Numbness

Posted , 2 users are following.

Hello, I wonder whether anyone suffers with numbness anywhere. My right leg from just above the knee upwards is numb quite often and has been for quite a while. If I sleep on my back it goes numb pretty quick, along with my hands, fingers and lower arm, but also goes numb a lot during the day when I am standing. My gp doesnt seem at all concerned so I wonder whether this is just a normal thing?

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    From my experience and from other Rhuemy friends I have I'd say it IS something to be concerned about. Often it's caused by a vertebra in your back trapping or catching a nerve. Not life threatening but needs looking at as your RA may be starting to develop in your spine. Ask your gp for a second opinion or certainly ring your Rheumatologist up and tell them. I'm sure they'd take it seriously. 
    • Posted

      Thank you Connie. Well I am supposed to be having an MRI but have heard nothing as yet, i first mentioned this to my gp quite a few months ago, to a couple actually, at different times and they have shown no concern. The only reason she has mentioned mri this time was cos of incontinence problems, so its on my back and I hope it will show why my leg is numb too. I think my doctors are probably sick of the sight of me to be honest, as I have been a lot over the last two years. My hips have been the main problem and the reason I have been off sixk for the last year and still no medication has worked. I am only just now being referred to a rheumatologist again after being discharged back to the gp a few years ago and told to just take co-codamol and tramadol, neither of which have many benefits at all. Also my fingers are now developing nodules, some quite prominent. My rheumy appt is on 5th September. I have had a few different specialists over the years and I feel that none of them have done much at all, and one dismissed RA just on the basis that my blood test came back ok for the rheumatoid factor and never even considered my symptoms and yet several other specialists have been adamant that it is. I was bounced between neuro and rheumy for a few years and just gave up in the end, but being bed bound a lot now is really making me need answers!
    • Posted

      You might be what's called seronegative. That's when your bloods don't show the RA signs. Why don't you ring the NRAS Freephone helpline on 0800 298 7650 and see what other help they can offer.
  • Posted

    " I am only just now being referred to a rheumatologist again after being discharged back to the gp a few years ago and told to just take co-codamol and tramadol, neither of which have many benefits at all."

    Oh gee, you should be at the rheumatologist's office every 3 months for the rest of your life!

    I'm inclined to think the problem is neurological, too. However, you might want to have HLA-B27 antigen run to see if it's positive. If so, you MIGHT possibly have Ankylosing Spondylitis, which, when inflamed, could press on a nerve.....

    And that incontinence might be related to the nerve issue. So the results of that MRI will be very welcome!

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