Tingling/numbness -Negative MRI

[Auburn]

I have had tingling/numbness in my arms/legs for 3 months. ARMS significantly worse than feet and SIGNIFICANTLY worse at night. I wake up with my arms "asleep" I have tingling/burning in hands and electric shock feelings in feet.  Eye exam- normal.  Negative brain MRI, Negative EMG testing that was completed on the right arm. Cervical spine MRI in 2 weeks. Neurologist states,"if it is not this-then it is not a nerve problem."

I am very frustrated to find a diagnosis.  I have been under much chronic stress for 2 years- husband deployed in combat-death of friends-new job- relocation.  I can totally accept the diagnosis of anxiety, if that is truly what it is.  However, can ANXIETY truly cause these symptoms?  They are present everyday.

2002- Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis (somewhere between T-2 and T-4)  Surgeon has said that the nerves have regenerated based on return of the sweating.  He is unsure if it is possible that the regeneration of nerves could be pressing on another nerve to cause the tingling/numbness.  What is your opinion?

So, my questions are- can anxiety cause these physical symptoms and do you think it is possible that the nerve regeneration could result in these type of symptoms?

Thank you so much for your time!
Auburn

[heather_who]

Interestingly, I'm within the age range of most of the others that have posted here (36).  I've experienced a wide array of symptoms over the past 2 months.  Many of which have been discussed above.  Condition struck suddenly and violently (after about a month of twitching muscles throughout body).  Intense headache, stiff and sore neck, nausea, dizziness, faintness.  Right calf felt like it was going to explode, but no swelling.  Then entire right leg became excruciatingly painful and big toe on right foot became hypersensitive.  Fabric brushing across it felt like bee sting!  Doctor thought "sciatica" caused by pressure on nerve due to swelling from viral infection.  Sedimentation rate showed no swelling - not meningitis.  Neither Vicodin nor hydromorphone could touch the pain.  Pins and needles in right arm and right side of face, veins in right arm bulging = emergency room (stroke suspected).  That doctor thought "anxiety".  Lorazapam had no effect.  Pain became unbearable; icy-hot SEARING BURN in right leg.  Blood pressure (usually close to 120/80) dropped to 99/59.  Urgent Care doctor suspected MS.  MRI of brain normal (no lesions - no MS, no stroke).  Yet another doctor recognized unresponsive pain as NEUROPATHIC.  Prescribed Neurontin.  Symptoms miraculously subsided within 2 days!  Felt fine for a couple weeks.  Thought cause of pain (infection?) might have resovled itself.  Stoppped Neurontin.  Searing pain and pins & needles resurfaced within 2 days.  Started Neurontin again.  Relief!  Read that acupuncture can help with neuropathic pain.   Treatment reactivated pain!  Agonizing BURN concentrated in right buttock and back of right thigh.  Upped dosage 3 times - still not killing pain.  Can't sit or lie on right side or back for more than 10 minutes without crying.  Needle-jabbing sensations in fingers, toes, ankels, wrists.  Arms falling asleep.  Waking to sharp pains in dead arms!  Saw neurologist yesterday.  EMG and nerve conduction velocity tests only revealed 1 slow (large-fiber) nerve in right leg (didn't test arms).  Burning pain is caused by small-fiber nerves, which those tests don't detect.  Travel required for further nerve studies.  Awaiting results of MRI of neck and low back (done yesterday).  Frustrating condition that doctors don't understand.  Definitely NOT anxiety in my case.  I'm an artist working out of my nice home in a nice neighborhood.  I'm very happily married with a beautiful, brilliant daughter.  I struggled to get here, but I have absolutely no worries at the present time.  It is extremely frustrating and insulting to have doctors write me off as "anxious" when there is very little to indicate any such thing.  Tinlging limbs can be caused by a MANY conditions!

[panem]

Hi I'v been reading your comments about tingling/numb egs and hands. Well two months ago I started getting numbness in my right leg, it has now gone to both,and it feels at times like Iam wearing a tight stocking. I get tingling in my feet too. As I write the two outer fingers of my right hand are tingling. I went to the doctor and did all the tests, naturally he gave me some pills!  At this stage it was only in my legs, he said it was varicous veins (they are really tiny) the pills didn't work. So then the tingling went to the fingers, the Doc agreed that it wasn't varicous veins at this stage. Funny thing is when I get the numbness in my legs the veins are somewhat bigger as if there is some sort of blockage. But that doesn't explain the fingers! I have been very stressed for some time as my wife is suffering from severe depression, and is on medication. This has turned our lives upside down, and really feel that my ailments are STRESS!!! would appreciate any comments from anyone out there with similiar probs.

Cheers

[tinglygirl]

I recently had tingly arms, hands, feet, and numb arms at night, extremely cold feet at night a couple nights in a row, cold hands off and on.  I'm usually comfortable or warmer than everyone, and noticed recently felt generally colder a few days (as in using a space heater at my desk).  I have also had tingling in my upper left lip (fingertip size) and then lower...this occurred after I was looking up symptoms of the arms/legs...so I don't know if the lip part is stress or other.

I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which can cause the arm  tingling, and have enlarged (possible growth?) pituitary.  I'm still undergoing tests, including more extensive B12 (pernicious anemia runs in my family).  I don't have all my results, but drs suspect a huge problem is the hypothyroidism.

I've been under a lot of stress as a parent, sole breadwinner, and frustrated with daily events I will not get into, but antidepressants are necessary.  I found out that hypothyroidism can cause depression also.

Good luck!

[Manduh]

About 1 month ago I had type A influenza and took Tamiflu. The first night of the flu (before tamiflu) I woke up in a panic because I was hurting all over and I was terrified that my 3 month old would get the flu (he did- but he's fine) A few days later I got numb and tingly all over and very "unreal" feeling with light dizziness. Not even really dizzy just kind of off balance. Over the next few weeks the symptoms worsened and the right side of my face got numb and tingly at different times and usually for an hour or two at a time. I went to the GP who thought I must be having panic attacks and gave me ativan, and lexapro. Well.. needless to say I mentally feel better but the facial numbness is still coming and going as well as carpal tunnel like symptoms and tingling in my toes all of which just come and go. I recently had an eye appt and they said my eye pressure was fine and all my blood work was fine- my glucose was on the line. I have a ringworm looking rash on the back of my leg that won't go away also. I just wandered in anyone had any suggestions- I have 3 small children so running back and forth to the doc constantly is wearing on me.

[criscat]

I have had the exact same symptoms. Very frightening. Just when I begin to drift off, it's like someone plugs me into an electical socket and a surge of electicity or anxiety literally wakes me up. My feet get tingly and burning too.

[hulahoop]

I've been experiencing tingling in my left arm and leg.  Like someone here said, it feels like something is frozen and then melting.  It also is worse at some times, almost coming on like a headache.  I've had the emg, mri of the brain and cervical spine, ct scan, angiogram of the carotid arteries and lots of blood work-all negative except for some arthritis in my neck.  I've had maiofacsial (sp?) massage that offers temporary relief.  Sometimes my body just feels "electric."  One of the things that I'm struggling with is falling asleep and then just as I'm drifting off I'm "shocked" awake by this electric feeling.  Has anyone experienced that?

[lb154]

Hi Auburn, I hope you're still doing better. I was seriously doubting the anxiety diagnosis as well until one day I had a panic attack out of the blue, during a test (which I was having no trouble with) on a day that I had a ton to do. I started trembling really bad and could not stop, so I went straight to the medical center on my campus. At the last minute I decided to see a counselor instead, just becuase I knew the doctor wouldn't say anything new and I thought it would be good to see what kind of physical manifestations anxiety really can have. The counselor handed me a list of symptoms and said: "well, what do you think?" I had all 10 or 11 symptoms, including numbness, hot flushes, fear of dying, difficulty swallowing, shaking, etc. I was relieved to hear this but had another attack the next night while trying to sleep and had to go to the hospital..i seriously thought I was dying. They gave me an Atavan pill, gave me 2 more for the next day and sent me home. I can not describe the feeling I had the next day. I don't typically like taking pills, but even just this once, it was amazing to remember how calm and normal I could feel -- above all without fear. Suddenly I knew I would get everything done, and it would be alright, and I didn't worry. I realize I must have started having these symptoms because of stress and a bit of depression last fall and have literally turned myself into a nutcase by imagining all the horrible things that could be wrong with me (on top of other fears...career after graduating, relationship, etc.).
I'm now working on being a bit more of a minimalist than a perfectionist, meditating and retraining my thought patterns so as not to always fear and envision the worst and simply trying to take more time to relax and enjoy the moment.
To anyone out there having similar symptoms, consider anxiety if no other diagnoses seem to be correct...and don't wait as long as I did to start getting help.

[randombird]

Hi everyone
1 am 24 yrs old and have numbness in my hand, leg and big toe.  It first appeared in Nov after i have to confess that i had rather a lot to drink.  This has since appeared in my big toe and leg as well.  I have been tested for diabetes, vitamin b12 deficiency and diabetes, I have none of them.  I am going for an MRI scan but its going to take months.  The doctor says she wants to rule out MS.  I do smoke and I drink quite a lot when I go out.  Any ideas? Please help I am v worried Thanks

[chicosalt]

A related discussion, Tell me it IS anxiety. was started.

[gatammy70]

I too, had those symptoms & after much surfing of the web, found Restless leg/arm syndrome.  I read something about this being related to a magnesium deficiency & immediately went out & bought magnesium vitamins. To this day, since taking 400 mg of Magnesium... I have yet to wake up with my arms tingling anymore.  Good luck!

[johnterry1004]

A related discussion, right side of head numb and neck finger tips was started.

[goofydump]

Do any of you get the numb/burning/tingling in your face? I have it over my entire chin and both cheeks. This is where I notice most often. However, there isn't a day that goes by that it isn't noticed in my fingertips and left forearm. Last night the bottom of my left heel was numb and so was the bottom of my right big toe. From reading, it sounds like a lot of you only get the symptoms on one side?

[JoOntario]

Does anyone use products with Aspartame in them? or even Splenda?  It was suggested to me that I look into what I am eating and whether anything has either as an ingredient (a relative of the person had a reaction....one side of her face goes numb). Worth a consideration.

[heather_who]

I had pins & needles in the entire right side of my body, including my head.  Because this sensation reached my scalp, my neurologist said that the problem must lie within my skull.  Apparently, even damage to the neck doesn't affect nerves above the eyes?  But the MRI of my head was normal.  I read that, in extreme cases of metabolic neuropathy, the vertex of the head may be affected.

[milty456]

Hello all.  I am a 28 year old male.  I started having symptoms last year.  Numbing of one side of my body, dizziness, palpitations, etc.  I felt like a stroke/heart attack was coming on.  I went for lots of tests(blood, sleep) and got an echocardiogram.  All negetive.  Doctor said it was panic attacks.  I tried clonozopam and it seemed to work.  I unfortunately am going back tomorrow because the attacks are coming back.  Interestingly enough, most of my attacks happen at night when im trying to get to sleep or while i am sleeping.  I too can't believe that it is stress.  It seems like it is anything but stress.  I am calm at night and don't really have much on my mind.  Who knows.  If you can suggest anything else i'd be most appreciative.

[heather_who]

I hope that everyone remembers to post test results (good or bad).  Clearly, some doctors are more interested and (self-?)educated in this field of study.  Most doctors (even neurologists) are clueless.  I am surprised to see that so many people are suffering the same symptoms with NO idea why.  This is not a trivial matter that can be easily ignored; we are all screaming in pain!  Surely, SOMEONE has done some research, and made some connections by now.  This is simply outrageous.  Most doctors don't even know what neuropathic pain IS, let alone what causes it or how to treat it!  FOUR doctors blew me off before I demanded to see a neurologist, who admits that this is not her specialty, but is willing to work with me.  Tests are underway.

[JoOntario]

Same thing...I dont feel any of this when sleeping. But I do find if I havent slept 'longer' I tend to feel queazy for a second or two. Actually I find at times, more symptoms when I am tired.  Another unusual pattern is I find I am better on the weekends...so does this mean I am stressed at work and part of the problem.  Or is it maybe back/spine problem??  I too am told I overreact...how not!!!???  Sitting there working away and boom!  Weird sensation number ??...Other symptoms I do have that I did not mention previous...face is red when i wake, worse after shower or heat, sometime neck as well.  Other odd one, when I ended up getting other colds, the symptoms disappeared, but, then again, my symptoms seem worse during the week when I dont get as much sleep.  My husband also went thru testing at hospital for what they considered was part of his panic attacks.  While testing him they found some unusual symptoms; heavy achey legs and arms, he could barely walk up the stairs.  This is a man who could run up stairs without thought, physically active, went to neurologist, and they did mega tests, MRI, blood work,so far nothing....symtpoms slowly disappeared.  Well talking about the unusual circumstance that both of us had strange symptoms...we realized he too had a terrible cold a week prior to all this happening.  As today once again my arms and hands felt like the blood was draining...sitting at my desk...all I could do was fight the tears.  Obviously and of course we are going to be stressed...who wouldnt!?!?! One symptom that has subsided is the headaches, I realized how badly I was clenching my teeth after seeing an ENT specialist.  He said my one side was swollen.  Noticed lower back pain off and on since had these symptoms as well?  Same feeling as I had after having son (with epidural).  Curious as to whether that could be a similarity???  All I know is I wait for my next appointment with doc to see next steps...last time she told me that sometimes you have to learn to live with it....easy for her to say. Finding other with the same has given me some of my sanity back.....thank you:)

[JoOntario]

I too have had all these unusual symptoms...started end of January after a terrible head cold.  I havent been that sick with a cold as far back as i can recall.  From that point on I struggled to get over the cold and I never felt 100%.  It was as if weekly I'd start to feel a tiny bit better.  Shooting sensation across from ear to cheek on left side then tingling sensation for a couple days, terrible headaches with shooting pains, ear had been bothering me all the time, earlier on terrible nausea and dizziness at times (weirdly enough always at same time of day)cold sensations over different areas of head, nubness, tingling, in toes, under nose, between thumb and forefinger...list goes on.  Today it was a new one, right arm felt as if all blood was draining out.  Have done the thyroid, diabetes, all the blood work, CT, Neurologist tested me for MS - negative...very frustrating. Seems as i am in a cycle of about 4-5 weeks where it starts to subside and then starts again with different symptoms...my next attempt...chirpractor??? glad to see i am not the only one out frustrated...

[goofydump]

It seems like there are quite a few folks out there with these terrible, "weird" and definitely unexplained symtoms. I am just counting the days until I can see my doctor. The thing that strikes me most odd about my symptoms is they don't bother me, at least not that I am aware, during the night while sleeping. I also don't notice any of them when I first wake up every morning. I find this odd. Maybe it isn't. Like I've said, I am absolutely a worrier, so maybe mine is stress related somehow although reading everyone battling the same issues, I'm not certain. Another thing I find odd is that the areas that feel like there is a tingly/burning sensation almost feel "cold" somehow at the same time. Especially if I'm outside and it is windy. I just hope that one day we all will finally have someone tell us, "this is what you have" and it not be nerves or stress related. I don't want a doctor telling me it is all in my mind! I'm just really glad I found this site. Maybe somehow it helps to chat with other people going through the same thing.

[goofydump]

I'm really not sure how to make this short and still have it contain everything. I was really happy to find this site. What happened to me is this: I found a small area on my right lower leg that looked "different" to me than the left leg. I am a worrier by nature(just ask my husband, he'll tell you I'm not happy if I'm not worrying). I did sort of dwell on the area and looked it up and came up with all sorts of bad things. This was cut short due to me coming down with Strep Throat. It has been going around where I live. I was treated for that and was feeling much better within four days. About a week after I started feeling better however, I started noticeing all kinds of "weird" symptoms. My chin followed by my cheeks especially underneath the eyes became sort of numb. This probably isn't a good way to put it, because if it is touched, I certainly feel it. It then started to feel a bit "prickly" and finally there was a burning sensation making me want to pick up the nearest thing I could find and put it on the area to cool it off. Ice, you name it. This all concerned me too to say the least as everything you read online about the matter suggests it must be something horrible. I then started to get the same numb/prickly/burning sensation on both my forearms and legs. I get the numb prickly feeling in my feet and my fingertips just get numb. I've also been experiencing some joint pain in my fingers and toes and right knee. I am seeing my doctor, but as he is the only one I trust in the office, I'm having to wait unti the end of the month to see him. He's quite popular. This tme seems to be taking FOREVER and gives me way too much time to do searches on Google!! I've now started getting terrible headaches in the back of my head and beside my right eye. I'm trying to convince myself that if I had something horrible it would have shown up by now. I had a complete bloodwork done 8 months ago which only showed my cholesterol to be a bit elevated. All the other numbers were great the doctor said. My papsmear in September was negative as was my mammogram in January. I also had pretty extensive dental x-rays done in February that only showed a cavity. Do my symptoms and the way they all started sound like anything you've heard of before. I'm going crazy!!

[mpkmpk007]

At least I now feel in good company.  This is week 2 of each night waking @ 2:30am with 3 fingers of each hand numb, tingeling and swollen.  Also wrists and knee joints swell, ache and become weakened.  Initially I was able to take motrin, change position and rub my hands to thaw them.  During the course of this last week I seem to have added sporatic outbursts of this condition and headaches during the day with today being the worst.  AND there seems to be come type of progression happening as tonight it was numbness and tingling which turned into an unbearable burning sensation.  After 45 minutes it seems as if most of the burn is gone and I'm left with residual numbness in the tips of 3 fingers.  My GP drew tons of blood work last week, mentioning Parvo Virus and hypothyriodism.  

I've never had anything like this before and I've clearly not had it for as long as many of you writing in this comment forum.  I've always thought I had a decently high stress tolerance, do work with computers and have been relatively and overall pretty healthy (no diabete, high b/p, etc.).  I'm not sure how you all tolerate having had this for so long, this condition is giving me more anxiety than 2 kids a full time job and anything else I've ever encountered......

I'm sorry to say this but I do feel better knowing there are others out there getting by with this.

[heather_who]

In addition, my right leg feels cold (inside, and to the touch) and bloodless (no color surfaces - even with deep scratching) due to vasoconstriction caused by autonomic neuropathy.  This is also affecting my intestinal motiliity (slow movement), heart rate and blood pressure (light-headed with standing).  The pain and numbness are caused by sensory neuropathy and motor neuropathy accounts for the muscle twitches and vibrations.  All blood tests normal.  No lyme disease, blood glucose okay (no diabetes - which commonly causes peripheral neuropathies).  At a loss!

[Belge66]

I have been suffering with tingling and numbness in my left foot and primarily in my big toe (left). Weird tingling in my hands and top of both thighs occasionally, too. Problem came on suddenly when I got a very severe tingling numbness sensation in my left foot about three weeks ago. It was painful but the pain subsided in about a week but some of the above sensation remains. I am 39 years old. Went to the doctor's-no circulation problem, he thinks it's a neuroma of some sort in the foot although ankle reflexes are weak. CBC taken was super normal, everything in line. Tested for HIV-negative, too. Taking B-complex vitamins. This afternoon is my first good time in awhile. Does not keep me up at night, praise God. I withdrew from all refined sugar about two weeks ago thinking maybe it was diabetes but sugar very normal. Staying off sugar regardless, why not? Was on lithium for about nine years and about two months ago dropped lithium after nine months of a slow reduction from 900 mg daily to now nothing. All mood swings were due to a previously undiagnosed persistent anemia (severe-hemglobin down to 6.7, hematocrit to 26.7 and *no* ferratin left). No cause for anemia found after multiple probes and scopes but a transfusion and iron supplementation over nine months got me to very good levels on all. Thinking maybe thalessemia minor (of Mediterranean ancestry so it is possible). Feeling great otherwise. Could probably lose ten pounds. Feel weak but all strength seems to be there when put to the test. I am wondering if lithium withdrawal is causing this or some anxiety problem. I go to neurologist's next month.

[Cindy77]

I'm a register nurse that works in an outpatient surgical place. I was diagnosed with hypothiroidism since 18 yrs ago.  I'm taking synthroid 125 mg my lab work is normal.  I noticed for the past 2 years that I had dizziness which I could handle it didn't interfere with my job.  However, I started having numbess and pain in my legs and then lately both arms feel the same way.  I had an injection of PCN-G 2 months ago this was my 4th IM injection since I had sorethroat for the past couple of days.  This time I got a horrible reaction as soon as the nurse got the needle out. I could hear fans going on inside my head, I heard the most minute things, I got so dizzy that I could berly walk, I saw lights all colors moving and a fear of dying or fear to eveything.  This reaction lasted like 5 min for me it was more than that.  This happend 2 months ago since then I still hear the fans going inside my head and at those moments I feel like I'm loosing control.  I continue working but 7 days ago woke up with numbess in both arms, nausea, dizziness, palpitations fear of dying.  I ended up being admitted for 4 days.  They couldn't find was wrong with me they found my levles of vitamin B12 extremely high 4017 pg/ml, foleate 75.53ng/ml, positive for mycoplasma and prolactin levels greater than 200 ng/ml. Cholesterol 213 mg/dl (my weight is 126 lbs 5'3 tall) They send me home with Levaquin 750 mg PO, wellbutrin XL 150 mg 1 tab po dayly, zocor 40 mg 1 tab po at bed time.  I have been 7 days taking this medications and my symptoms are worst.  I fear everything, I can't eat because I feel like if I don't have enough air to breath and swallow, have pghlems, my head feels weird, dizziness, numbness both arms and hands, I hear the fans in my head all the noises that repeat drive me crazy.  I started with diarrhea, feelings of unreality, fear of loosing control or fear of nothing.  I can't explain this anymore but they run all types of exams and they can't make me feel better.  I just want to be back to normal, please help me what's wrong with me?  I feel like I'm going crazy.