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

501 Replies

Prev Next
  • Posted

    Hi all I've just found this forum I woke up in dec 16 with tingling feet within hours it spread to my knees then into both hands had numerous bloods all normal brain mto normal told by 4 neurologists it's not ms as symmetrical and acute ,diagnosed with idiopathic tingling no known cause there seem to be a lot of women like this this tingling is none stop I don't have a minute without it since it began I'm 42 any advice on tests to have as my Dr's have just left me like this

    • Posted

      Since the age of 34 I have suffered severe brain fog week before a period to the point I feel disorientated heart ectopic beats very bad that week two I had hormone tests done at age 40 and they were normal I fell pregnant 3 months after tingling began and had my daughter on Nov so cannot be in menopause however I feel there is some dominance with a hormone that could of caused this as systems stayed milder during pregnancy and got really severe upon arrival of first period after having my baby they are absolutely horrendous brain fog is bk heart ectopic's and tingling driving me insane

    • Posted

      The tingling is it like a burning sensation kinda like you have a sun burn, or it feels like creepy crawlies. 
    • Posted

      The problem with our doctors Dawn is that they go by averages not symptoms.. the levels in the blood maybe what they consider on the lower side but because it is within ranges then there is nothing wrong with you.

      I too woke up one morning in January this year with pins and needles joint pain and pretty much felt like crap.. periods all over the shop sometimes heavy sometimes none for months..

      Thinking something was seriously wrong I started researching joining groups on Fb that are full of women in Peri and meno and so many are suffering just like you and I.

      This feeling is due to a imbalance in hormones.. sends our nervous system crazy.. Google lack of progesterone and dominance of estrogen causing this.. Yiu hv to think these hormones hv controlled us our whole lives.. blooming as a teenager.. getting periods breasts PMS falling pregnant , miscarrying.. giving birth being a mum .. now Peri or meno... It depletes us of our sex hormones.. Read read and read more then seek some help from a hormonal specialist .. 

    • Posted

      Hi Rebecca do you have the tingling constant I literally am that bad with this if I touch my arm I can feel it in my legs the tingling intensifies the neuro I saw said this is due to the nerves that are damaged being super sensitive ,all my nerve study tests are normal all bloods normal they said likely small nerve fibre damage which doesn't show on tests it is horrendous feels like buzzing rumbling vibration whatever you can call it ,how can I treat the hormone problem Dr's won't retest me

    • Posted

      It's like buzzing rumbling it's the same feeling if you put your hand on a car door when it's moving and you feel the vibration through your hands legs I have that permanent none stop

    • Posted

      Hi Dawn, im 42. This started a year and half ago for me.  I’m perimenapause close to menopause my doctors says.  Both my estrogen and progesterone are low and I have tingling in my feet along with burning.  My hands started a bit later.   I told my reproductive endocrinologist and she said she has heard of neuropathy being caused from  hormonal inbalance.  Go to your gynecologist. They will take blood work and test your hormones. They will  need to take blood few times and at different times.  For a year n half I thought something was very wrong with me.  It sounds as if in this forum we all have similar symptoms 

    • Posted

      Yes I've had this 16 months now none stop I will ask my Dr again for tests I'm also 42

    • Posted

      Yes that’s exactly what I have 24/7 and what happens is we need hormones to keep the myelin sheath healthy.. which is what protects our nerves..

      Bypass a normal gp and go to gyno and tell them you are in Peri and want to balance out your hormones ... I have been taking Bio Identical Hormones for 10 days now and can feel a difference already .. 

    • Posted

      Hi Rebecca where do you have the tingling mine is in a stocking glove patten I've had nerve studies that are normal they say likely small fibre damage in 16 months I've not had a second without I belive I'll have this for life now I asked my go today for bloods for hormones she dismissed it and said for me to just speak to neuro next week

    • Posted

      Change doctors.. she has no right to dismiss it.. You need to get your hormones balanced.. 

      Yes I have like pins and needles from knees down like I have tight stockings on.. They can go to my arms and sometimes face 

    • Posted

      Gosh guys im blown away that im not nuts and rekieved to read that because its symetrical though not completely then its highly unlikely to be ms .as i lost my Husband last year and Wee Grandson i just cant face going to any drs im over it after 12 years of my Husbands cancer situation..my face tonight on bottom right side and my lower arms and lower legs are burning i just want to be normal .like a lot of you my bloods are all normal ???
    • Posted

      Ps i get eptopic heart beats so get on magnesium please it works the citrates the best
    • Posted

      Thanks Rebecca though im hapoy to know im not aline in this im sad that you have to suffer it as well.my right arms burning more than my left .and feels a bit fatter but its not its just a sensation do you get that too
    • Posted

      My sensations go from pins and needles to numb to burning but not a fat like feeling or swollen ..

      My joints ache and muscles ache deeply and sort of go prickly when I get hot flushes .. weird huh

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.