Pins and needles in arms, stiff fingers

[Mamma142526]

I'm mid 40s and I'm in good health, though I am not exercising at present.

The last few months I've had pins and needles in my arms and hands, mostly on my right when I'm in bed. This coincided when we moved so I assumed it was due to flattened pillows. The pins and needles got a little better when I changed the pillows but it's still there. I'm fine once I'm sitting up. I also have some stiffness in the joints in my right hand.

I don't have any other health issues. I'm definitely noticing a few more aches and pains with little things with a small kid, like bending over, reaching under sofas, but nothing serious yet. Are pins and needles worth a call to the GP or is this just middle age? It does bother me at night.

Talk to your GP

I've got very similar - right fingers numb and tingly. Some stiffness - and pain - and pins and needles up and down arm.

Have seen 1 GP and 2 physios.

Consensus is that it's a trapped nerve over the shoulder blade, caused by sleeping funny or bad posture.

Google trapped Radial Nerve to see if it fits your symptoms?

I do have it on the left side as well but not as bad.

Could be carpal tunnel syndrome?

Check B12 levels, it's a common symptom

@MarvellousMinnie that's really interesting - I have pernicious anemia and due a B12 injection.

I wonder if that's connection or coincidence!

@Mamma142526 I had the same symptoms while pregnant and it was carpal tunnel - it got to the point where I lost all feeling in some of my fingers, lost loads of sleep and eventually couldn't lift the kettle with my right hand. Had two lots of steroid injections in my wrists at 20 weeks and 32 weeks which worked, definitely worth talking to your GP about.

Thanks. Did you find GPs helpful? Are you getting any treatment for it?

Same, I get a little on my left but not as bad.

Thanks, I'm glad you're feeling better. I had carpal tunnel when I was pregnant. I used the wrist things and it got better in its own.

Could be a huge number of things, you've waited months and it's still there so get a gp appointment.

Thanks. Would B12 deficiency not affect both arms equally?

And stupid question, but would the GP check vitamin deficiencies or do I need to go private?

Thanks all. I had thought it was due to bad sleeping posture or phone use. But I'll make an appointment when my GP tomorrow.

The stiffness in my right hand isn't easing off and my 4th finger actually hurts a bit. This is new so yes I think it's time to see a GP.

I still think the most likely explanation is posture / sleeping / phone use.

The GP just chucked diazepam at me to help with a potential muscle spasm in case that was trapping the nerve.

I have a lot of respect for my GP but I don't think in general they are specialist enough to know for certain what's going on under the skin in the back or neck - there are so many possible problems.

A physio for exercises to release what's trapped / strengthen what needs to be strengthened is more likely to be effective I think - if you can get to one.

The physio showed me images like this - which correspond almost exactly to where I have problems.

Might help you to narrow down what the cause may be.

When I saw my GP about a range of odd symptoms (memory loss, confusion, dizziness, hot and cold) I didn't think to mention the pins and needles in my hands. It was the GP that asked me. Blood tests showed very low B12 and I've since been diagnosed with coeliac disease.

Worth getting blood tests, OP.

@Mamma142526
Yes it could be something else but B12 deficiency is a common problem and causes all sorts of symptoms that are often attributed to other things. Symptoms include brain fog, memory loss etc which often get lumped in with peri menopause.
Since I've been having B12 injections the pins and needles have gone and I just feel so much more energetic. My anaemia has got so much better too.
Doctors can check your levels but I use Medichecks for things like that. They're not too expensive and it's a great service.

Mine was low ferritin.

@Mamma142526 did you get to speak to the gp about this? My symptoms are identical.