Tingling in hands, feet, and face

by Mike
(Ottawa, Canada)

Hello,

I have been suffering from this problem for 3 years now. My neurologists ruled out many of the diseases that would cause this and have not given me any answers. I have had MRI's of the neck and brain, Xrays of my spine, full blood work, and everything comes back normal.

I first began to feel the symptoms in my left hand pinky finger after waking at night with my palm and pinky numb. I thought I had cubital tunnel syndrome so I slept with a splint and it got better. However, After a hard summer working landscaping, I was hunched over for 8 hours a day for 3 months weeding and fixing flower beds. The week after my last shift, I started to feel tingling in my left foot pinky toe for 1 month straight, after that I began to feel tingling in both hands and both feet as well as eye twitching and tingling in lips, forehead and back of the head. It just kept on growing, I also started having muscle spasms in the tricept, thigh, buttocks, that would be visible and my muscles would just start shaking. Today, I can go for weeks with feeling only hand tingling and minor foot tingling, and then flare up and whole body starts tingling. I also get a weird tightness and dry arthritic feeling as the tendons in my hands are scraping against the sheeth. Drs have ruled out all arthritis and RA.

So now three years later, I have tried homepathic treatments, acupuncture ( currently having treatments along the spine and it works to help symptoms but not eliminating the problem), and ART from a chiropractor.

I have been told my radiologists that my spine is not the problem, i have no signs of entrapments but a very mild disc bulging in C5 on the right side but they said it is not of concern.. Also, I have no pain in my back or neck.

However, I have noticed that if i bend over for extended period of time, sit on an improper chair, or turn my neck on the left side I get tingling in my feet, or face. If I keep my arms stationary and rotate my shoulders my hands flare up.

Is it still possible that I have some spinal issues that would cause this even though my xrays and Mri's came back fine?

I want to seek chiropractic help but it is expensive and would appreciate some guidance.

Thank you for your time.

Hello Mike,

Yes, these are unusual symptoms. I take there is no sign of a B12 deficiency, or diabetes. Would have come up in blood tests.

The most significant is that turning your head to the left provokes the symptoms. It's of particular concern that it causes tingling in the legs.

I would ask for a second opinion on the MRI scan of your neck, and particularly the base of the skull. No sign of Arnold Chiari malformation?

Have you had any manipulation of the neck? Does it relieve / aggravate the symptoms, or are you getting only ART? Your chiropractor may feel anxious about manipulation of the neck in the light of these symptoms, hence only doing ART. I use a lot of ART but it's unlikely to help your problems. Does your chiropractor think this could be coming from your neck? Are tests like Kemps, and Adsons negative.

Are there absolutely no neurological findings? Reflexes all normal, no numbness, no weakness?

It's a long shot but I'd go for some B12 shots, and eat plenty of fatty cold water fish like salmon, olive oil and avocados. Important for the conduction of the nerves.

My best shot, I hope it has contributed.