Weird pins and needly, numbness symptoms - anyone else had these...

[Jops]

Hi everyone. I feel a bit strange posting this on here but am finding it too difficult to talk to friends and family and would just like to hear if anyone else has ever experienced anything similar.

A couple of months ago, I started getting this weird numbness / tingly feeling on the side of my head. I went to see the doctor at work who was not too worried, thought trapped nerve or something but referred me to a neurologist just to make sure. Am due to see him this week but am working myself into a frenzy that there is something seriously wrong, like MS, as after going away for a month or so the symptoms have got far far worse over Xmas and New Year.

I keep feeling dizzy, not spinning, but like I have been drinking when I have not. I am also on and off getting pins and needles everywhere. Mainly when I am sitting or lying down and particularly in my legs, which quite often feel hot.

I know I need to wait to see the neurologist but in the meantime it would really help to hear what any of you have to say, good or bad! Thanks so much xx

My mum has MS and it did start with a pins/needles/numbness thing but not really as you describe (also, she's had it for over 30 years and is not all that much affected by it compared to others so it's not always the life altering disease it appears).

From what she's said, it's more that things feel like you've said but then she can't make her legs do what she wants them to.

I know this sounds silly but you are eating properly aren't you? Your symptoms actually sound more like the symptoms I get before I get a migraine. If you are taking contraceptive pill, also, this could induce these kinds of symptoms in combination with migraine (not necessarily resulting in headache).

You know this but probably best not to fret too much before things are confirmed. Really hope it turns out to be something simple to resolve.

Thanks so much for such a quick reply! Am trying not to worry too much, the problem is you research things and all the possibilities come up, however terrifying!! Best never to google I think! The silly thing is it could still easily be something quite easy to resolve and not necessarily the worst case scenario I am imagining.

I don't think I have been eating properly, or at least not the right sort of things. Am very good at making sure the children eat a balanced diet but not so good with myself, particularly when at work or eating late in the evening. New year's resolution there I think.

Thanks again!

I have had similar symptoms, which the neurologist put down to tiredness. It has been going on for quite a while, and definitely does get worse when I am shattered.

From what I have read (definitely don't google!) and heard from the GP and neurologist they don't sound like MS symptoms - especially the head bit (that is exactly what I thought I had).

It's so horrible waiting, and this could make your symptoms seem worse. I had so many strange symptoms that literally disappeared as I walked out of the neurologist appointment - they were purely psychsommatic (there were real ones too - I'm not just mad!)

Hope your appointment goes well - let us know if you want to x

psychosomatic - just looked it up!

I was diagnosed with MS in October, I was ill in March (there's a thread or three on here, I was called FluffyBunnyGoneBad if you want to search for them), my face felt like I'd been to the dentist and had a local anaesthetic, when I walked it felt like my legs were going to give way, pins and needles in my feet and a drunk feeling that lasted about a week. I was told it was a migraine when I did eventually get to see a neurologist, he did a MRI, purly to shut me up, which picked up the changes that MS makes. Since then I have been ill, it felt like I was drunk and was given steriods which really helped. The numbness in my face has now gone but I have a burning/tingling almost everywhere now. It's not too bad and not there all the time, it's the nerves missfiring apparantly.

MS isn't a nightmare disease, it's different for everyone. Some people only have one episode. It's nothing to fear. I work in the NHS and see people in far worse situations on a daily basis, I also see people who live with MS and hardly realise they have this. There are other causes, such as a migraine/diabetes/vitamin defieciency.

I don't mind talking to you off here although your thread could help people in the future. You are more then welcome to CAT me. Please try not to worry though, it may not be this. Do ask for a MRI though. I hope the appointment goes OK for you

stick pins and needles in the search topic aswell, I've been on here for a few years so there's alot of threads

I've had 2 MRIs due to symptoms very like you describe on and off over a period of 9 years now, and the conclusion with me is that it is migraine. A really odd presentation of migraine but migraine nonetheless and it appears to be hormonal as stopping the combined pill has all but rid me of it.

Do get an MRI - it will rule out things that need treatment and, if it turns out to be migraine, perhaps look into changing pill (if you are on the pill) or seeing if there is a pattern around your cycle etc. so at least it doesn't frighten you when it happens. Until they worked out what was going in I had been taken into hospital with suspected stroke (totally numb down one side), and had all kinds of vision tests etc. for really scary symptoms. Migraine is a weird thing!

rachw1, I had exactly the same symptoms with migraine when on combined pill. Very scary and like having a mini stroke - couldn't even speak properly and would forget words. I forgot the word "table" once. Knew what it was for and could have described it but forgot the word.

Anyway, point of posting again is just to reiterate that migraine is bizarre and if you're also not eating regularly or well that might make things worse.

I have had the same with a migraine too. Very scary. Also, when I think about it, this only happened after I had my Mirena coil fitted.

step away from the google button!!!

I had this and its a classic symptom of anxiety - which i suffer from, of course the more i worried, the more i got it! it was horrible - i was convinced i had MS, although the doc ruled it out straight away. Its funny, one of the times i had this was after reading a thread on here about it and started fretting, they symptoms came straight back! if you are worried about things, it might be making your symptoms worse.

I used to suffer from migraine and now know this is a mirgraine symptom. Maybe keep a food diary, see if there is anything you are eating - caffiene, cheese, alcohol (sorry) are common triggers.

Thank you so, so much everyone. Actually been feeling a bit better the last day or so - think may be just the relief of off-loading!! Am going to the neurologist in the morning (snow pending!!) and will take things from there. Thanks again xx

Did you manage to see the neurologist today?
I've had similar symptoms and have a nuerologists app in a few weeks so quite keen to know what to expect and whether they give you an MRI at the time or make a further appointment?

Hello, sorry for the complete lack of response. Been a frantic week, not helped by the snow! I did see the neurologist, Katiemorag. It went well and he thinks there is probably nothing majorly wrong. He did quite a lot of tests (balance / sensory things) there and then but is referring me for an MRI just to make sure and some blood tests. I have these booked tomorrow, should get the results in a few days so will let you know then.

Glad that your neurologist appointment went well and that you don't have a long wait for an MRI.Thanks for letting me know what to expect.
I have three more weeks before I see a nuerologist and my symptoms seem to change weekly, from tingling to numbness to dizziness and now have a sore head. I don't get all symptoms together thank goodness! My mum thinks its stress as she had similar symptoms at my age.
Hope all goes well with your MRI and blood tests.

Well I have had the results from my MRI and everything is fine, thank goodness. They did and MRI of my head and neck and also an MR Angiogram of my head to check all the blood vessels. My mum died of a brain hemorrhage which was one of the reasons I was so scared there might be something wrong. Everything was normal and fine (apart from the scan telling me I had sinusitis which I knew from how dreadful I was feeling!! It was pretty grim lying in the scanner, all enclosed and not really being able to breathe through my left nostril!). I have also been sent a DVD of my scans which DH found very amusing!

What did come back was my bloods, everything normal again apart from low iron and low calcium both of which could contribute to all the symptoms i have been having.

I am very very relieved but looking back on it think I have been really quite run down and not looking after myself properly so it has given me a bit of a kick up the bum to look after me as well as the rest of the family!

I hope everything goes well for you Katiemorag and that you don't have to wait too long for your scan and results.

Thanks again everyone for all the posts and support x