Pins and needles and tight calves

[Lindsayf]

Hi all

About a week ago, I started to get pins and needles in my right arm. The feeling was not so intense that it hurt but I could defiantly feel a different sensation.

The last few days the pins and needles have now moved to my feet. Again, the pain is horrible but I can feel it. I also have been getting tight calves and my finger joints feel stiff.

I’ve had my bloods done (TSH, T3, FT4, VIT D, Ferritin, B12, Folate and full blood count) and have an Endo appointment on Friday.

I’ll post my results when I get them. However, I’ve convinced myself that my new symptoms could be that of MS and I so bloody scared. I’ve also seen that low calcium can cause these symptoms. My mind has gone into overtime.

Has anyone else experienced these symptoms before and how do I test for low calcium?

I’m going to mention this to my Endo and then speak to my GP.

Thanks

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Are your legs swollen resulting in the tight feeling?

Pins and needles, stiff joints are usually with thyroid issues so it’s good that’s getting checked.

It’s easy to jump to conclusions but see what your result are before panicking.

Keep a records of symptoms so you can clearly show doctor what’s going on.

GP or specialist might not agree to test calcium but if you have symptoms which make you worry you can always ask and they will need to explain to you why it’s not merited and reassure you.

If they do test it’s often a bone profile

Calcium

Phosphate

Albumin

Alkaline phosphatase

[JAmanda in reply to PurpleNails]

I’m intrigued you mention albumin here - mine is always just under range but docs have no explanations - what does it suggest do you think? Thyroid levels high in range but have low magnesium and folate if I don’t consistently supplement.

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to JAmanda]

Albumin is a plasma protein synthesised and secreted by the liver so it’s tested for liver profile. The reason It’s also included on a bone profile as it’s used to calculate the adjusted calcium level.

Approximately half of the calcium is ‘ionised’ (or free) and is active. the remainder, is bound to proteins, such as albumin, or complexed with other compounds, (phosphate and bicarbonate) and is inactive.

Low albumin levels may be due to low absorption of nutrients.

Many have low magnesium it’s theorised intensive farming has lowered levels in soil & therefore less in diet.

[Lindsayf in reply to PurpleNails]

Hi

They aren’t swollen.

I’ve got my appointment on Friday and if the Endo can’t help me I will speak to my GP.

My mind can run away at times as I’ve never help like this before.

Thanks for replying

[Wired123]

Hi, I’ve had tight calves for many years and last week I started getting a lot of tingling as well as numbness in my left hand.

We have similar symptoms so perhaps it is related to thyroid. Sorry I don’t know what else to say except you’re not alone.

[Annoynomice]

I have tight calves (stretching helped) and pins and needles in both arms and feet. The pins and needles in the arms is usually when I wake but I can get it on the sofa. The pins and needles in my legs usually happens when I am sat on a bike (spin). I expect that it's thyroid or a vitamin deficiency (B?).

Of course, it could be lots of other things but as the doctors are leaning towards thyroid, it probably is.

[Hylda2]

I have had pins and needles in my feet for years. Drs aren’t bothered but I have insisted on seeing a neurologist. My calves are tight and the skin splits open but I put that down to my heart not pumping properly. If they are really bad I wear Boots flight socks.

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

I'm the pins and needles queen, I have had them for over 15 years, in my hands and feet. I have B12 deficiency, hypo and fibro and any and all of the above can cause them. I've never got to the bottom of it and they've been particularly bad recently. I've got a neurology consult in March.

It could be hypo, as underactive thyroid causes you to retain water in your tissues which can press on nerves causing discomfort, could be low B12 or low ferritin. Conversely too much B6 or Vitamin D can cause tingling in some people. Diabetes is another very common cause and then there are neuropathies, like peripheral neuropathy and small fibre neuropathy, which is what I might have, which can cause it. A trapped nerve in your spine, or neck is another cause. There are lots of causes, MS being but one.

Over the years I've tried various pills, painkillers and antidepressants for nerve pain. But most of them are either useless or have unpleasant side effects.

I stumbled across Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements which is a natural antioxidant and is often prescribed for neuropathic pain on the continent. I take 600mg a day and it is definitely helping. Try and get one with R type or combined R and S type. R type is meant to be more effective. It can take a few weeks to get going but it's helping me.

Probably a good idea to contact your GP if it continues.

[jgelliss in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Your post is very helpful and very informative. But some on thyroid depended meds can get hypo symptoms from Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements. One must be very careful.

[HowNowWhatNow]

I’m having a similar thing. Do you have Raynaud’s or bad circulation in your fingers and toes? Do you have any other AI weirdness going on?

Is there any swelling / cramping in one hand, too?

Am going to have a lip biopsy next week to check for something called Sjögren’s. If the biopsy shows positive for that, then the type of doctor I’ll be seeing next is a rheumatologist.

I wonder whether doctors would also start asking themselves rheumatology / arthritis questions faced with your symptoms, too? Do others know?

[Lindsayf in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

Hi

No I don’t have that. I spoke to the Endo today who said he doesn’t think my symptoms are thyroid related.

I’m going to see how I feel over the weekend and then contact my GP.

I hope you get sorted

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Lindsayf]

How did you find the appointment? Was it at all useful / reassuring?

[Lindsayf in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

No he went on about my TSH again. The risk of a stroke etc but I stood my ground and said no to a reduction in medication.

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Lindsayf]

Grrrr.

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

My only advice re: any appointment with the endo is to tell them your symptoms, let them do their thinking and talking and then ask them any other questions you may have, in that order. Don’t throw in any theories or particular lines of questioning before they’ve given you their first analysis of the numbers and symptoms.

If the results to these blood tests don’t show anything negative, then repeat for their benefit what your symptoms are and ask what else needs to be ruled in / out or monitored?

Eg.

Blood pressure / heart, menopause, height and weight, other vitamin levels, other AI conditions etc.

B vitamins as someone else has said are a good start, and good for you to do anyway. Check SlowDragon ’s posts on the subject, please.

[Lindsayf in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

Yes I asked for my results via post and I’ll post them.

[klr31]

Look at your B12 results as deficiency can cause these problems.

Karen

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I had similar symptoms & posted about this. I noticed improvement after improving B12 and folate by taking a good B Complex (I used Thorne Basic B)

[Lindsayf in reply to Buddy195]

Thanks for that. I got my results yesterday, waiting for them in the post. He said my folate was just over range and my B12 was way over but that’s because I take B12. I stopped taking a B Complex a few weeks away but I’ll start again. Thanks

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I know (from experience) that anxiety makes things 100 times worse, so if you are worrying about ‘worse case scenarios’ your symptoms will be slower to improve. I saw a psychotherapist who called it catastrophising & it’s important not to over do it on Google. Mindfulness has helped me; I like Mark Williams & Danny Penman, both the app & book are good. I saw a great physio who got me lying backwards over a large ball with arms outstretched & this really helped reduce the pins & needles. Best wishes!

[Lindsayf in reply to Buddy195]

Thank you so much. The mind is very powerful and I understand how thinking worse case can make things a millions time worse. I do try and think ‘I’m healing” but sometimes my mind gets carried away. I’m going to go to the GP next week and see what they say. I’m also going to get some B complex to start taking again I really appreciate you replying. Thank you