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Menopause and paresthesia?

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molly54321
molly54321

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

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  • arti18
    arti18 molly54321

    Posted

    Ladies 

    I am so glad I stumbled into this forum. I have been imagining a diagnosis of MS and just feeling awful. I am 47 and share symptoms like so many of you. I have had altered sensation on my face and feet on and off for year. It was brushed off by my pcp. It would come and go. The last month or 2 have been relentless. Burning on both my feet and calves. Left arm and face. Constant palpitation. Slight feeling of weakness and cold extremities most times. Sometimes feet are on fire.

    periods consistent but lesser days. I am seeing my pcp tomorrow. I wonder if I should see a reproductive endocrinologist too? Any advice?

    thanks so much.

    • jane58999
      jane58999 arti18

      Posted

      Hi Arti18,

      I have pins and needles in my feet burning in the heels of both feet. 

      I had blood work done and  

      Saw 2 neurologist. No one had a answer.  

      Not even my gynecologist !

      There isn’t that much information about 

      Perimenapause symptoms so doctors don’t get it.  

    • dawn68509
      dawn68509 jane58999

      Posted

      Mine is none stop pins needles toes to knees fingers to shoulders none stop not a second without in near 18 months I'm so done with it all had another mri last week still waiting on results that was a full spine one my brain one last year was normal had another nerve study an emg last week all normal what is going on I woke up like this Dec 16 all my bloods are fine this has totally destroyed my life it is constant rumbling I also got years have had heart missed beats ectopic's before my period starts it's all hormone related I'm sure, I have hashimotos also last 7 years

    • jane58999
      jane58999 dawn68509

      Posted

      Dawn  I had this too.   Both feet toes tingling heels pricking sometimes in my thighs and legs.  Sharp pain my my thighs and arms. It has gotten

      Better but when it started it was

      Non stop.., I was a mess. Depressed ,panic attacks and anxiety.  

      I’m on estrogen patch. It has helped a little..  I have gotten better less tingling now less anxiety.   

      It seems like we all have the same symptoms. I still have my period.  I don’t get hot flashes but I can rell 

      My hormones are fluctuating a lot.  

       

    • dawn68509
      dawn68509 jane58999

      Posted

      Jane it's driving me nuts 18 months on 11th June without a second without it in all 4 limbs got so much worse the first period I had after having my baby in November It was easier to cope with pregnant always there but milder I'll see what results say from tests

  • dawnym
    dawnym molly54321

    Posted

    Hi ladies I too am so relieved to have found this forum. I am 51 & approx 9 weeks ago had a strange hot type sensation in my right buttock! This then followed with a pins and needles type sensation and I presumed sciatica. Then I had a odd stiffness in right hand and didn't feel right in myself. This went on for a few weeks but then pins and needles in various parts of my body including face & head and hands although my right leg has it continuesly. I went to my gp who scared the life out of me mentioning MS and referred me to a neurologist. I have had brain spinal mri various blood tests & 2 weeks ago a lumber puncture which show nothing!

    I have been back to gp and have now asked for a prescription of hrt as I am willing to try this as these weird symptoms are not easing off although neurologist has dismissed this even though I am peri-menopausal !

    I can see many ladies are having relief with hrt and i feel it's worth a try.

    I will let you know how I get on too although expect it will be in a few months.

    Just wanted to share with anyone feeling the way I do and that I'm not alone has really helped me.

    • michelle92591
      michelle92591 dawnym

      Posted

      I am 50 ,and had those same symptoms as well. I was diagnosed with ms about five years ago. I did have a MRI with a few lesions. I also got a second opinion. He concurred,but I asked if you can have these lesions and it not be ms, he said yes. I only had one episode of this tingling everywhere for about seven weeks before I was dianosed. Nothing since then. I also found out my first two disc in my neck are arthritic. Now I'm starting to wonder if this is all hormonal. There is no definitive test for ms. I have read many people have been misdiagnosed. Started to miss my period at fifty, and then came more anxiety,night sweats, dry eyes and mouth ect. Didn't think it would be this bad !

    • stav93427
      stav93427 dawnym

      Posted

      Hi Dawn

      Give HRT a go. I had similar symptoms to you last July August. I'm post menopause though not peri. Scary and horrible symptoms including prickling all over, burning sensations like a sunburn muscle spasms, numbness. I too went down the mri for ms, blood tests but nothing was found. I have now been on Hrt for 9 months and it's worked for me. No numbness, prickling or burning. It took me a good 5 months for the symptoms to completely disappear but you will notice a gradual improvement within a week or so. Good luck.

    • dawnym
      dawnym stav93427

      Posted

      Thank you for your comments.

      I am desperate for these symtons to go they are having a impact on my life :-( and like you say so scary.

      I will let you all know how I get on.

    • shona53538
      shona53538 dawnym

      Posted

      Hi Dawn 22 months now for me same symptoms as you to a T..its done my head in .im fine when im up n about i dont notice it but as soon as i relav or in bed wham .i see neurologist 9th july and have a nerve conduction test then too. My dr also querry ms im 57 lost my husband and grandson ladt year 10 weeks apart and ive not had a period for 7 years now ..im going to chiropractor and im trying b12 nuggets now ..
    • wafa48079
      wafa48079 stav93427

      Posted

      I am 51, French women, I'm premenopause, I have been suffering since 4 months of tingling feet and burning sensation in the legs. I saw several doctors including neurologists who dismissed neurological diseases. I am under HRT  since  4 days and I have not yet felt improvement. How much do you have to wait to feel better? Can you tell me about your experience ? sorry for my English, 

      THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWER

       

    • stav93427
      stav93427 wafa48079

      Posted

      Hi

      I'm post menopause, 56. Last year I had tingling, prickling, numbness and the terrible burning sensation- like a sunburn which would wake me up in the middle of the night. It was scary and very uncomfortable.

      I went on Hrt. 4 days you don't notice anything much.

      It takes about a month to start noticing improvements and gradually it gets better and better. It took me about 5 months for the prickling to go away but the burning went away within a couple of weeks. The other benefits Of Hrt for me has been less anxiety and I sleep well.

    • stav93427
      stav93427 ylugo678

      Posted

      Hormone Replacement Therapy

      There are many different types.

      Some women take just oestrogen, some take just progesterone and some like me take a combination of both,

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