Woke up out of the blue with pins and needles and numbness everywhere

[Raku]

Hi.
Thursday 2nd May woke up with tingles in my left arm
Went to Dr. She thought it may be trapped ulnar nerve. It's going to be seen on ultrasound on 15th.
Hours after I left the Dr. Tingles in my right arm.

By night was in both legs feet toes arms hands and face, scalp neck, lower back and shoulders.

Racing heart beat.
Feeling on edge.

I am a mum of 4 kids. And normally deal with life fine.

I have experienced this once before 10 days after my 4th baby's c section birth. I was in so much pain and couldn't sleep. Went into full melt down mode.

It is now Saturday. I still have numbness in the spots I mentioned before. It comes and goes.
Presented to Hospital Friday morning. They said it was just anxiety. They did a ECG it was fine
That's all they did.

Saw Dr again Friday afternoon she has put me on medication for anxiety and nerve pain/ numbness.
I know it can take weeks to kick in.

But I am so scared.

[Croix]

Dear Raku~

Welcome here to the Forum, I don't blame you for feeling scared, I guess it is the unknown and all the different possibilities. I did read your conversation with Xenacat in

Forums / Anxiety / Tingling in hands, legs etc ?

That does make things clearer, and at the same time lets you know that others have had similar symptoms.

I too suffer from various physical reactions to my anxiety condition, and have always had them thoroughly checked out, I think the chest pain was one of the most involved to sort out. I ended up satisfied it did not have a physical cause, and that helped.

So even though you have been to the doctor, and that her diagnosis along with that of the hospital may well be right there is nothing to stop you from discussing any other likely conditions and being tested for them too. After all one thing that is a valid part of treatment is to try to relieve your distress.

In the meantime trying to organize your life as if anxiety is the cause will do not harm, it is basically sensible healthy living and developing coping strategies for when you get overwhelmed.

I suggest you have a look at

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety/anxiety-management-strategies

Which has some pretty helpful ideas.

You may also be interested in what others have found helpful, this particular thread has given me many good ideas

Forums / Anxiety / SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING ANXIETY

You are very welcome to talk here as much as you like, you are not alone and we do care

Croix

[Quercus]

Hello Raku,

I agree with Croix that being scared is understandable. Being exhausted and in pain can also make anxiety and depression worse. A vicious cycle.

I experience pins and needles and numbness in both arms fairly regularly. I am on injections to manage an autoimmune arthritis which has moved to my hands as well this year and the Rheumatologist says I have mild carpal tunnel which makes it worse. I do agree that ruling out a physical cause is important.

In the meantime have you considered visiting a physio? I saw one who gave me a series of stretches I do every day and they do help. Also there are wrist and hand braces you can wear that help and massage that can ease some of the pain.

Pins and needles doesn't sound dreadful until you experience it constantly. It is awful and makes it hard to sleep.

You mentioned a C section which also felt familiar. Before the autoimmune disease was triggered I experienced the pins and needles once before. It was after my son's birth. Not a C section but all births and pregnancy put tremendous pressure on your body. This time I saw an osteopath who again gave me stretches but also a treatment that was somewhat like a chiropractor. This helped at the time too.

I suppose what I'm saying is just because the doctor thinks it is anxiety related nothing is stopping you from seeking other forms of help. Even if stretches or massage don't work if they give you even a time of respite it can help.

Being in pain that prevents sleep is something I know far too well. It is a very vulnerable time when everyone is asleep and you are alone and hurting.

If you google carpal tunnel stretches there are pictures showing stretches you can try. There is a very gentle one called a prayer stretch which I use throughout the day that is easy to follow from pictures.

I hope you can find some relief until your meds start working.

[Raku]

Hello.
Thanks for the reply.

The tingles/ numbness is not getting any better.

I am still quite worried.

I have a GP appt in the morning.

I am going to request more tests to see what is going on.

5 days of this is quite debilitating.

[Croix]

Dear Raku

You are right, 5 days can seem an awful long time, and the worry leave you exhausted.

I'm glad you are going back to ask for more tests. I did find in my own case I found accepting negative tests could be hard, but eventually gained confidence in them, particularly as each went to the trouble to explain them in detail.

I hope your appointment goes well and the GP sympathetic.

Croix

[Raku]

Hi Croix.

Thanks for the reply.

Most definitely.
I find that I am now has clenching. I try to relax but I cannot.

Tingling in legs is driving me nuts. Tingling in arms is making me want to cry.

It's 11:30pm I am in bed and my almost 8 month old is playing up refusing sleep all of a sudden. My Husband is with her. But I hear her every now and then and I just get all stiff.

Does this ever go away?