Please note, our archived questions are abbreviated and don't include this information. To see a sample answer click here.

Sensation Questions

Intermittent patterns of tingling numbness in hand feet, and upper arms I recently had a full health checkup with Nuffield, during which the physiologist identified that my spine had three 'kinks' in it. I don't get a lot of exercise and I spend all day sitting at a desk, slouching, so no surprises about the back. I'm not sure which vertebrae were at issue but roughly speaking they were top middle and bottom. I mention the above because it's just occured to me there could be some connection between that and a symptom I have had (but never had looked at) for a number of years - probably about 10 years to be more precise. It actually started suddenly one day, out of the blue, and it regularly comes and goes. I would describe it as tingly and numb at the same time, but the numbness is not complete. It's very hard to describe because I can still feel sensations such as pressure, but I can't distinguish texture or temperature. And then there is the pattern. It doesn't affect my thumb or first two fingers, only the little finger, and to a lesser degree the finger next to that. It then runs down from the little finger, affecting the bottom fleshy part of my palm, all the way to my elbow and up the back of my upper arm. Same on both arms, though when it occurs it usually affects either the right or left to a greater degree than the other. The pattern is virtually the same on my feet, running across the smaller toes and down the outside edge of each foot. I tend to keep my socks and shoes on constantly, because if I walk around bare-foot it feels strange to walk on different surfaces with part of my foot failing to feel the texture and temperature while part of it does. In my feet the sensation is constant, but in my hands it comes and goes, and seems to come more frequently in the later half of the day. I guess my question is, could there be a connection between the mis-aligned vertabrae and the tingling loss of sensation, and obviously the associated sub-questions such as, will it get worse, is there anything I can do preventatively? General details: I am 33, no major health issues, generally quite healthy with no family history of any consequence. I don't exercise but with five children have a fairly good activity level when not sat at my desk at work. Thanks.

I have a compressed nerve in my elbow... Hello, I have a compressed nerve in the ulnar left elbow, presenting the feeling of numbness at the tips of the 4th & 5th finger of the left hand and constant pins & needles up to my elbow for several months now... I have seen a consultant who referred me to physio pending an operation... I have had a few sessions of physio, but today after my physio session... the nerves seemed to have got even more aggravated... i was just walking along normally and all of a sudden had this huge pain in the back of my leg below the knee...since then i have had trouble walking on it... i never twisted it, ...like a constant cramp pain... could you tell me if this is related to the physio i had for the compressed nerve?

I have had pins and needles in my left arm and hand for 3 weeks. Is it a trapped nerve? What is the treatment if so?? The symptoms started approximately 3 weeks ago with tingling in my left arm and hand. It is sometimes accompanied by numbness and acheyness. Over the past week or two I have noticed pain in my left shoulder and also my neck. It (pins and needles and pain) comes and goes a bit in intensity but is always present, even if sometimes only mildly. Sometimes it gets so intense it stops me in my tracks but I wouldn't say it was overwhelmingly awful. There is a background acheyness at times in my forearm. At times the pins and needles can shoot/radiate up the arm from wrist to elbow area - especially if I lean on my hand. The pins and needles are mainly in my index and middle fingers with altered sensation in the pads of those fingers. It hasn't stopped me doing anything and my grip seems ok. At night it is difficult to sleep on my left side as the circulation goes quite quickly and leaves the whole arm numb. May or may not be related but my hands are often cold (normal for me). I did worry at first it was something circulatory - but my pulse seems normal and i have been fine at excersise. So i am suspecting a trapped nerve?? A friend gave me voltarol retard tablets which don't seem to have helped.

Numbness in left leg I am currently experiencing numbness and tingling in my left leg from my thigh right down to my toes. It feels really unpleasant and last night kept me awake. Today I would like to go out but feel very clumsy as my foot is quite numb. This has happened about 5-6 times in as many years and I have been unable to determine why. I have wondered if it is related to an outbreak of herpes I had about 10 years ago or related to pernicious anaemia which I have. I was diagnosed with hereditary PA 10 years ago, aged 44, whilst in my native country of NZ. In NZ we receive the PA injections monthly whereas here in the UK I am only allowed it 3 monthly. Hence I have learnt to inject myself in the thigh which I do monthly. These are the only 2 reason I think could contribute to the numbness and would really appreciate your opinion. Thank you. ***************

pins & needles I have spasms of Pins & Needles running from my thumb up my arm and lasting about 30-40 seconds. Should I see my GP?

i know what it isn't stiffness and pain in legs and back after sitting for less than 30min tinglig in fingers and arms loss of sensation in some fingers some of the time neck stiffens up during day and night esp. can hardly move some morning v.painful have to force it to start moving not carpal tunnel syndrome MRI shows some disc bulging but not pressing on cord in cervical area neuro specialist could find nothing of note have had tests for PMR- negative i take 2 tramadol X 4 per day to help with overall back pain sometimes take parecetamol as well

Various problems:neurological? Hi, I am a 21 year old male in otherwise good health. I have been having numerous symptoms over the last month. Firstly I had tingling in my hands and face which lasted for a few days. Then a few days after I had a weakness and very mild pain in my legs (especially my ankles) for 3 days. Then I started having my eyelid twitch for a few days. Then I had these feelings all over my body as if there was a muscle twitching but everytime I look nothing is moving; this has persisted till now. Then I got an electrical buzzing sensation in my fingers but only for an hour (again nothing moved). I did have a mild headache for a few weeks which has now gone which was in my forehead and around the side of my head. The latest symptom is finding it difficult to swallow. This doesn't occur with food or drink but only saliva; it seems as if it requires more concentration than it should to swallow. Also sometimes it feels as if there is something stuck in my throat sometimes. Also perhaps nothing but when I look at the Tv (with my glasses on as well as off) it looks like there is a small amount of that letter replicated above that letter. This only occurs on Tv where there is white writing on a black background. My doctors believe it purely to be anxiety and will not order any tests. Can you tell me what this might be and what tests I should have done?

Could my pins and needles be MS? Two years ago I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency and after 4 injections close to one another I now have them every four months, This year I was also given folic acid supplements. My diet is good but I still have numbness/pins and needles every day in hands and feet. I also get pains in my arms and on some days find walking difficult. My hands sometimes feel burning hot and I have to put an ice pack on them. Writing can be difficult and I can sometimes hear the bones in my hands and feet clicking.

My right cheek is tingling what could this be? I had an upper respiratory infection mid April, My doctor said led to an ear infection which caused a blocked right ear with fluid behind the eardrum which seems to be seems to be slowly draining away now but has taken a long time. I had a lot of popping and clicking and occassional autophony and tinnitus which is still there but much better than it was. However for the past 3 weeks my right eye seems to be irritated - not quite a spasm but a strange feeling and for the last week my right upper cheek has started to tingle and feel slightly numb. I initially took a 5 day course of antibiotics and then 2 different types of ear drops. Do you have any idea what this might be?

e.g. What is causing my leg pain? Over 18 months have had shin burning/tingling pain, then in lower legs when resting. Now right ankle puffy and right foot goes numb sometimes when resting. Intensity of pain considerably increased. Feel tingling most of the time and now suffering with fatigue on and off. Thank you.

Numbness I have symptoms of numbness all over face and down my right arm and feet also a headache on top of my headright side also