Constant pins & needles!

[Ninspeedles]

Posting in AIBU mainly for traffic but also AIBU to wait another 2 weeks?

I've been having increasing pins needles the last 2-3 weeks. Started in feet and has spread to lower limbs arms and sometimes in the hands/fingers. It's been quite painful at times. It also feels like my legs go dead more quickly, very low tolerance for sitting down without legs quickly feeling odd

Called GP who asked if I had signs of infection ( I don't) or swelling( I don't) and that I should call back in 2 weeks if not resolved. Feels like I always get that response no matter what!

Should I be worried or just wait it out another fortnight?

MS here too...

I currently have this in one hand and half my mouth, started a couple of weeks ago just after I got Covid. 111 said go to GP. Talked to GP who said go for an in-person appointment when negative. Both 111 and GP said they don’t think likely to be serious/urgent but were very clear about calling 999 if things deteriorated.

So, I would say don’t panic, but don’t ignore. Have you seen your GP in person? I would try to do that asap.

MS would need a brain MRI not just spinal. Lumbar puncture too.

Investigate Coeliac neuropathy too.

They don’t always do a lumbar puncture, they didn’t with me as they could see that there were active and past lesions on the MRI scans.

If you’re worried, I’d think about going to A&E. I know it seems extreme, but that’s how I got my MRI more quickly. If you wait for a referral from your GP, it will probably take ages, especially at the moment.

I had exactly the same thing OP, then a few weeks ago I had a blood test and it turns out I have a very underactive thyroid.

3 days into taking the thyroid tablets there was a marked improvement and after 2 weeks, all the pins & needles/dead aches in arms and legs have disappeared.

I should add, I had no other symptoms. No weight gain or exhaustion etc.

Hi OP I had exactly this (eventually developed other symptoms) it became pretty worrying. Had MRI's to rule out MS (all fine) it eventually turned out to be a Functional Neurological Disorder. It's a relatively common set of neurological conditions but only relatively recently known about (a lot of GPs don't know of it). It can be triggered by stress/illness/injury and my neurologist says it will be the cause of a significant proportion of patients with long covid. I'm expected to make a full recovery, it will just take time. Worrying that it was MS is likely to have really aggravated it. Here's the recommended website, definitely worth keeping in mind as a possible cause in case whichever doctor you see isn't aware of it...

www.neurosymptoms.org/en_GB/

Ps that website can look a bit alarming but in my case my neurologist is not worried about me at all.

I had this, but with multiple illness it was difficult to work out cause. I found that my Soleus muscles were tight . So bought a vibration machine to loosen them up. It worked. Soleus muscles run from back of knees to ankle. It worked for me

This is very common in peri-menopause.

@Whulfc86 did your neurologist consider/mention Functional Neurological Disorder? (See my pp) apparently it's only been known about/recognised for a decade or so, and a lot of healthcare professionals were/are unaware of it. I was diagnosed once they'd ruled out everything else.

I'm type 2 diabetic and get this. Request a HBA1C blood test at doctors.

Thanks all! You've given me lots to think about!

I had this in my hand. They had a long of things that could cause it including deficiencies or anxiety. So you need further tests.

Bad news in my case the MRI confirmed it was MS.

@Pericombobulations

Sorry to hear that. Did it take long to get diagnosed?

No but this was 6 years ago. Have various symptoms that Drs diagnosed as overweight and then sciatica. It was only when they started on the opposite side and I got a sympathetic Dr who referred me to a neurologist. I got an MRI with 2 months and was diagnosed within 4 months of my first appointment. But up until the MRI the neurologist kept saying MS was unlikely as there were so many more common reasons to have these symptoms.

I've got exactly the same problem OP. Have had bloods done this week but not sure what tests have been ordered. I also have odd cramps in my thighs and a sore feeling at my inside hip.
I've wondered if it could be covid related- I've not had it as far as I know but GP practice found I had an abnormal ECG a while back when I was feeling sort of out of puff, that hospital said was a common ECG/ heart abnormality and not to worry but GP did think my ECG might be covid related at that point.

I had this a few years ago. Pins and needles and pain in feet, calves, hands and lower arms but no other symptoms, It went on for over a year. I had all sorts of tests. Eventually an MRI showed it was likely caused by spondylitis in my spine which caused irritation in the nerve roots. The pain in my feet and calves slowly eased but the pain in my hands and arms miraculously disappeared overnight after almost a year and a half of constant pain. This happened after I'd taken the max dose of an anti inflammatory constantly for a few days. I have no idea if it was coincidence or not but I wonder if it just gave the nerves a chance to calm down. It hasn't come back since although my joints can still ache.

It was hard to get a diagnoses as the condition wasn't that bad compared with what a lot of other people deal with and the symptoms a bit vague sounding. I had private health care with my job but it still took ages.

i was in my early 50s, not stressed, good weight and active.

Hi there. I had what you describe. My GP arranged a blood test. It turned out I was extremely low in iron, B12 and D3. Several months later and after a course of B12 injections and other supplements, my tingling has gone and I'm feeling much less like a zombie.

I don’t agree that you should go to A&E. That’s not what it’s for. It’s really frustrating having to wait so long to get things sorted but it’s not ok to do this.

Good luck with the blood results. GO said he'll do some blood tests if I still have it in another 2 weeks.

I've also got cramp like pain in my legs and intermittent breathlessness but it's not constant so not really worried about that

Tingling in hands and feet can be a peri-menopause symptom too.

Snap. It’s been 3 years now. Never found a cause.

you need your b12 levels checked, your calcium levels (can be a sign of low calcium), folate, blood sugars to check you’re not diabetic and a full blood count for iron levels etc too. You could also have coeliac disease so that’s another blood test, although it’s more common with gluten intolerance rather than coeliac disease so even if negative, try going gluten free anyway.

being both sides, it’s unlikely to be something like MS which I hope is reassuring.

@Vispa that was my diagnosis too but a private neurologist. Nhs one said no.

I have pins and needles/numbness in my hands, often upon waking. Mine's been much improved by an osteopath manipulating my shoulder and upper arm area.