Numbness and tingling in both arms/hands

[theresab72]

About 2 weeks ago, the tip of my right middle finger became numb.  By the next night, it was my index, middle and ring fingers.  Within a week, it was both hands and then up to the elbow.  The fingertips were numb, and up to the elbow was tingly.  Now by the end of each night, I cannot even lift my arms.  It has spread up to the shoulder/neck area.  Today I went for an EMG and the doctor said it was normal.  He did the shock tests on the hands as well as the needles in the muscles, including the hands, arms and neck.  It gets worse when I use them.  If I do dishes or fold a load of laundry, my arms become useless and ragdoll-like and my elbows and hands feel like they are buzzing.  The fingertips are numb.  (I was tested for Myasthenia Gravis in the past and it came out negative.)  Any ideas what else this could be or what else I should be tested for?  It's not letting up at all.
Thank you,
Theresa

[jrolfson]

Have you been checked for B12 Deficiencies? I just found out that I am completely depleted of B12 and something so simple can just devastate you. It shows up with all kinds of symptoms but tingling in the fingers toes are just one. Also dizziness, blurred vision, aches/pains...You must have a malapsorbtion panel done, most doctors don't even think to request it. And, most women are lacking iron, b12, vit d....You might give this a go. I have started taking b12 shots. But it takes quite a while to get your reserves back. And, you can't get your b12 up with just supplements once it is depleted, under 200.

Just a thought

JRolfson

[tcrombie]

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec06/ch095/ch095e.html

Maybe this will explain what is going on physically, to help you find the root of the problem.

[FirstBorn707]

Hi  my problem is whenever  i laydown in bed after a couple  hours the numbness  tingling and pain wake me from sleeping .

What can be the problem ? i  have  high blood pressure

[theresab72]

I do not think I have diabetes, but my father was diagnosed with Type II at age 40 and I am 35.  Also during my last bloodwork, my sugar was mildly elevated.  I went again for more bloodwork again today and they will check my sugar.

Would diabetic neuropathy show up during an EMG?

I've had numbness and tingling in other areas (including hands/fingers), from time to time, but I have a laundry list of neurological symptoms that they can't seem to find the cause of after 4 years.  Seizure-like episodes (non-epileptic), orthostatic hypotension, autonomic neuropathy, migraines, short-term memory problems, mitochondrial disorders, general muscular weakness and fatigue, falls after legs giving out, sleep apnea, Factor V Leiden positivity, as well as others.

I've had 2 negative cervical MRI's in the past 4 years also.  Should another one be done, or should I see if these symptoms resolve themselves?  Also, do you think massage might be helpful?  My shoulders are extremely tight and feel like knots--could it be something as simple as that?

Thanks for your help.
Theresa

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hi.

Do you have Diabetes ? And did you have similar problems earlier ?

Diabetic neuropathy presents with numbness, tingling, etc. Alternatively, there could be a nerve entrapment in the cervical cord. You should consult a Neurologist and get an MRI of the cervical spine done.

Regards