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Numb & number [Eire Region] [Mirror (UK)]
[September 25, 2014]

Numb & number [Eire Region] [Mirror (UK)]


(Mirror (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Do you regularly get pins and needles? Natasha Holt looks at the likely causes Many of us suffer from numbness or that feeling of pins and needles at times, especially in our hands and feet, and as annoying as it can be, mostly it's nothing to worry about.



"Generally, it's just something we get from sleeping in a funny way," says Tim Allardyce, who was one of the lead physiotherapists during the Commonwealth Games.

"But sometimes it can be a sign there is a more serious, underlying problem." If your symptoms sound similar to these, it's time to see your GP.


Fibromyalgia Experts have likened the effects of fibromyalgia to death by a thousand needles. It affects up to one in 37 people yet few of us have heard of it.

"Fibromyalgia is oversensitivity to most things - like noise, light and pain," says Pam Stewart, chair of the Fibromyalgia Association UK.

"It's like living with the volume on the radio turned up," she says.

Fibromyalgia mainly affects women over 40 and a key symptom is pins and needles, which can occur anywhere.

If you have noticed this with symptoms such as pain, fatigue and memory loss, see your GP. Lifestyle changes can help.

Carpal tunnel syndrome - where the median nerve is squeezed as it passes through the wrist - affects women more than men. It causes pain and numbness in the hand.

"A job or hobby that puts repeated pressure on the nerve - for example excessive keyboard use, carrying heavy things or gripping from the wrist - increases the likelihood of getting it," says Tim, who is also an osteopath and physiotherapist at Surrey Physio.

You'll know if you have carpal tunnel syndrome as it will affect your thumb and three middle fingers. See your GP, who might suggest a steroid injection, surgery or refer you to a physiotherapist for treatment.

Multiple sclerosis Numbness is one of the first signs that you might have MS, usually affecting the arms, legs or face.

"People with MS often experience sensations like numbness, which happens because some nerves aren't transmitting signals properly," says Dr Sorrel Bickley from the MS Society.

"They can also experience pins and needles or a burning sensation. But while it may be distressing, it may come and go." Nerve damage "This is most often caused by a slipped disc in the neck after frequent computer use. This pinches a nerve, resulting in pins and needles in the hand. You'll feel it in the outer three fingers and half the index finger, or in the thumb and half of the index finger." Your GP will wait 30 days and prescribe painkillers or anti- inflammatory drugs before doing tests such as X-rays.

Sciatica Any irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, leads to leg pain.

"The most common cause of sciatica is a slipped disc in the back," says Tim. "This will cause numbness in the hamstring, the side of the leg, the heel or big toe." It can also be caused by problems such as osteoarthritis, so if pain lasts for more than a few weeks, see your GP.

Diabetes "Pins and needles, especially in the legs and feet, is a sign of Type 2 diabetes," says Libby Dowling, clinical adviser for Diabetes UK.

"Diabetes causes nerve damage, which creates this sensation, so if you have minor tingling in your legs, feet, hands or arms or severe pain, see your GP immediately.

"Other symptoms include excessive thirst, tiredness and blurred vision." Pregnancy/ menopause "Women often complain of a tingling pain in their hands and feet during big hormonal changes such as pregnancy or the menopause" says Harley Street GP Elaine Tickle.

"Another feature of the menopause is feeling a crawling sensation across the skin." Pregnancy can leave you vulnerable to pins and needles as fluid retention is common and this can press on the nerves. This leaves mums-to-be at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Peripheral neuropathy This is a condition caused by large quantities of drugs or toxins.

"I see this in cancer patients who have had chemotherapy," says Tim. "They tend to have pins and needles in the hands and feet. Sufferers simply have to put up with the numbness until they have finished their treatment." Anxiety "Anxiety can cause people to hyperventilate, which changes the acidity of their blood and leads to tingling in the fingers, toes and lips," says Elaine.

"If you are suffering from panic attacks, see your GP who can make an assessment and advise treatment." Even using a keyboard too much can lead to nerve damage and numbness...

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