Tingling fingertips, toes and lips

[granofthewest]

Every day I get tingling like pins and needles. I'm starting to drop things every day. Does anyone else get this?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Where exactly? Fingers or up your arms too? Both arms? Is it related to a specific position of your arms?

[granofthewest in reply to PMRpro]

Not arms just the very tips of fingers and toes and also tingling lips. Extremities I suppose. Guess it's neurological?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to granofthewest]

Possibly - have you spoken to your doctor about it?

Is it all the time or does it happen after breathing faster than usual? Overbreathing can cause tingling in fingers and around the lips.

[granofthewest in reply to PMRpro]

No I'm just aware of the tingling feeling most of the time. Haven't mentioned it to GP but have telephone appointment booked for 24 July so will mention it was then. I wondered if it was a steroid side effect.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to granofthewest]

It is listed here

ucsfhealth.org/education/fa...

as a side effect of pred. But I agree with Snazzy - a bit more does need checking, just in case. Hba1c especially I think.

[SnazzyD in reply to granofthewest]

Have you had your blood sugar checked recently?

[granofthewest in reply to SnazzyD]

I had it checked at end of last year when I had birthday check up.

[doubtfully in reply to granofthewest]

Hi, i can identify with your symptoms but don’t know the cause . my GP just said it was off and ignored it. i don’t know how many thing i drop on a daily basis but became super aware of it after bresking bones in my back and couldn’t retrieve what fell! good luck finding the cause.

[SnazzyD in reply to granofthewest]

Worth having an HbA1c done now it’s 6 months+ later and a B12, vit D and a full blood count. It ain’t generally a direct steroid side effect and shouldn’t be fobbed off. I had mildly numb fingertips before diagnosis with GCA.

[Bowred]

Hi same her getting tingly lips was not sure if steroids was causing it .

[Chewy21]

Hi I've been getting tingling in my feet and now hands and legs. I am being given a trial of treatment for b12 deficiency. My doctor said my b12 blood results were fine (borderline) but I did a private active b12 blood test and it showed low last year and this year. I would get it checked out as my gp says these symptoms do usually indicate a low level of b12.

[Flosy]

Hi.yes I do get tingling in my hands,feet,arms sometimes.told gp.he said it was a side affect of steroids.if gets worst to give them ring.

[Gary1310]

Mine started before Prednisone….and had it for about 4 yrs…..still have it but barely noticeable….had the swelling of hands and feet…in my case must be the PMR.

[Viveka]

Definitely raise it with your GP and ask for bloods to check things out.

[granofthewest]

Thankyou to everyone who took the trouble to reply and offer advice. Never even thought about vitamin B12 but will mention symptoms when I talk to GP and see what she thinks.

[Rostom]

I don't want to alarm anyone but I have just had a diagnosis relating to tingling in my feet. About the time I was diagnosed with PMR, both my feet began to tingle which escalated into what I called 'fizzy feet', a constant 'buzzing' sensation.

I did nothing about this as Covid had flared up again but in the Spring, I contacted my GP and was triaged to a telephone consultation a fortnight later. I was quite happy with this.

During the consultation I was asked to visit the surgery that day for a face-to-face visit. It was then decided the GP would speak to a neurologist. The neurologist recommended a MRI. So far, so good.

Unfortunately, when my GP saw the neurologist's report, she urgently contacted me to say I had 'Corda Equina Syndrome' and if I showed any of the red flag symptoms (thankfully, I do not), I must immediately call 999 or go to a neurology hospital as I would be at risk of paralysis. I am awaiting an urgent referral to a major London hospital's neurology department.

All this from fizzy feet! There must be many causes of tingling so please do not jump to the conclusion of CES but I have joined this discussion as I had no idea of the seriousness of my tingling and it may be worth considering a double-check of your symptoms. I hope I have not worried anyone unduly.

I think I must have been a mass-murderer in a past life as this is my third pretty horrible diagnosis in eight months.....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rostom]

In case anyone wants to look it up - it is CAUDA equina syndrome

[Rostom]

Thanks, PMRPro. You're quite right!

How I typed incorrectly I don't know (or maybe I do, as another of my past woes has been a macular hole which means I lack a little central vision. I often don't spot typos, so thanks for the correction).

I was concerned not to overduly panic anyone as CES is quite rare and most people with tingling feet are unlikely to have it.

Regards

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rostom]

So easy to do - and autocorrect probably managed the rest!!!!

[granofthewest in reply to Rostom]

Thanks for the alert, have looked up symptoms of CES but I also have the tingling in my fingers and lips, symptoms which don't seem to fit. Quite understand the fizzy feet analogy as it feels as if I have lemonade fizzing around my body!