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Numbness/Pins & needles in body

I  am a healthy 30 year old mother of two boys.  For the last 7-9 months I have been getting a tingle/numbness feeling that started in my arm and fingers, and is now running down the back of my legs, the back of my neck around my eyes(cheekbones) and arms and fingers.  It comes and goes, it's pretty consistant with sleeping also.  If I sit down my legs will get worse, and when I lay down it normally is worse.  I had a brain and neck mri that showed all was fine, and had my thiroid tested and it was fine also.  A nuerologist here said it sounded like hypersinsative nerves, and I would just jave to live w/it.  I am wondering if a full spine mri w/contrast (my mri's were w/o) might show  a pinced nerve.  I feel like if I sleep wrong or if my back or neck goes out the tingle starts up again.  Any advice or next step procedure advice would be very much appreciated.  I live in a very small town and I feel like there could be a better way of finding things out if I knew where to start.  Thank you!
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292349 tn?1201478043
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi Chanda Vukonich,

Intermittent numbness and tingling sensation in your arms/hands that later spread to your legs, neck and face can be due to several things:

1)  Peripheral neuropathy
2)  Myelopathy
3)  Demyelinating diseases

The history and physical examination are key to determining the cause of sensory loss.  There are different patterns of sensory deficits can be help the physician to diagnose the etiology of your sensory changes.  Therefore, it is crucial to have a good neurological evaluation by a neurologist.  

For examples:

1)  Sensory loss that is confined to a part of a limb suggests injury to a peripheral nerve, nerve plexus, or spinal root (eg, mononeuropathy or radiculopathy)

2)  Involvement of both sides of the body is consistent with a polyneuropathy or spinal cord disease, while involvement of one side is consistent with contralateral disease of the brain (especially the brainstem, thalamus, or cerebral cortex).

3)  A sensory level is consistent with spinal cord disease or, more rarely, lateral medullary infarction.  An example of a sensory level at thoracic level 4 is sensory deficits at the level of the nipples and everything below it (front and back).

4)  Sensory loss of the face suggests disease above the spinal cord (eg, brainstem, thalamus, or cerebral hemispheres).

5)  "Stocking-glove" sensory loss is most commonly seen with length dependent axonal neuropathies.  Length dependent axonal neuropathies are seen with:

Diabetes mellitus
Alcohol
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Syphilis
Human immunodeficiency virus
Lyme disease
Uremia
Chemotherapy
Vasculitis
Paraneoplastic neuropathy
Amyloidosis

6)  Disproportionate loss of vibration sense and proprioception (joint position sense), compared with pain and temperature sensation, tends to occur with diseases of the dorsal columns of the spinal cord (eg, tabes dorsalis, vitamin B12 deficiency, multiple sclerosis) and demyelinating polyneuropathy.

You asked about MRI spine with contrast:  An experienced radiologist should be able to see nerve impingment or cord compression with MRI spine without contrast.  Contrast materials are good in diseases such as infection, inflammation (e.g. multiple sclerosis), tumor.  

For your symptoms, I would consult a neurologist for thorough neurological examination.  I would also recommend to check B12, TSH, RF, ANA, CRP, WSR. HbA1c.  

Good luck.  

THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL MEDICAL EDUCATION PURPOSE ONLY.  PLEASE CONTACT YOUR PHYSICIAN FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT OPTIONS OF YOUR SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS.










Helpful - 1
280418 tn?1306325910
I feel all of your pain, literally.  14 months of burning feet,calves hands and no diagnosis other than - you guessed it - fibromyalgia.  It's not fibro, it's idiopathic peripheral neuropathy.  It freaking hurts, but sometimes it goes away for a bit, but then comes back.  I have had ALL tests possible and no answers - even at Duke.  So, the only glimpse of any reason for all of this - I tested positive for active infections of HSV-1, which is Herpres Simplex-1 the cold sore virus - but I have never had a cold sore.  My neuro has a theory (purely speculative) that the HSV-1 has attacked my peripheral nerves instead of manifesting in a cold sore.  I take Famvir, Neurontin and Pamelor and Cymbalta - they seem to make it bearable.  I also tested positive for CMV and HHV-6 - another speculation that my immune system is dealing with these viruses in a strange way.  However, anywhere from 25-60% of peripheral neuropathies are idiopathic (no known cause), so they don't know what causes them!  Thus, if my neuro wants to speculate, I'll listen.  Try some vitamin B12 and Alpha Lipoic Acid too, for non-prescription help.  You can overdose and cause neuropathy with B-6 - so be real careful not to ever take too much of that.  Pre-diabetes and diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy too - so get checked for that.  Good luck and take care!  Try de-stressing too!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I was told I had neuropathy or maybe this or maybe that too, a friend told me to go to a chiropractor. I asked my neurologist if he thought it was a good idea and he said he wouldn't go to a chiropractor but it was up to me. My friend talked me into going, what the heck I was told by the neurologist that I WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE so I figured it couldn't hurt. Well I went and it turns out I had a couple of pinched nerves ( he called them subluxations) and after 2 weeks of treatments  I am almost pain and numbness free. To think I almost went broke going to the other doctors and got no help with my problem and they didn't want me to go to someone that might help me. Then went to the chiropractor and the cost was pocket change compared to the other doctors. I got in the same day I called too..I didn't have to wait weeks or months like I did with the other doc's. I wonder why the neurologist was so biased against the chiropractor....they don't like them so much that they would let me live with my pain just so I don't go to one. I mean isn't the whole idea to help me get better. I don't know...all I know is I'm almost pain free now Hurray!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
for those of you who don't have a b12 deficiency please have your iron checked for anemia. I have all the same symptoms and yes it is very irritating especially when your eyes become involved. I recently found out that my iron was very very low after going to the doctor because of fainting spells and found out I was not getting enough oxygen to my brain and not enough in my blood.  Im now on a iron supplement called repliva  and Im taking vitamin b12. Your stories make me want to cry and I will pray for you all.  I have had several mri<s and am going to have an emg test soon, but I do believe that the anemia was my biggest problem.  God Bless
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had numerous tests. All vitamin and mineral (b12, copper, folic acid, etc, etc.) levels tested normal. No diabetes or pre-diabetes. I had a higher than average ANA (anti-nucleoid antibody) test, but further testing found nothing out of the normal range. That one scared me as it would have put me into an autoimmune disorder. I've had MRI of brain and cervical spine. I also have a prior fusion of C4-C5-C6 (which we thought was going to be the problem at first). It wasn't. The only test that comes back out of normal is sedmimentation of 40 indicates some inflamation somewhere. A year ago it was 8 as it just happened to be have been run during a normal exam. I have been having rather alarming new symptoms this week. I have started feeling like I'm going to pass out. If I stay in one positon too long, it's like I'm drunk when I start to move. Have also started noticing that my feet and hands go numb (like your foot falling asleep) everytime I lay down. That's a different feeling from the tingly burning stuff.
Anyway, even though I have no cardio warning factors, my doc has scheduled me for stress test and a tilt table exam. She hopes one or the other will recreate the numbness while lying down at least to see if it could be something cardiac. Personally, I've been wondering if I picked up a virus that has got into my heart or maybe the nerves themselves. I have to wait until the end of the month until I have the tests so just hanging on for now. I'll post more after I get results.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Have you had your B12 levels checked?  If so and they showed normal - please be aware that folic acid can mask the effects of a B12 deficiency.  I am currently having similar symptoms and I was shown to be deficient in B12 several years ago but I have been taking oral doses of B12 for a while now.  BUT I am thinking that I am one of many people that can't absorb it in the stomach and may need shots.  I just had a ton of blood drawn today so I am waiting for the results!

Good luck!  Keep me posted!

Stacey
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I to am sorry for your situation.

I have had much of what you describe after the birth of my second child.  It got so bad legs would twicth muscles on calf cramping up numbness and tingling down my legs, hands face would go numb then burn.  I was put on Celexa and took it for a few years all it did was make me a less nervous numb and tingling woman.  I stopped it and still get the odd syptoms that come and go but now i've moved on to more severe pain in my scalp and major hair loss I am incapacitated in pain, I feel the two connected yet all testing is normal so far.  Was told neuropathy but I dont know anymore.  Don't give up!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have similar symptoms and a MRI of my cervical spine indicates that i have compression and myelopathy at three levels....sounds as if an MRI may answer your questions....i hope that this is helpful to you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am glad to know I am not alone in feeling like this.  I wondered what tests you went through.  I took the thyroid and did the brain and upper cervical mri.  Now the neurologist says thats about all he can do.  I am wondering if there may need to be a heart scan done to check the oxygenation of my blood, or anything else that may cause this.  It comes and goes, last time it lasted around 6 weeks without stopping.  This time it is around a week so far.  I never knew how wonderful it is to live normally untill you get reminded by burning and tingling all over yourself.  Good luck to you also, please write back with any ideas......
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Boy do I feel your frustration. Your story sounds as if it could have been written by me. I am a 44, healthy and active woman. I too have as yet unexplained burning, numbness and almost constant tingling in all 4 extremities and around my eyes. My syptoms began 10 months ago. There was no trauma and they were intermitant at first. I think my first symptom was really a year ago when I had such severe itching sensations around my lips I actually went to my doctor. It took until it had spread to my left arm and both feet before I found a doctor who believed there was something wrong. I have been through numerous tests and all come back in the normal range. They have found a torn rotar cuff and deltoid on my left side, but that can't explain my face and feet. I wish you the best, and hope you find real help.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had a severe break of my ankle in 2003 after 2 surgeries, I ended up with burning, pins and needles, numbness in my foot and calves. It turned out that I had somehow gotten a disease called complex regional pain syndrome. You should read up on it because it sounds like what I have. Good luck
Helpful - 0

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