Finger numbness

Posted , 12 users are following.

I was diagnosed with PMR last Oct. I have had 2 flare ups and I am on 20 mgs of Prednisone. Has anyone else experienced tingling/pins and needles of both fingers and hands?

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Posted

    Has carpal tunnel syndrome been ruled out? It causes tingling/pins and needles in the thumb, index and middle fingers and is commonly found alongside PMR. If the pins and needles are in the other fingers it may be an ulnar nerve entrapment problem
  • Posted

    Have your B12 checked as well. Long shot but easy to resolve. 
    • Posted

      Thanks for this suggestion- and i’ve also been told it may be magnesium deficit. Epsom salts is another suggestion.
  • Posted

    I was diagnosed with PMR in December and right thumb is numb. Improving slowly with 15 mg/day of prednisone.  Also diagnosed with mild carpal tunnel in both hands, which may be related.
  • Posted

    I don’t get numbness , but I get cramp in my thumb and fingers. Only started after I had PMR ,painful and annoying . 
    • Posted

      I used to get cramps in my legs, long before PMR, but I've found now that I'm a bit more careful about getting enough magnesium the cramps seem to have stopped.  I had been taking a calcium with magnesium supplement for many years but it's been since I started to use Epsom salts in my bath occasionally that the cramps went away, so I assume I had a mild magnesium deficit.

    • Posted

      Hi Anhaga. I get cramp in my legs and feet most nights , I have had them for years long before I had PMR I will give the Epson salt ago I did get some Magnesium tablets from the health store , but I still had cramp in my legs and feet so I stopped tacking them .  My doctor prescribed calcium tablets when I was first diagnosed with PMR . 
    • Posted

      Did you take the calcium and magnesium at the same time or at different times?  I read that if you are magnesium deficient, which you might be after taking calcium for a while, the calcium interferes with the magnesium absorption, so we are supposed to take the tablets a few hours apart.  I don't think there's the same problem with Epsom salts as it's absorbed through the skin.  There's a kind of magnesium you can apply directly to the skin, too, but I haven't tried it. 

    • Posted

      Yes I took them at the same time, I still have them in my Medican cupboard so I will give them another go and see what happens. Do you just put the Epson salt in your bath water ? Thanks 
    • Posted

      Yes.  When I know I have time to soak for about 15 minutes I put the salts in.  I don't have a very deep bath so I don't use as much as the package says.  Use your own judgement about that.  I also like to add a drop or two of essential oil, something which is not going to cause any skin reaction, like lavender.  Too much magnesium causes the runs, so it's practically impossible to overdose on it.  So don't go overboard on getting the magnesium.   I think a little goes a long way. 

    • Posted

      Hello. Thank you for all this information . Love this group it is my lifeline. I have managed to buy some epson salts and will have a long soak this evening. 😊 and hopefully I will be cramp free as well. 

  • Posted

    I have had PMR for about 4 years now and so has my brother in law.  He has experienced the pins and needles in 2 fingers on one hand and one finger on the other.  They are also quite swollen and if he happens to bang them off something they are very sore.  Has anyone else had this experience and could it be related to his PMR ??  He is on 5mg prednisone per day and is not going to go any lower.  He also has trouble with his feet.

     

    • Posted

      It could be related to the PMR - carpal tunnel is often found alongside PMR and that causes pins and needle in the thumb to middle fingers. If it is in the little and ring fingers it could be the ulnar nerve is entrapped. 

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.