Tingling… caused by anxiety and stress?

[Theoriginalinvisiblewoman]

Has anyone suffered from this long term?

I’m at my wits end with it right now. I’ve had a very stressful time since just before the pandemic started, all due to various health issues that are either going undiagnosed (despite lots of investigations) or I’m struggling to get any help with. For the past 18 months I’ve been experiencing tingling in both my lower legs and feet. Sometimes I get feelings of burning, sometimes I get pins and needles where one or two toes will temporarily go numb and just lately I’m getting sensations of something touching the area (like a hair or an insect). Sometimes it feels like a sweeping feeling over a large area, a bit like goosebumps but without the actual bumps. I’ve had nerve conductions studies (didn’t pick anything up in my legs or feet, but did finally confirm that I have bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome), GP examinations and I have been seen by a neurologist who also examined me and declared I did not have any nerve issues (he also ran bloods for various autoimmune diseases etc. which were all negative). I’ve had many blood tests to check for deficiencies like iron and B12, plus had my thyroid checked and my blood sugar and all came back ‘within range’. The feelings I’ve described are intermittent but will flare up now and again, lasting for a day or two to a few weeks, before going back to a very low level tingling, which isn't so noticeable. I had an MRI for an unrelated issue which flagged up 2 ‘slightly’ prolapsed discs in my lower back but apparently these are not causing the issue, although the NHS physio believes they are (she is making an assumption based on my discs and nothing else, even though she said my symptoms don’t fit where my discs are prolapsed) Aside from the more serious diagnosis’ like MS (neurologist did all the preliminary examinations for these and nothing unusual was flagged up), I’m starting to wonder if all of this is not caused by me being in an almost permanent state of anxiety and stress? I have noticed it is worse when I am more stressed than usual. Anyone think this might be possible? I don’t know where to turn to next for help…

I get awful tingling when stressed.i describe it as the feeling of an adrenaline rush, like when you nearly fall down the stairs but it lasts very much longer.

Just being aware helps. Self guided CBT to get my problems documented, an action plan in place then distract myself works very well. I'm also ok at meditation, it really helps but takes a lot of practice at first.

I hope you're able to resolve this.

I got tingling in my right arm for months and months and months. Got worried and went to my GP who asked if I was suffering with anxiety recently. Sure enough when she mentioned it could be anxiety related it stopped and I only get it now if I'm having a severe anxiety attack

I've had the same as you and Marsha. It was eventually diagnosed as Fibromyalgia and stress can make you have flare-ups. Its one of those autoimmune conditions where symptoms fluctuate day to day, even during the day. Rheumatology are the ones who formally diagnose you with it.

I have this and it's the result of a stroke. My lower leg and right foot has pins and needles that gets worse sometimes. I get tingling in my arm and right hand as well.

I'm hoping it goes away in the next 6 months otherwise I'll be stuck with it and it is a very weird and sometimes uncomfortable feeling.

@Theoriginalinvisiblewoman how are you now ? X

I am glad I foun this thread. I have exactly the same thing and no idea what it is. I cannot see a GP as I can't get an appointment (I finally managed to get one after 6 weeks wait except when I turned up for it on the day, they were runnning so far behind I had to miss it because I had to go to work). I have also questioned whether it's all in my head but I don't think I am particularly stressed (other than wtf is going on with my legs).

@Starrr123 Much the same, thank you for asking. Had another MRI on my back after I posted this, which came back normal, no disc issues (other than usual wear and tear for somebody in their 40’s) so was told it must be systemic. I then saw a rheumatologist who ruled out anything under their umbrella so just been left to my own devices now… 😕

@garlictwist I hope you are able to see your GP so they can run some bloods, you might find you have a simple deficiency that can easily corrected. I’m sorry you are suffering from similar symptoms, it can be so scary, especially when you don’t know why 😕

About 15 years ago, I was suffering from severe anxiety (I didn't recognise it at the time). I went to the GP and described tingling down both of my arms and she just hugged me and said it's a natural response to anxiety. Completely normal.

I had no idea that could happen!

OP I could have written your post. I've had the same all day every day for 3 years in January and have also had every blood test under the sun. I've had a zinc deficiency corrected but that made no difference. I had a vitamin D deficiency corrected, made no difference. I'm currently on iron tablets as my ferritin was slightly low, but so far no difference. I also have disc issues and degenerative disc disease - I too was told none of my disc bulges would be causing the tingling.
Mine is in my seat area, legs and feet. I also used to get the trembling muscles and fasciculations but that's calmed down over the years thankfully. I've spoken to multiple GP's, I've seen 2 physio's, 2 chiropractors, an osteopath. No answers. A neurologist told me over the phone during lockdown without seeing me it was "functional neurological disorder". I've also had nerve conduction studies and all came back ok.
One thing that has helped strangely enough is the sequi HRT patches, but only during the progesterone weeks. My GP thinks this is a fluke or coincidence, but I can guarantee that during the two weeks of progesterone, it's much better. Tingling can be a rare symptom of peri-menopause- Google "tingling menopause" and a few posts on forums pop up but nobody seems to have any answers I'm afraid.

@Theoriginalinvisiblewoman are you still getting the tingling/pins and needles? I seem to have the same. It's awful - fairly constant, legs and hands and tinnitus too. Keeps me awake at night. Got to see a neurologist but all blood tests are normal. Thought it might be hormones but they seem pretty stable (on HRT). And I've also had what can only be described as a brain zap - really scary. How are you faring? Any better? I know that it's being made worse by anxiety - but chicken and egg, which came first!