Pins and needles lasting days. Any idea why?

[Missingmemarbles]

Has anyone experienced pins and needles which last for up to 3 days? I've had 2 bouts of this in the last 2 weeks. I can feel them in my arms, legs, scalp and face. It feels like there's a light rain falling on me, if that makes sense?

Anyone any ideas what might be causing this, should I be concerned? TIA

[TweenageAngst]

Please make an appointment with your GP, they can make a diagnosis or a referral if required.

[TweenageAngst]

Some neurological conditions present with these sort of symptoms so its worth getting it checked.

[Missingmemarbles]

Ok. Thank you both for your advice. I'll call my GP today.

[Ispywithmycynicaleye]

How did you get on with your GP? I've had a numb chin on the right side for 2 months now, left side also went numb last week and I'm getting numbness in my arms and legs. I'm waiting for an urgent neurology appointment but they cant see me until sometime in June (I think). No idea whats causing it.

[Missingmemarbles]

Hi. I've been referred to a neurologist too. Hope you can attend your appointment soon, that must be worrying for you.

[Ispywithmycynicaleye]

Thanks. Dr google was frighteningly unhelpful when I googled numb chin 😂
Hopefully we both get to the bottom of it.

[Missingmemarbles]

I hope so. Google terrified me so I'm staying away. My GP asked me if I have a family history of MS, (I I don't) that's worried me quite a lot. Fingers crossed it's jutting serious for either of us.

[acocadochocolate]

Try not to worry, OP. I have just been diagnosed with MS. The neurologist made a point of telling me that the treatment is "fantastic".

[Fightthebear]

I got referred to a neurologist with intermittent pins & needles to “rule out” MS.

There’s nothing wrong with me. After an mri scan and nerve conduction tests they discharged me. Interestingly the consultant said pins and needles are quite a common complaint in middle aged people and in about 50% of cases they don’t find anything wrong.

[Fightthebear]

Also, could it be anxiety related? The consultant asked me a lot about that.

[StoneSourFan]

Did you have any bloods taken?
Pins and needles can be a vitamin deficiency such as vitamin B12 and Vitamin D x

[Ispywithmycynicaleye]

I was asked about MS too. But apparently, according to google, my numb chin is an ominous sign for potential malignancies so alot of the questions were whether I've noticed new lumps, rashes or sudden weight loss.
My gp also ordered every blood test possible (according to the nurse) bone profile, inflammation, organs, platelets, full blood count as well as others I have never heard of before. Results were negative which is good. So I have no idea what is going on.
The more I've read, the more less serious causes I have come across which is reassuring. Migraines are an apparent cause of numbness, have you noticed any headaches?

[caribooshriek]

Nerve compression?

[Missingmemarbles]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis acocadochocolate it's reassuring to hear there's excellent treatment though.

GP didn't think it was nerve compression as it's all over my body. Although I've described it as pins and needles, it's more like a constant tingle, a bit like when you're caught in a light rain, if that makes sense.

GP hasn't offered blood tests, just the referral.

Ispy, I had no idea your symptoms could be linked to a malignancy, really hope that's not the case.

I don't feel anxious at all, so don't think it's that. I do have an autoimmune disease, Sjogrens syndrome.

Funnily enough I started getting visual migraines about 6 months ago. Rarely a headache, just blind spots and kaleidoscope vision.

Guess I'll just have to wait and see.

[SuncreamInTheWinter]

I had this pretty much a year ago for the first time and went to gp after a few weeks.

Was initially tested for vitamin deficiency etc. B12 deficiency can cause this.

All came back ok. So was referred to neurology. In mean time I started getting worsening symptoms eg zappy headaches and v off neurological feelings. Gp v worried and I was convinced it was something incurable.

Saw neurologist and he said he thought they sounded like unusual presentation of migraines. I didnt have classic migraine type headaches at all and would often get tingling without any head symptoms.

He referred me for a head and c spine mri though to rule anything else out. All came back normal

In mean time I was diagnosed with ovarian failure (which for me is autoimmune) and it's thought the menopausal levels are causing the migrainey/neurological symptoms.

I spent ages obsessively googling and being convinced it was something awful. It's important you've seen gp and that they get to the bottom of it. But don't panic- can be loads of explanations

[jugglingbeans]

I used to get this a lot until I got my act together and improved my diet.

[SuncreamInTheWinter]

V v surprised your gp hasn't done a b12 test. pernicious anemia is an autoimmune condition that can cause tingling. I would ask them about it. Was 1st think my GPs did and first thing neurologist asked and checked had been done.

[jugglingbeans]

B12 was one of the deficiencies I had. Easily sorted out too.

[SuncreamInTheWinter]

It is of you have a simple deficiency a d just need tablets/diet change but pernicious anemia is more complicated

[Missingmemarbles]

Thanks for suggesting a B12 deficiency, I'll look in time that some more and push for a test. 5 days later I still have tingling but it is slightly milder than it was.

Suncream, thanks for sharing your experience, I hope you're doing ok now.

[Ispywithmycynicaleye]

Yeh apparently if it's not caused by trauma or dental then metastatic malignancies and tumours were the next most common cause.

I dont think I need to worry about that though, after 2 months I imagine I wouldve shown other worrying symptoms by now.

I'm another who's surprised you weren't tested for B12 deficiency, it was in with the blood tests I had done. Might be worth asking about it to rule it out.

Hemaplegic migraines can cause numbness/ tingling pins and needles feeling.

Do you know how long you have to wait to see neurology?

[Missingmemarbles]

The GP didn't say if it was an urgent referral or not. I have PMI so might use that, I can only have a telephone consultation though, hanging on a bit in the hope diagnostic tests will be reinstated at private hospitals soon.

So glad I started this thread, feel armed with information now. Thanks everyone.

[Ispywithmycynicaleye]

I dont think an urgent referral means anything right now. I had a face to face appointment with my GP after I reported my numbness getting worse on my chin and spreading to my right arm and leg. She did alot of motor function tests then said I needed an urgent referral to rule out the bad stuff and told me to keep my phone close as I would get a phone call. So I did but it was a week later in a&e that I discovered neurology weren't really seeing anyone and they were hoping to see me sometime in June.

I was advised to keep a symptom diary to show the neurologist. Might be worth doing if your symptoms change in any way.

[TweenageAngst]

So glad you got a prompt referral. You can now get either diagnosis and treatment or reassurance that all is well. Take care of yourself.

[Mrsdaisy2]

11 days later and I'm still tingling. Feel really worried now.

On the plus side I've received a call from the hospital and I have a telephone consultation in just over a weeks time.