Menopause and paresthesia?
Posted , 157 users are following.
I would love some input on my strange symptoms.
I'm 50 years old. For many years, my periods have been very close together, very long, and with 2-3 days of exceptionally heavy flow. I know this weird period stuff is normal in peri menopause. Then, after one of these "normal" (for me!) periods in April, I didn't have one for 60 days - and when I did it again, for the first time in years I didn't have the heavy days. That was over 60 days ago and so far I haven't had another one since.
My FSH level in a blood test two weeks ago was very high - 117.
I tell you all this just as a little background - I already know I'm obvioulsy in peri menopause and nearing actual menopause.
But here's the reason I'm posting. Starting mid-May, all of a sudden I started having very consistent paresthesia in my feet and legs - a mixture of tingling, pins and needles, slight burning, static sensation outside skin, pricking... no numbness. It has been with me every single day since then - 3 months now. It's worse at some times than others, but always present to some degree (and usually very annoying and concerning). It is definitely in BOTH legs and feet.
I'm slightly low in B12 and hoped that was the cause - however, after 10 B12 shots over 5 weeks, I have no improvement. I've had various other blood tests, all normal. I had an MRI of my spine (all 3 sections) yesterday and it showed nothing. No MS lesions, no transverse myelitis lesions, no compression/stenosis, no disc problems, no tumors. Now I need to get a brain MRI and of course I'm concerned this one could show MS. However, doctors have told me - and my research confirms this - it would be most unusal for MS to present with paresthesia equally on BOTH sides, stay around consistently for so long without going away even briefly, etc... And I have zero other MS sypmtoms.
So assuming (hopefully!) that's NOT what it is, then it's becoming a real mystery. I've done some reading that suggests these weird tingling sensations CAN be caused by menopause - due to extreme hormone imbalance. Also, my hormones could have been out of whack for a long time what with all my irregular periods, AND about 12 years ago I had my hormone levels checked and supposedly at that time I had the estrogen level of "a post-menopausal woman." At the time my doc said that was a little odd, but ok, no cause for concern. Anyway, I say all this as a way to say perhaps I've been a little bit of a unique case as far as my hormones.
Does anyone think these symptoms COULD actually be attributed to menopause? Or has anyone had something similar happen to them? I've asked my doctor a couple times and she immediately says no, menopause couldn't cause this. I realize it's not typical, but is it possible? So far I have no hot flashes or night sweats, thank heavens, but maybe this is my own personal type of menopause hell?!
Any insight would be so very much appreciated. Maybe I'm grasping at straws, but it DOES seem an interesting coincidence that all these issues have come up right as I'm going through this different timing in my periods, obvious continued hormone changes, etc...
Thanks in advance for any help people might be able to offer.
I think I'm going insane. If this could be blamed on menopause, I would be SO relieved and could deal with it!!!
12 likes, 501 replies
cloudcatcher molly54321
Posted
Molly, the symptoms your post about including paresthesia, are exacting what I have experienced for the past three months. This includes twitching in my calves and constant vibration in both my feet and hands. in June, 2018 I turned 55 and am still in peri-menopause.
As a back story beginning over 8 months ago, stress, brought on by a job and a move, catapulted me into the hot yoga room for four months to regain motion of a frozen shoulder. Later, and after surviving the pain of a frozen shoulder, coupled with three months of sleep deprivation, the symptoms of paresthesia set in and on two separate occasions, my right hand and left foot went totally numb for 10 seconds. Peri-menopause coupled with loss of valuable sleep was my serum for neuromuscular symptoms. The correct dose of estrogen and progesterone, coupled with using an ergonomic sit stand and taking walks to get away from my computer are what I am currently working on so that I can get 8 hrs of sleep per night. I am also eating an anti-inflammatory diet and exercising regularly.
When we get these symptoms and the doctors don't have a cure, it is normal to over catastrophize our symptoms. This is when our minds make our symptoms worse (aka somatic disorder). Blogs like this are invaluable as they give us the statistics we need to move on and live out our "golden years". I have noticed a significant relief in my symptoms and as of recent, have refilled my estordial prescription, apply a progesterone cream nightly, and take a low dose of gabapentin (prescribed for restless leg syndrome). Next month, I meet with my OB/GYN to ask for a stronger dose of estrodial as I currently am prescribed the lowest dose. Hopefully the higher dose over time will no longer necessitate the need for the gabapentin. Thank you!
Wackiejackie49 molly54321
Posted
i am in the exacr same boat i could have written your post
shylee molly54321
Edited
Hi Molly,
This is what i have been searching for..... Someone who has felt even a taste of the burning, tingling, numbness pain that i have been suffering from for the past 5yrs. I too have had MRI's for MS. Lupus etc with nothing, I have a tonne of other symptoms as i have written several times now in replys on here so i wont go through it all again but it is the Burning skin and everything i have gone through with it and with Neurologists that had finally dragged me down. I saw the Neurologist nothing came up in tests like tumors etc. So i was only left with the possibility of Peri causing it.... My Dr of course doesn't believe it is and has given up.
I started with tingling and numbness in my left ear and jaw and neck that went to completely numb left arm, sensation came back but there was always weakness. Then every day the burning pain spread further affecting more and more till my whole left side burns like fire and my tongue and my neck, throat Jaw on both sides, head...... you get the picture...... I was put on so many drugs but none of them worked and a lot of them i was allergic to or had severe side effects. Eventually i was put on Carbamazepine (sorry cant remember spelling) its an anticonvulsant and after a few days i felt the burning and tingling or prickling subsiding over weeks and over the side effects it has reduced it down to almost nothing as long as i keep taking it, if i lower the dose or stop it all comes back with a vengance.. I have Duloxatine an antidepresant for the anxiety which i hate taking but when i try to stop pain comes back and i have HRT which did help stop the flushes, anxiety and most of all the shocking bladder issues and pain and metazapine so i can sleep.
I really am looking for more women who are suffering from the burning skin and burning mouth to see how many of us there really are???? because Drs are saying its not about Peri or meno and i never had anything like it before and no other reason for it as i have read many other women here. I think we need to do something about educating Drs if i can find enough womens stories with this horrid symptoms
MarieLouise shylee
Posted
I know from my own experience that migraines can undergo a massive transformation in menopause, from appearing for the first time in a woman's life to disappearing completely in a woman previously suffering monthly episodes. In my case, I had migraines since I was born, I thought they had disappeared but what I have found is that they now have different presentations, and the burning sensation could be one of the symptoms.
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ROBIN051873 shylee
Posted
i definitely have burning and prickly sensations
Lkl2019 molly54321
Edited
I have all this....tingling, prickling, numbness, burning
...even stinging. in my hands, arms, legs. both sides. I usually get in the ams, worse after exertion with an also general sick feeling. started several years ago in my late 30s with just in my arms. now I.m 41 and its all way worse and happens with my legs and hands. It's so hard to imagine hormones can do this but how would any virus come on so gradually and be accompanied by such anxiety and depression?! my whole body and mind is so diff now 😦
Guest molly54321
Edited
Hi, I have just posted a similar story above and thought I would have a bit of a read of other recent posts and fortunately it didn't take long to find yours. I have been doing a bit of research around this nerve pain, tingling, numbness stuff as like you mine appeared out of the blue around my periods stopping for good. I was convinced it was MS, then Sjoergens (sp?). I had tests done and the only thing they could prove for sure that my nerves were being 'trapped' at elbow and wrists hence the tingling and numbness and pain. I was glad there was an actual reason but when I mentioned 'menopause' to the specialist he just said 'you should talk to my wife as she is always going on about unusual stuff happening because of menopause' . The only solution he offered was surgery to stop the entrapment. However because it comes and goes in intensity I am reluctant to go down that track. When you research 'trapped nerves' and peripheral neuropathy you will often see reference to this being caused by menopause but I am yet to find out a solution to this. The things I am currently doing to help myself are: sleeping with arms straight to avoid aggravating my nerves further, eating a healthy noninflamatory diet, taking complex B12 and recently some vitamins to help add natural estrogen back in my body. Unfortunately not a lot of change. When the hot flushes are bad the nerve pain is bad so I can only assume that it is hormone related and I am at the mercy of my hormones at present.
cloudcatcher Guest
Posted
My hot flashes are ever so slight but occur whenever I try to re-introduce estrogen/progesterone. My buzzing and slight twitching are more proportionate to the degree of stiffness in my muscles and specifically the muscles surrounding the sciatic nerve on my right side which is where the greatest amount of buzzing occurs.
cloudcatcher
Posted
QUESTION: Have any of you been diagnosed with Epstein Barr Virus which I understand to be mononucleosis reactivated and likened to chicken pox becoming shingles. I question if this virus attacks during peri-menopause and weakens muscles and tendons? Any thoughts on this matter would be appreciated......
cloudcatcher
Posted
I'm no longer taking gabapentin or any other prescription medication. Stretching & strengthening using more ballet type activities that elongate muscles while at the same time strengthen FASCIA seem to be most beneficial. Also one property our fascia tissue, ligaments/tendons and muscle lose are their ability to stay hydrated ~ drink lots of hydrating liquids
asummer410 molly54321
Edited
I've looked at this forum several times and finally decided to post today. It brings me comfort to know other women are having the same symptoms as me. I have been having parasthesia in my extremities as well as my face and head for a while. I also get weird electrical shocks and burning sensations. I am near 48 and have many of the usual perimenopausal symptoms, but these freak me out and make my anxiety worse. I finally made an appointment with a menopause specialist but can't get in till the end of the month. Any reassuring words are helpful.
Angela
MarieLouise asummer410
Edited
Hello Angela,
Yes, all these symptoms are very common during perimenopause along with a lot of other weird and scary symptoms.
Keep posting so we can beat this beast together!
Pat
dawn68509 asummer410
Posted
hi angela i have tingling in all my limbs now for 33 months im 43 ive seen many neuros none can find out whats wrong
Mt1976 asummer410
Edited
Hi Angela, same here. I get weird numbness, tingling and power surges in my hands, my left arm, right foot and left shin. sometimes my finger tips and the bottoms of my feet feel sore. I'm 43 and in perimenopause. ive had all the blood tests to look for other possibilities and all came back clear. i have not, however, seen a neurologist for say, possible MS. Reasons being i dont have any other MSish symptoms and my insurance is horrible. Hope that helps.
asummer410 Mt1976
Edited
Thanks for your reply. I feel like I should see a neurologist but have no other neuro symptoms. Since I have so many other perimenopausal symptoms, I am going to start with that specialist. It's a gyno who specializes in midlife women's care.