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
corinne62311 molly54321
Edited
yes Molly i have had this as well. i had brain MRi done too and nothing, i started HRT in March and it has almost disappeared i only notice it in the shower sometimes when im washing my legs. it is random along with all my other symptoms it is scary tho and doesn't help with the anxiety
sasical72 molly54321
Edited
I have similar symptoms. In fact I'm having so many symptoms that I sometimes have dark thoughts.
My life is hell, I'm just about managing to keep my part-time job which I love but might end up having to give it up.
Spend most of my time when I'm not at work in bed, because I can't cope with all my symptoms.
I have sooo many symptoms but for me the absolute worst is that every time I need to poop I feel like I'm going to drop dead. I start to sweat, shake, I have difficulty breathing, fast heart rate, difficulty standing. It's almost like a severe panic attack in symptoms but without being nervous.
Does anybody get this?
JackieG26 molly54321
Edited
Hi i have all these symptoms too
i hope to start hrt soon
Terrible living like this
hope your feeling better now
chan20940 molly54321
Edited
i have numbness & SOB for past few months, admitted hospital twice, MRI brain twice, heart 2D echo done & CT thorax my lung & neck, no finding.. one of senior doctor recommended me see gynae Doctor, I started the Hormone Replacement Therapy on 22 Apr 2022, I finished my 1st cycle now, my SOB & numbness can feel improved, hope this information is helpful. 😃
chan20940
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one more to add, i many have symptoms hot flash, sweat, warm body, joints pain, back pain & heart burn feeling, almost dying.
with HRT so far so good, most of symptoms subsided, of course sleeping early, exercise, cut down coffee intake and stay Positive as well. all the best to you!
mary85365 molly54321
Edited
Forgot to mention I started HRT around 5 and a half months ago and after roughly 8 weeks I felt things were improving. The past three weeks or so have been really bad again and the estrogen part of my hrt (pills) has just been increased 5 days ago, so maybe it needs to balance out first.
mary85365 molly54321
Edited
I almost cried after having found this thread. This hell started 6 months ago for me and the sensation hasn’t been away at all since then. The tingling (mostly my feet and sometimes my calves and very sporadic my hands too) gets less now and then only to seriously flare up out of nowhere and stick around for a week or two. It does seem to be influenced by my cycle. Right now the tingling is insane and is accompanied with a burning sensation and kept me up most of the night. All my bloodwork has heen done everything turned out okay. B12 was borderline when it was first checked (300) but a few weeks later after taking a daily supplement it was 750. Saw a neurologist and she did some physical tests and immediately ruled out the ‘something worse’ but I didn’t get an MRI or anything. Going to have my thyroid functions checked but I’m pretty much at a loss for what to do about this and how to stay sane throughout it all. My GP gave me pregabaline but I try to use it sparingly after finding out how addictive it is.
If there are any of the ladies who originally posted this thread years ago (or those who replied) still reading, would live to know how you’re all doing now years later?
toria_07298 mary85365
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ive had all these symptom plus some for over 2 years, worse when my estrogen is high, alot of us in perimenopause have less progesterone than estrogen, im not touching hrt as i developed allergies since this and estrogen increases histamine, just going to ride it out, it is hell x
cheryl12739 molly54321
Posted
Helloall,
I am glad I found this forum. I started 7 weeks ago with buzzing my foot. Saw a neurologist and was told everything looked fine. since then my buzzing has gone through my whole body. I started having extreme burning in my legs and back at night. I went to my primary doctor and he did bloodwork. Said i was in menopause and to start hrt to help. second night in I had extreme burning in my stomach along with on my back after taking the hrt medicine. He put on omeprazole which hrlps during tye day but not at night. I have pins and needles on my body during the day with sensitivity to touch all over my body. i just started having tingling on my lips and in my mouth. the buzzing in my body is now nonstop and radiates out of my feet. I also take thyroid meds which complicate things. My stomach is a mess. I also have a knot in my back that stems from my stomach muscles. i have lost a lot weight which is not good since i was skinny to begin with. Anyone else have the stomach burning at night on the hrt? I take estradiol and Medroxyprogesterone. I think I am the only one with all of these symptoms. Please let me know your thoughts, thanks!
lynne75695 cheryl12739
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Hi Cheryl, I read your post of 3 months ago and just wondering if you have improved at all on your HRT? I am tormented with similar symptoms and had HRT changed but no improvement yet. It is all just pure hell !!! Really hope you have found some relief!!!
maryveronica molly54321
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Hi, Molly. I just found this thread. I'm not sure if you will see my message, but I see someone else posted a few weeks ago. I'm 49 and blood tests show my estrogen is very low. I do not have common symptoms such as hot flashes or night sweats. I have paresthesia. It's terrifying! My entire life has been impacted by this. It's been an entire year of tingling and numbness in all my extremities. Then last night, I felt numbness in my face. I recently saw a neurologist. I passed the nerve induction test. He didn't recommend an MRI at this time because I don't have any other symptoms of a neurological disorder. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist in a few weeks. Is anyone else having tingling in the face? Mine occurred in just my left cheek.
Thanks in advance to anyone who responds! Wishing everyone good health!
sasical72 maryveronica
Posted
Yes, I get this a lot, paresthesia and numbness, on the face also. It's nasty!!
lynne75695 molly54321
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I am so thankful to have come across this thread. I note first post dates back several years but most recent is eight weeks ago so just to follow on from that my own "parasthesia" nightmare began approx 6 months ago. I am 59 years old and had a hysterectomy at 41 hence never really knowing for sure what stage I was at peri/post menopause. I started the typical hot flushes about 8 years ago and I started Estrogen only HRT which worked very effectively. However I stopped taking HRT after 18 months mainly due to fear of the breast CA risk factor which I have since learnt is not a true evidence based medical fact. The hot flushes returned and my lovely (female) GP offered Estragel and I had been using this for several years. Last November my first odd symptom was a very cold finger tip left hand. I subsequently began to notice this odd cold sensation spreading to back of my head, my toes, backs of arms and legs. I had been attending a Physiotherapist for a shoulder injury and I did wonder if these very strange nerve type cold sensations could be related. She felt there was no correlation and suggested a visit to my GP for bloods and perhaps a Neuro Consult. I waited for a few weeks and only went to see my GP when symptoms became worse in the form of burning, freezing and tingling in feet, legs, arms, slight left upper leg weakness and lately tingling in face and lips. I have terrible discomfort touching things as every object feels icy to touch. My GP did bloods and MRI Brain and thankfully all normal. She could not offer an explanation for my symptoms but tried to reassure me that she was not concerned. My HRT was changed to Estradot Patches and I have been taking for almost four weeks. I do not feel much improvement but having read several of the comments maybe it will take months rather than weeks. There seems to be such a gap in menopausal/neurological knowledge in the medical world it is hard to believe in 2023 women have to rely on patient forums such as this one for enlightenment and encouragement. These (possibly hormone related) symptoms are a daily torment. I would be so grateful to know if my experience of this awful parasthesia is similar to any other poor woman out there? Wishing you all success in finding symptom cause and correct treatment.
kendra42160 molly54321
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Hi there, about 2 months ago i started getting the burning sensation in my back, as if i had a sunburn, now its basically my whole upper body. It is driving me crazy. I found this forum and am so thankful that i am not alone (but of course sorry others are dealing with it). I've had so much testing done and everything is normal. My neurologist told me if it's not MS, then he has no idea what it could be...that was very helpful (insert eye roll). So getting an MRI next week, but i dont feel like that is the issue. I feel like its hormones. Anyhow, if anyone else is dealing with the same thing, pls share!
lynne75695 kendra42160
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I so feel your pain and I know exactly the desperation these horrendous symptoms can cause. I have again had my HRT changed and contrary to traditional HRT prescribing I am now taking Progesterone 100 mg (with no uterus) as there seems to be more & more evidence based research to suggest that taking Progesterone is important to help tackle Estrogen dominance which I believe can contribute to nerve pain. I still feel the sensations of prickling mostly on the backs of my thighs along with burning & cold sensations in feet and arms but to a lesser degree. It is too soon to know if adding Progesterone is going to control the symptoms but I am praying hard it works. Will keep you posted .....