Tingling hands and feet

[Lollyl88]

Hi
I’ve posted on here before but feel like I’m going slightly crazy and so am looking for anyone with a similar experience.

I’m getting dead arms in the night and am splinting for carpel tunnel on physio advice (bilaterally). What the physio is finding odd is that it’s my 4th and 5th fingers that are affected (not 1-3 as classically seen in CT). On top of this I have pain under my shoulder blades. Tingling and numbness mainly experienced at night but now sometimes in the day.

In the last couple of weeks I am now experiencing pins and needles in my feet. Especially when I sit cross legged on the floor/ put pressure on my feet. Again it’s bilaterally.

I have a neuro appointment in 2 weeks but am driving myself crazy with all the possible problems that this could be - the most favourable of which is perimenopause. I’m 38 and have a few other symptoms. Obviously Dr Google is worrying me with all sorts of other issues!

I guess what I’m asking is has anyone else experienced the same and it just been peri - Ie nerves more sensitive to compression? Positioning does seem to play a role in when I experience the tingling. Has anyone had a similar experience?

Thanks for the long read! :)

How are your vitamin D levels and B12?

@KatyMac Thanks for replying. Vit D was 67 and B12 was 466. Both considered normal and within range

From the research I have done (please do your own) they are both pretty low (or at least the low end of normal), especially compared to levels in other countries

B12 definitely causes pins & needles

@KatyMac Thank you. I've explored this before and took a b complex supplement cut it didn't seem to make any difference 😞

Almost certainly too low a dose - Have a look on facebook groups about B12 deficiency or maybe healthunlocked have a section on it

12 weekly injections didn't fix it for me but weekly ones do

Thanks @KatyMac Really appreciate it. Will take a look at those things. Did you have the same symptoms as me? Was it your GP that diagnosed/gave you the injections?

Agree with PP about vitamin b12.
I had mine tested and it was above range, but I'd been taking supplements which skews the result. My folate is v low on our scale.

I joined the B12 group on Facebook and it's opened my eyes. I'm doing to retest when I am 4 months clear of supplements.

I get a tingling hand (also CT in the other hand), randomly. Eg earlier today I was making a cup of tea and noticed all my fingers in my left hand were fizzy, not numb like with CT.

I also get very dizzy.

There is a FB group for vitamin D too with a regimen about how to improve.

Your result is very low. Mine is 85nmol and I am aiming for above 250nmol for ideal range.

Too much vitamin B6 can also cause nerve damage which can manifest as tingling/ pins and needles. small fibre neuropathy.

I'd be really wary of B vitamin supplements and only supplement folate and B12 on their own.

@Lollyl88 have you had Covid recently at all that you are aware of - last 4 or 5 months or an additional vaccine or a really rotten virus ? I had all these issues post my 2nd bout of covid- ( which coincided with 4th vaccine) not instantly but started a month or so after - and turns out that so have lots and lots of other people. Pins and needles was one of the main issues , neuro issues were huge across all ages- it wasn't all heart and breathing issues long term.

I started on B12 spray daily and D3 spray daily and gradually it all improved but took about 5 months- for me it was chronic pins and needles in feet multiple times a day, I also got buzzing in lower legs ( like a battery was turned on) and occasional similar buzzing in one finger ( same one each time) - I also got more headaches at back of head - apparently it did a complete number on some people's neuro systems

I still get it 2 years later but more 'occasional' than chronic

Yes gp eventually 3 or 4 years after the symptoms started and I took over and supplemented myself after 3 years as their dose was useless

I'm also supposed to need a b6 (thyroid) but I'm a bit wary

Oh I take methyl folate as well as the b12

I would ask for a blood test to check your liver function. I have two friends who have non alcoholic fatty liver disease and both had tingly hands and feet.

@KatyMac ah I missed that off - I take that 3 times a week

Fluctuating oestrogen levels in perimenopause can cause symptoms of paraesthesia (pins and needles, numbness etc).

It was one of my early symptoms in my early thirties and met with much eye rolling, I'm now in my 40s and finally been diagnosed with an early menopause and started on HRT but only after my oestrogen levels hit absolute rock bottom.

Anything containing B12 will give you a false high on blood tests. You need to know what your level was before you started taking any supplements.

If you can't absorb from food, you can't absorb from a tablet - all that happens is it floats around in your blood without getting to the cells where it can be utilised. So a blood test looks like you're fine when actually you are getting worse.

This is a neurological symptom so should be treated with every other day B12 injections until no further improvement in symptoms. You would also need full cofactors to go with that.

@KatyMac Thanks for replying 😊

@Crikeyalmighty that's interesting thank you. I haven't had Covid - well not that I'm aware of! Didn't know that though!

@Mittens67 thank you. That's been checked and all good 👍

@DyddEira I'm wondering if this is me as I have a few other symptoms!

My ring and little finger pins and needles is caused by cubital tunnel rather than carpal tunnel.