Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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tootsiesmom 07/07/2012

Does anyone experience tingling? Not just hands or feet, but whole body?

I have a spot on my right lower lip that goes numb on me. It happens about a dozen times a week. It doesn't last long, but just feels weird. It has been happening for about 6 months now.

Recently, I have begun to experience odd tingling sensations. I get the occassional tingle in my left thumb or in my right hand, they go away quickly and are not such a bother. I am more concerned with the whole body tingling. When I first wake up, whether it is in the morning or from a nap, my whole body is tingling. This morning it was my left side only, feet, legs, hips, arms, hands and even my tongue.

Is this just another side effect that I need to learn to deal with?

I appreciate all of your input.

Thanks,
Kim

deleted_user 07/07/2012

I have the same experiences and they seem worse in the morning as im trying to wake up......mine happens mostly in my hands and recently both elbows.
I've never asked my rheumy as the list of symptoms keep growing :o(
Xoxo MLC.

Dreamchaser-Linda 07/07/2012

I have tingling in different parts of my body, I think it's my pain pill, I notice on days I don't take it, I do not have as much tingling. I take etodolac. Also coffee brings the same sensation. On days I drink too much coffee and the mixture of my pills, I'm a walking tingle.

Lin

deleted_user 07/07/2012

Yes, all over, but worse in my fingers, feet, and oddly, face. Often the numbness down my arms and into my fingers happens in tandem with pinched nerves in my shoulders. With my RA a bit more under control than in the beginning, it's happening less. The weirdest: the tip of my nose. So strange and very distracting!

deleted_user 07/07/2012

fingers, toes., lips and chin..now that is wierd...all tingle, fingers go numb and get very cold and it is very hard to get them warmed up..If I push on the pads of my thumbs they stay indented for what seems to be forever...
Seems like we all get some wierd thing or another..guess it goes with the r.a...

Almost seems like what dosen't go with it.

deleted_user 07/08/2012

I think the odd tingling is just med related, and not really a worry unless it becomes persistant or really annoying. I worried about my tingles, and numbness, and such, until I devoloped a real pinched nerve...it is very different, and you cannot ignore it. But, go ahead and tell your Drs. They will be able to help decide whether to pursue it.

@ cassie2u, typically if you push down and the spot on the skin takes a long time to return to normal position, it means dehydration. If not, then this is something you should mention to your Dr., along with the cold, taking forever to warm up, and numbness. This sounds like Raynaurd's, it may be that or signs of other issues, especially if your fingers turn white, or black. I would mention it on your next visit.

deleted_user 07/09/2012

I get it to. I can just be sitting on my couch and all of a sudden my foot goes numb. And I can't tell you how many times I've woken up in the middle of the night because one of my arms went dead. I talked to my rheumatologist and he said it was probably a neurological problem (I also get chronic migraines, so I have a history of neurological issues as well) and to have my neurologist look at it. I did, and he said it was the RA. So there you go, no straight answer. Since you guys are having similar things, I'm guessing it's the RA.

daizy8 07/09/2012

Beware! My tingling problem in my feet was neuropathy... caused by MTX!!!! Now I am in a terrible fix! This morning I could barely get to the bathroom. Walking is a horror!

The neurologist had me on neurontin, which had a severe side effect on my mental health. I became a psychotic monster. Had my GP's nurses say that side effect is often seen. Took several weeks to titrate from neurontin back to savella. The psychotic monster is gone, but the neuropathy is worsening. Urrrrggg...

Do NOT ignore it. If the Rheumy says it is "just neurological" ask for a referral ASAP to a neurologist!

deleted_user 07/09/2012

I had some very weird sensations while on MTX. Numbness, tingling, whole-body vibrating and muscle twitching. It lessened when I stopped the MTX (due to these and more side effects), and has mostly disappeared since my RA has become under control on actemra. Obviously I was worried about MS (also due to the demyelination risk on bios), but all my MRIs have been clean. It seems to be very common in RA, and I still believe that RA effects the nerves as well as the muscular-skeletal system. I would mention it to your PCP.

tootsiesmom 07/10/2012

Thank-you all for the replys.
I am currently on Arava (about 3 1/2 months), Tramadol (as needed - usually 3-4 per day) and Naproxen (twice a day).
I haven't really taken any more Tramadol than usual and I have been using it for about 15 months now.
I, unfortunately, am without health insurance at the moment, so Rheumy visits are few and far between. I am going to have to get my bloodwork done and go and see him soon though, because I have less than a month worth of Arava left and he won't refill it until I have my blood draw.
I am in that wonderful "Catch 22", couldn't afford COBRA, private insurance with RA is almost impossible or priced just as much as COBRA (with a 6 month waiting period) and State of Michigan will insure through Obamacare, but the State has a 6 month waiting period without any insurance before you qualify...uuuggghhh
So, I am hanging in and taking one day at a time.
Kim

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