How often do you tingle?

[BeachBum]

What I mean is how often do your legs, hands, arms et al tingle or have that "falling asleep" feeling? Even if they don't actually "fall asleep".

I'm asking because I was recently diagnosed with MS and this is one of the typical symptoms. I'm not sure if I'm paranoid (quite possible) or if I really do tingle more than is average but just always thought it was normal.

Thanks!

[valchemist]

I thought you were asking how often I "tinkle." oops! I kinda thought that was a weird question for a poll, but I was going to answer anyway.

well, to answer your actual question, it is very rare that I tingle. it only happens when I have been laying on my arm for a while or sitting on my leg for a while (for example).

[lindrusso]

I voted once a month, but it may be less than that. Like Val said, it's usually a result of sitting funny and cutting off my circulation. It doesn't happen regularly, so it's really hard to say how often. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis - I wish you the best.

[Beth]

Sorry about your diagnosis. Like anything, it is better to get information than to worry, both for mind and body.

I was tested to rule out MS. I have several bad disks in my neck and I get tingles in my arms and hands a lot, but it depends on my activities and there are certain positions where I can move my head or neck a certain way and know that the tingles will increase. I used to have a tingle just to the right of my spine at bra-strap level, but I only get it occassionally now. I've also gotten to where I don't always notice it as much. My DH has a tingle in his elbow and forearm from nerve damage.

I think most folks just get tingles when they sit or otherwise position themselves so that they restrict bloodflow to an area for a while. Or as a reaction to certain medications -- things like Sudafed or too much caffiene.

I didn't know how to answer the poll, and I don't know if this helps you or not. I can tell you there is a mom at our school who has MS. We've known her for 5 years and you'd never know it if she hadn't said so. I read alot about all kinds of nervous system things several years ago when I was trying to learn my through my ordeal. If I think of anything that might be helpful to you, I'll come back. In the meantime, be your own advocate and take care of you.

[Beth]

Originally posted by valchemist
I thought you were asking how often I "tinkle." oops! I kinda thought that was a weird question for a poll, but I was going to answer anyway.

:D :D :D Actually, I read it as tingle the first time, but it wasn't the kind of tingle she was asking about either. :o

[wallycat]

Beachbum, I'm so very sorry for your diagnosis...
did they say what kind of MS you have? Won't post anything here incase nothing has been said to you yet.

There are lots of new medications out there besides Interferon which can limit the progression.
I wish you luck.

To answer your question :o
When I was typing a lot in an office job, I actually started worrying I might have MS because my left hand was always tingly and I'd drop things...but when I moved on to a new job, it all stopped---so it must have been carpal tunnel or pinched something.
Now, it doesn't happen that often. I do have a pinched sciatic nerve because of the back bends I do, but that only bothers me when I sit right on the left side of my "bumm." :p :D :eek:

Best of luck to you....I'll be thinking about you.
Also, curious if it was an MRI that made the final diagnosis?? Sorry if I"m too nosey. :eek:

[swquilts]

I either tingle or ache, but I've got a pinched nerve in my shoulder somewhere and the docs are trying to find out where! Wish they'd hurry up.

[JHolcomb]

My mom has MS (diagnosed is 1996 or 97). She tingles quite a lot, I think. That and pain/weakness in her hips are her major symptoms. She takes B12 shots, which help, but because of insurance concerns related to my dad's upcoming retirement, she can't be officially diagnosed with MS (otherwise she'll be uninsurable), though the MRIs do show it without a doubt (well, they're 99.9% sure).


As for me, I would say every once in a while (every couple of months or so) and every time I tingle I get totally freaked out, thinking I have MS. I think mine stems from poor sitting positions and strain from my keyboard.

Is MS genetic?? I've read a bit of info on it, but can't seem to get that answered.

I'm really sorry to hear about your diagnosis...

[gdnr77]

Beachbum, I too have MS and I vary with how much tingling and numbness I have. One thing you will realize is that fatigue and heat play a factor in this also. If I may make a suggestion, there is an excellent organization, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society that has a website, a good magazine, and also sponsors many seminars and outings. There are also many support groups all over the country. When I was first diagnosed, I attended a seminar that was aimed towards the newly diagnosed. There I met many people from all walks of life, all ages, with different types of MS. I felt a sense of relief when hearing that many were experiencing the same symptoms, but at the same time, realizing MS takes on different symtoms for others too. The best advice that I received was that knowledge is power; I took that advice to heart. I hope you don't mind my sharing this, and I wish you the best. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society website is http://www.nmss.org/

[stefania4]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. My docs thought I had MS, but it turned out to be neurological damage from a bizarre B-12 deficiency.

So to answer your question, I tingle daily.

[sunberst]

your thread headline drew me in!

i tingle about once a month, or every other month. usually my leg or foot.

sorry to hear about your ms. (((hugs)))

[Dewey]

I tingle several times per week.


Originally posted by Beth
I used to have a tingle just to the right of my spine at bra-strap level, but I only get it occassionally now. I've also gotten to where I don't always notice it as much.
I sometimes get a very similar thing, only it's on the left side, under my shoulder blade area (also at bra strap level). I also often wake up in the middle of the night because my entire arm is tingling, which wouldn't be so weird if it were the arm that I was laying on, but it's always my right arm (I always sleep on my left side.) For a while, this was happening almost every night, but then I went to the chiropractor a few times (who also does lots of stretching and massage) and it went away.

Really sorry to hear about the MS. I'll be thinking of you.

[cangoss]

I voted "several times a day", which is explained by the fact that I have rheumatoid arthritis. My feet fall asleep all the time because I always end up sitting on them at some point in the day (I'm really short and can't touch the floor in a lot of chairs), and my hands often fall asleep when I'm asleep (that sounds kind of weird...).

[Kristine]

Hmm....this was a tough one to answer. I don't have MS (at least not that I'm aware of ;) ), but in general, I am pretty tingley. I actually had to laugh, because BOTH of my hands were tingley when I opened up the "Other Stuff" board, and then I came across this poll! Anyways, I voted once a day, but in reality it is probably a little less often than that. I'm going to be paranoid now, checking out how often my hands/feet get tingley. LOL

[Jen]

I don't get tingly too often (maybe a couple of times a month), but in the last year or so I've noticed something else that's really weird. Often if I'm sitting for a long period of time, my legs start to feel strange - sort of like that point where they're just about to fall asleep. It doesn't hurt or "tingle", but it's really uncomfortable - after a few seconds I have to move my legs around, but then it usually comes back. The feeling will last for several minutes or longer, but then it kind of wears off. I kept trying to explain it to DH, who thought I was bizarre.

But recently, I quite accidentally came across a reference to a disorder called Restless Leg Syndrome (http://my.webmd.com/content/article/8/1680_51888.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}) and it describes this sensation perfectly! I'm sure that's what it is. It doesn't seem to be serious, although for some people I guess it really disrupts their life. I'll ask my Dr about it next time I'm in, but at least it helps to know I'm not going crazy!!

[BeachBum]

Thanks for the responses ladies. I'm trying not to become overly sensitive to possible symptoms but its so hard not to think you've got everything after reading about it.:confused: LOL I just kind of wanted to get a feel for what 'normal' was.


Thanks for your thoughts and warm wishes. Its a tough thing to deal with, but I've got a great support system with my parents, sister and DH. To answer some questions, I actually haven't gotten the official dx she told me probable MS. I've had optical neuritis 2x since Sept, 2 clean MRIs, but a positive Lumbar Puncture. My neuro told me after the LP. I'm going in for a second opinion, but I don't expect to hear anything different. My neuro suggested that I start on Avonex right away, but my DH and I are considering getting preggo before I start any drugs. Before we found out we were thinking about stopping birth control this fall, but now we are considering actively trying to get PG. I just want to talk to another neuro and of course my OBGYN before making any life altering decisions. I'm very lucky in that we found this really early. Hopefully, with drug therapy we can keep it from progressing. Its just so hard to believe I have this disease when I feel perfectly normal.

[Leisa M]

As for me when I sit or lay on my foot or arm wrong I "tingle"

As for my DH, his hands fall asleep several times a day (carple tunnel syndrome?) He hasn't been diagnosed w/MS or carple tunnel syndrome, but he uses a keyboard every day for at least 8 hours which makes me think of carple tunnel syndrome.

[HRJ]

Beachbum, sorry to hear about your situation. I hope things work out.

About the tingling: are you taking any meds at the moment, for anything else? I ask because several years ago, one of my doctors had me on a Rx med for about eight months, and one of the known side effects was tingling in the fingers and toes -- that "needles and pins" feeling (sometimes it even happened at the tip of my nose :eek: ). This would happen at least once a day, if not more. After I stopped taking that particular med, the tingling stopped.

Anyway, I'm sure your doctors would have asked about something like that, but, on the off-chance that they didn't, it's something to consider.

Take care,

Helene