Tingling in arms

[sporty333]

Hi all

I believe someone posted last week and tingling arms/hands. I have this myself now. Only started very recently. Only in my left arm, mostly around the inner elbow.

What is the likely cause of this?

Cheers

Simon

[Clarebear]

My tingling is definitely a hypo symptom - I get it in my feet, hands and head

The other cause I can think of is a B12 deficiency - have you been tested for this? xx

[Dressagelovr in reply to Clarebear]

This is my case too. Pretty unsettling

[shaws Administrator]

Could be the beginning of Carpal Tunnel.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

[ejh1]

Inner elbow is cubital tunnel. Same trapped nerve thing as carpal tunnel, but a different nerve. This is my worse one too. I find increasing thyroxine helps with mine.

Emma

[Clarebear]

I had carpal tunnel before diagnosis with hypoT and it flairs up again when under-medicated...

[sporty333 in reply to Clarebear]

whats CTS though? its a tingling sensation for me.....mostly aaROUND THE inner elbow. Its only come on in the last two weeks! x

[Hidden in reply to sporty333]

Hi Sporty -

Shaws link to Dr Lowe and Carpal tunnel symptoms in Hypothyroid sufferers explains it is due to myxodema, non-pitting swelling, a connective tissue abnormality (increased hyaluronic acid) - which causes nerve 'pinching', but those on correct medication report symptoms ease.

My personal experience is that my bilateral carpal and cubital tunnel symptoms have gone since I supplemented with Vitamin D. That has worked for me (so far). My wrists and elbows were very weak and pains down the ulnar line (inside of lower arms). White fingers starting with 'pinkies'.

I was referred to a surgeon (re: my extra neck ribs) I had nerve conduction tests only up to elbows 'tho. but it became worse after I had half my thyroid out. I was offered both surgeries but declined, thinking both sides was not really from a physical strain & I also had tingling in my feet. However, when lying down my top arm still goes dead, possibly due to my shoulder dropping forward when asleep, but no pain.

Of course it may be a physical strain - after all you're sporty! We're not doctors here, but it's well worth trying supplements or getting Thyroid levels sorted to avoid surgery! Jane

[ejh1]

It's a trapped nerve or 'sticky' nerve sheath, which affects the sensory part of the nerve function. The mechanism for hypothyroidism is I believe unknown. My endo and neurologist had no idea and thought it was incredibly rare. Judging by the posts on here, it certainly isn't. Increasing thyroid medication really sorts it out for me.

Emma

[sporty333 in reply to ejh1]

Thanks Emma

Any idea why it would come on out of the blue, 7 months into thyroid treatment?

Si

[ejh1 in reply to sporty333]

Hi Si. No idea. It happened to me and a dose increase really helped. Endo did tests and it looks like I'm not converting T4 to T3 well, and am about to have another blood test and meet again with him to discuss taking T3 in addition. I personally think I was underdosed for quite a while with inadequate levothyroxine (now withdrawn) and it stemmed from that. When I start getting it again, I just up my own dose by 25mcg for a week and that has an immediate effect, which seems to me to indicate a T3 issue.

With this disease, everyone seems to have different problem symptoms that react differently to different medications. I think looking for reasons for it happening out of the blue is reasonable but likely to be inconclusive. You need to look at your levo make and any recent changes in supply, timings of taking it, diet (any changes in the last year or so?). Food can affect absorption. How are your vitamin levels too?

I can only tell you my story and say what I think is important in my case, which may or may not help you. You do know your own body best though, so if things aren't right, find someone who will listen and get it investigated. Just don't let them tell you it's not thyroid-related!!

Emma

[Zephyrbear]

Not all symptoms should be put down to being either hyper or hypo. My husband who has absolutely no problems with his thyroid started having these pins and needles in just his left arm and hand too and eventually he was diagnosed with collapsing discs between two of his cervical vertibrae...

[sporty333 in reply to Zephyrbear]

Oh god don't say that!!!!! Lol

[hattiehound]

Hi i had bilateral numbness which cause weakness and complete numbess when a sleep I would wake up thinking I had a stroke, my doctor referred me too a neurologist who said it was the start of carpel tunnel he said also that it was related too the underactive thyroid that had been diagnosed and as I thought I had been undiagnosed for a long time.It said it would improve when my doctor had sorted the thyroid problems It was not MS as my doctor thought? this was twenty years ago, and although My wrists and arms aren't brillant no numbess since being treated , I hope this improves for you and that you can get too the bottom of it. good luck

[Cariad123]

If the tingling is more on the outside of your arm little finger and ring finger it’s the Ulnar nerve which runs from neck on the outside elbow and side of hand , it’s sometimes confused with Carpel tunnel

Can be come extremely painful and causes pain in the muscle beneath your shoulder if you don’t rest your arm ( not folded at the elbow) l have had both and ended up with steroid injections and physio