evans]

hi ive experienced the symtoms as you .please check if you have amalgam fillings most people have .if you have read
on.
whenever i was in contact with anything electrical -house hold appliances outside electric pylons telephone cables even driving my car .electrical shocks would race through my body .my heart seemed to beat uncontrollabley pain would shoot down my arms and legs and my mouth and tounge would burn and sting .i think idrove my family nuts .But these sensations were so frightening i thought i was going to die .Expecialy when your own GP and Dentist just puts it down to depression or stress .To abrieviate on this story after reading an news paper article about a lady with similar symptoms as mine her name is Pam clayton I rang and she ofered me help and advice whitch i am still very grateful for today She explained that the problem was probably my eight mercury amalgam fillings leaking into my systom causing me all this misery .I followed her advice had my fillings tested by an amalgam free dentist who confirmed all eight were leaking very high readings so ihad them all changed to composite fillings ,Mercury fillings does;nt seem to effect every body in this way but ive made sure all my family have white fillings since amalgam removal alljoint pains lethargy and oral galvanisation has gone and at last I feel normal and healthy ounce more  A very good reference book on this subject which i have read is Its all in your Head by DR HAL A HUGGINS well I Hope to of been of some help to you Good Luck   Kay  

[itsjustme]

Hi everyone! Its just me! I am 44 yr old fm. I have been having something very weird happening to me. First off, i take xanax (for about 3 yrs now). Just this last weekend this is what happened to me! We went out of town (RENO) and for the first day i felt ok! But the next day, i felt withdrawn, depressed, bloated, confused, really edgy right!!! The next day i was MISERABLE! This is what's going on! I started having these electrical type jolts from my heart to my head and then traveling down my left arm/leg, but mostly i felt this weird sensation in my heart and head. Literally, like shocks!!! I was so distraught by it that i finally broke and freaked OUT! I started crying my eyes out and told my husband what was happening! We got home on Saturaday, this is now Monday. I slept ALL DAY yesterday and i stayed home today, sleeping off and on. OH! and also, these SHOCKS were also felt in my tongue!!!! I mean REALLY BIZARRE!!! i got a refill on my xanax and have been taking it since saturday (DURING THE DAY), usually i only take them at bedtime for sleep. But, this time i cant EVEN handle this weird SHOCK thing. i feel that its my heart, or im having some kinda seizure!!! Can a heart problem or some type of seizure cause what im describing?? PLEASE ANYONE!!!

[Concerned lady]

You all might want to also check out the "Peripheral Neuropathy" forum, and the "Thoracic Outlet Syndrome" forum, over at http://www.braintalk.org

Good luck to all.

Sincerely, Concerned lady

http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

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

Carpal tunnel is a good thought, especially because you are a computer programmer and are at risk for developing it. It doesn't necessarily have to cause pain, just sensory disturbance or weakness. The problem could also be a pinched nerve in your neck. It does sound like you have a peripheral neuropathy, the causes of which are potentially many. Consider getting a neurology referral for a formal examination of the nerves and muscles in your hand and an EMG which is an electrical muscle/nerve test to help you figure out where the problem is. In the meantime, you may try a wrist splint or modify your computer work station so that there isn't constant pressure on your wrists. Good luck.