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What Causes Intermittent Sensations Of Vibration, Tingling And Numbness In Lower Limbs?
Question: Recently wrote about a vibration or buzzing in my left leg sometimes (first symptom), in my right, and sometimes feels like its all over. Some numbness and tingling. I also have some small muscle twitches that last no more than a few minutes. I have taken magnesium for almost 4 weeks and a b complex vitamin. I have no speech problems, coordination issues, or balance issues, don't seem to have any loss of strength...Doctor checked reflexes and circulation both were fine. This is making me very anxious so the doctor did prescribe a low dose anxiety med, (first ativan which seemed to work better, and now trapedone) which at times seems to help. My question is along with some very scarey diseases like ms, I am aware that anxiety also can cause this..How do i separate the anxiety from real symptoms,
Brief Answer:
A dedicated neurological examination/Focal neurological deficits.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar, a neurologist, here to answer your query.
If you would have presented to me as an outpatient with these symptoms,my clinical explanation would have been-
Intermittent sensations of vibration, tingling and numbness in lower limbs can be due to the following causes- neuropathy, lumbosacral radiculopathy (especially keeping in mind your history of sciatica), anxiety, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, multiple sclerosis. So, though multiple sclerosis is one of the causes but without ruling out so many common causes we just can't jump on to a rare cause. So, Please do some mental relaxation exercises/yoga to reduce your anxiety levels along with anti-anxiety medicines (ativan is fine). Keep observing that with reduction of anxiety levels, your symptoms may improve.
If no improvement is observed, please get done the following investigations: Blood sugar(fasting and post prandial), serum vitamin B12 and MRI lumbosacral spine. Please follow up with the investigations results. MRI lumbosacral spine is important to rule out one of the common causes and that is lumbosacral radiculopathy with spine or disc changes.
Even if these investigations come out to be normal and you continue to have symptoms, then a dedicated neurological examination needs to rule out any focal neurological deficit and it is then that a MRI spine or brain may be needed to see for demyelinating lesions of MS. That is the last thing to consider.
Meanwhile, please continue to have anti-anxiety medicines, methylcobalamin, calcium with vitamin-D.
PLEASE TAKE MEDICINES UNDER YOUR PHYSICIAN'S GUIDANCE ONLY.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have some follow-up queries, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread-rate it and write a review.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
A dedicated neurological examination/Focal neurological deficits.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar, a neurologist, here to answer your query.
If you would have presented to me as an outpatient with these symptoms,my clinical explanation would have been-
Intermittent sensations of vibration, tingling and numbness in lower limbs can be due to the following causes- neuropathy, lumbosacral radiculopathy (especially keeping in mind your history of sciatica), anxiety, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, multiple sclerosis. So, though multiple sclerosis is one of the causes but without ruling out so many common causes we just can't jump on to a rare cause. So, Please do some mental relaxation exercises/yoga to reduce your anxiety levels along with anti-anxiety medicines (ativan is fine). Keep observing that with reduction of anxiety levels, your symptoms may improve.
If no improvement is observed, please get done the following investigations: Blood sugar(fasting and post prandial), serum vitamin B12 and MRI lumbosacral spine. Please follow up with the investigations results. MRI lumbosacral spine is important to rule out one of the common causes and that is lumbosacral radiculopathy with spine or disc changes.
Even if these investigations come out to be normal and you continue to have symptoms, then a dedicated neurological examination needs to rule out any focal neurological deficit and it is then that a MRI spine or brain may be needed to see for demyelinating lesions of MS. That is the last thing to consider.
Meanwhile, please continue to have anti-anxiety medicines, methylcobalamin, calcium with vitamin-D.
PLEASE TAKE MEDICINES UNDER YOUR PHYSICIAN'S GUIDANCE ONLY.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have some follow-up queries, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread-rate it and write a review.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank-you so much for getting back to me. So I do have a few questions. Friday I have an appointment with a neurologist. The original symptom was a vibration off an on in my left leg down to my ankle, with a some muscle twitching, and over the last few weeks it is all I thought about. To the point where the PCP prescribed the Ativan (later trazodone) and Ambien for night time. When I go should I describe the original symptom of vibration only in left leg, and some muscle twitching or should I throw it all at him and let him sort out what the medicines may have caused(trazodone causes blurry vision), what the anxiety has caused. My fear is taking focus on what the actual problem is and muddling it with all the other stuff.
Second as far as b-12 what is the best most effective way to get that in me. Same with Magnesium. I have read that supplemental vitamins don't absorb well?
I thought of something I wanted to mention see if its meaningful. The vibration or buzzing 90% starts when I am sitting and either gets better with movement or goes away with movement. Does that mean anything to you, or don't think its important
Second as far as b-12 what is the best most effective way to get that in me. Same with Magnesium. I have read that supplemental vitamins don't absorb well?
I thought of something I wanted to mention see if its meaningful. The vibration or buzzing 90% starts when I am sitting and either gets better with movement or goes away with movement. Does that mean anything to you, or don't think its important
Brief Answer:
You should tell every detail to the neurologist. He will sort out.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
You need not to worry. Please tell the neurologist complete medical history as well as drug history. He is a super specialist, who is expert at sorting out the things. He will definitely be of help.
Vitamin B12 and Magnesium deficiencies, if established by serum levels can be supplemented orally as well as by intramuscular injections.
Vitamin B12 deficiencies when severe, are initially supplemented with intramuscular injections once a day for 7 days. Then, once a week for 6 weeks. Then, twice a month for a month and then monthly for a few months. Simultaneously, oral preparations and diet rich in Vitamin B12 is to be taken.
Magnesium deficiency is usually supplemented orally, unless it is a medical emergency, causing critical illness. Simultaneously, Probiotics capsules increase its bioavailability.
Vibration or buzzing frequently occurs even in normal individuals, when they are sitting in one particular posture for some time(say for half an hour) and it improves after they stand up or change posture or move. It is due to the transient nerve compression which typically improves in 2-3 minutes after moving, standing or changing posture. That may be a normal thing.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have follow up questions, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread-rate it and write a review.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
You should tell every detail to the neurologist. He will sort out.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
You need not to worry. Please tell the neurologist complete medical history as well as drug history. He is a super specialist, who is expert at sorting out the things. He will definitely be of help.
Vitamin B12 and Magnesium deficiencies, if established by serum levels can be supplemented orally as well as by intramuscular injections.
Vitamin B12 deficiencies when severe, are initially supplemented with intramuscular injections once a day for 7 days. Then, once a week for 6 weeks. Then, twice a month for a month and then monthly for a few months. Simultaneously, oral preparations and diet rich in Vitamin B12 is to be taken.
Magnesium deficiency is usually supplemented orally, unless it is a medical emergency, causing critical illness. Simultaneously, Probiotics capsules increase its bioavailability.
Vibration or buzzing frequently occurs even in normal individuals, when they are sitting in one particular posture for some time(say for half an hour) and it improves after they stand up or change posture or move. It is due to the transient nerve compression which typically improves in 2-3 minutes after moving, standing or changing posture. That may be a normal thing.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have follow up questions, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread-rate it and write a review.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Answered by
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