AIBU to talk to a GP about pins and needles?

[Allfednonedead]

For the past six months, I've been waking up during the night with pins and needles in my arms. It's been getting worse, and happens whatever position I sleep in, and now it's starting to happen if I sit down during the day as well.
It seems ridiculous to take up a GP appt, but I'm starting to worry about it, and it's interrupting my sleep, already interrupted enough by non-sleeping children.
I can get a phone appt easily, but still feel a bit silly.

You can get an autoimmune B12 deficiency, symptoms include pins and needles and if you have one autoimmune condition you're at risk of more.
Its worth and appointment and a simple set of bloods, not wasting anyone's time!

Sorry I've just seen someone else has already suggested that.

I had similar symptoms bothering me a while back, saw the GP who realised it was coming from my neck and referred me for physio which helped quite a bit. So yet another possibility to add to the ones already suggested, and potentially quite treatable.

Give it a shot by all means but don't be too surprised if you don't get anywhere. DP had POTS for at least 2 years before the medical "professionals" she saw took it seriously. The GP in particular was as much use as a cock flavoured lollipop.

Hashimotos can cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which often will wake you up in the night with pins and needles.

Have you had covid?

Have you been taking vit d?

I had hypothyroidism but felt hyper in apr after maybe having covid (but also taking a lot of vit d.
I stopped the thyroxine.
After the possible covid i had muscle twitches and the pins and needles you describe.
I have been taking magnesium and still the vit d and restarted the thyroxine and the pins and needles got better.
However an annoying gp now decided i dont need the thyroxine so i guess i may find out if it's the thyroxine being low that caused it.
Hypo can cause carpel tunnel.
My tsh was 1.6 in august.

I said to the gp that i thought the pins and needles was the thyroid but was rather brushed off.
The pp saying about ms is concerning (for me) as i also have these muscle twitches.
Let me know if you work it out as im rather irate at my gp and cant really face seeing another one to try to work out what is going on.

Thank you everyone for your very kind and supportive words. I spoke to my GP on Friday and had blood taken for tests this morning.

The GP clearly took it very seriously, so the blood tests are for B12 levels, iron and thyroid levels, and he says if they come back normal he'll want to see me face to face, probably to work out if I need a neck scan, in case it is a trapped nerve further up. MS wasn't mentioned, but mostly because he said we should rule out the obvious first (ie B12 and thyroid).

I'm pretty sure it's not carpal tunnel - I had that in pregnancy and it felt very different. For a start, it was lower arm only, not starting from the shoulder.

The GP is planning to call me when the bloods are back, and I'll update this again.

I’ve had this for 9 years now and some nights I get woken up by it every 1.2-2 hours. At its worst my right arm has been totally paralysed from the shoulder down and I’ve had to shake it using my other arm to get feeling and movement back into it again, which has taken a good half hour.

Three years ago I was referred for an MRI and nerve conduction tests which were all normal. I was told by the consultant to swim x3 per week as the most likely cause was tight upper back muscles clamping around the nerves. Needless to say I’m still swimming and no relief.

So a few weeks ago I contacted the GP and said I want this investigated again and I have been referred to the plastics team at the Hand clinic(?). The GP is now thinking it’s Carpal Tunnel, but thanks to Covid I guess it will be a very long time before I get an appointment.

Good luck with getting some answers.

@Allfednonedead How are you getting on OP?

Hi, thanks for checking in!
My bloods did show my TSH much higher than usual (meaning my thyroid levels are low) and it's possible that's the cause of it all.
The GP raised the dose and told me to get tested again in three weeks. So far, not much has changed, and I'm not sure how long to leave it before saying "this isn't working". I know it can take a while before the new dose has an impact.
Also, when he asked me initially if I was more clumsy than usual, I said no, but actually now I'm paying attention, I definitely am. But probably that's just because I'm anxious about it!

@Allfednonedead

Hi, thanks for checking in! My bloods did show my TSH much higher than usual (meaning my thyroid levels are low) and it's possible that's the cause of it all. The GP raised the dose and told me to get tested again in three weeks. So far, not much has changed, and I'm not sure how long to leave it before saying "this isn't working". I know it can take a while before the new dose has an impact. Also, when he asked me initially if I was more clumsy than usual, I said no, but actually now I'm paying attention, I definitely am. But probably that's just because I'm anxious about it!

Hi, just wondering what happened with your pins and needles ? I have it in both hands/arms waking me every night. I’m on thyroxine and am of menopausal age. I’ve seen a locum GP but just she asked me what I thought it was and what I thought we should do !!! Anyway, waiting on blood tests but she didn’t tell me which.

Hi @FippertyGibbett, sorry, posted by accident.
Anyway, I have a not very exciting update.
I spoke to a GP today who said my TSH levels were in the normal range, but as they're still high for me, I'm increasing the dose again.
I think they're trained to ask what you think it is (presumably so they can address 'anxiety'?).
My pins and needles improved slightly with the higher dose, but then got worse again, and Ive been getting dizzy spells and burning feet at night.
Since the first step is to see if the second dose increase of levothyroxine is the answer, it'll be another 6-8 weeks before i have any answers, assuming my symptoms stay roughly stable in the meantime.

Alfred can I give you some advice from someone who’s been where you are

Please do not take the doctors reassurance at face value. Much like T3 and T4 levels provoke debate so do B12 levels

Firstly find out what your actual numbers are, here in the uk we only start treating B12 deficiency at 125

Nerve damage starts to occur at 500 so you can see that you can be in serious trouble before the NHS will treat you

If you look at other countries they start treating at a MUCH higher figure above 500 if you want reassure take a look at PASOC (pernicious anaemia society)

You have burning feet, this is a symptom of a different B group vitamin deficiency which has almost certainly not been checked

In order to absorb B12 you need good levels of Folate and Vit C, they are supporting vitamins that if also low will lead to failure to absorb

The good news is this can be sorted quite easily but you have to take charge and have the right information

I’ve had a week off my weights gym class and I’ve seen an improvement.
Hope you get sorted soon.

Please keep a diary of your symptoms and go back to the gp if nothing improves.

Pins and needles were one of my first ms symptoms as a pp has said but it took years for them to be linked to other symptoms and for me to be diagnosed

It's a case of getting an mri to rule out ms if things continue.

I also wake with it. Its there all day, just annoying. My B12 is low and i get pills and its ok then no review and i got bloods taken yesterday so waiting for the results now.

My thyroid is ok, not menopausal. Iron has always been low since I started my periods when I was 12. Been off and on iron tabs for years.

But the pins is really getting to me. Ive now asked for B12 injections as i can't take no more.

Irritable, tired with the waling each night.

Hi, just in case anyone is still interested, I have an update.
I happened to go to an osteopath for a sore hip from running and mentioned the pins and needles. He took it very seriously and offered to do a thorough neurological assessment. When that was done, he asked about other symptoms, and then offered to send his report to my GP. This duly happened, and I've just had the GP ring me to say he's made a neurology referral for me.
So it's back to waiting, but with the reassurance that my concerns are being taken very seriously.

Yeah speak to your gp. Could be nothing, could be something that needs treating. This was one symptom I had when I had low vitamin b12 levels (alongside heart palpitations and poor concentration/fatigue). I think it can be a symptom of other types of anaemia too. Mine took a while to correct but is much better now with vitamin supplimentation.

How are you doing now OP?

For the last two years I have been going numb when asleep- I’m a side sleeper, and it’s always whatever side I am not lying on. I have to turn over multiple times a night as the numbness/pins & needles wake me and the only way to relieve it is to swap sides. I’m same as you though and have felt it’s not a big enough issue to waste a Gp appointment with, though I would like to know why this is happening.

Can I ask what happened in the end, OP?