pins and needles in hands

[Sleepyzz]

does any one get pins and needles and any numbness during afib episode ? In afib at the moment and don’t remember it being a big feature in the past

[Chinkoflight]

Are the extremities cold too? Any dizziness or light headedness? It might be related to blood pressure and medication. Or the type of Arrthymia ie not necessarily atrial fib or other reasons. I think it's a referral to a GP as soon as possible. Hope you get it sorted.

[Sleepyzz in reply to Chinkoflight]

Thanks. It’s definitely afib and no coldness etc and it subsided I’m thinking a touch of anxiety which tends to kick in when I first go into afib and the rate is high. I’ll mention to cardio next time I see him. Thanks for your answer

[BenHall1]

Not me. Mind you, as far as I know I'm never in AF these days. For me I get this in my right arm, from a trapped nerve in my right shoulder/ osteoarthritis in right shoulder. As the pins and needles goes down my right arm it converts into pain in the thumb and index finger. Usually wakes me up from sleep at night. Hardly a problem during the daytime when I'm active.

I haven't had an AF event now for I guess around 4 years so it definately is a trapped nerve in the shoulder.

[Ppiman]

Pinss and needles and numbness is usually pressure on a nerve although in people over 60 it can be a sign of something called peripheral neuropathy. This latter shows in the feet and ankles, most, I think, but it can be elsewhere, such as the hands and even face. I have had this for some years now and was told it was not uncommon as we get older. Mine began as hot feet in bed, which eventually worsened. I don't get it worse with AF, though.

AF can cause some increase in water retention in some people, I think, which is a kind of temporary oedema, and that can bring extra pressure on nerves that might cause tingling (called "paraesthesiae").

Steve