Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Severe Tingling And Itching In Both Legs And Arms?
Question: I wake up every morning with severe tingling and itching in both legs and arms - I am 69. I do have stenosis - is it that. The pain tingling and itching goes away in about an hour
Brief Answer:
More info needed.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the symptoms that you are experiencing.
I would gladly like to guide you in identifying the cause for those abnormal sensation. However I fear some more precisions are needed to express an opinion. You mention to have stenosis, but stenosis is just the ancient greek word for narrowing, it indicates nothing about what is actually narrowed, it could be anything in any site in any organ (stenosis of blood vessels, stenosis of heart valves, stenosis of spinal canal, stenosis of nerve root exits and so on).
So you have to give some more details on the structure which was stenosed, location, tests which were done to reach to that conclusion. More data on any other medical condition you have might also be useful.
Also some more info on the distribution of these tingling feeling, do they involve the hands and feet (socks/stockings and gloves like distribution), or are they present further up the limb. Or do they involve only certain fingers or other localized areas of the limb. Any other info on how long have you had them for, exacerbating or relieving factors, other symptoms of pain, weakness, loss of balance etc might be of help.
For the moment a symmetric bilateral tingling of the extremities would generally call for an evaluation for the possibility of peripheral neuropathy the main test for which are nerve conduction studies/electromyography.
I remain at your disposal for further questions possibly providing more info.
More info needed.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the symptoms that you are experiencing.
I would gladly like to guide you in identifying the cause for those abnormal sensation. However I fear some more precisions are needed to express an opinion. You mention to have stenosis, but stenosis is just the ancient greek word for narrowing, it indicates nothing about what is actually narrowed, it could be anything in any site in any organ (stenosis of blood vessels, stenosis of heart valves, stenosis of spinal canal, stenosis of nerve root exits and so on).
So you have to give some more details on the structure which was stenosed, location, tests which were done to reach to that conclusion. More data on any other medical condition you have might also be useful.
Also some more info on the distribution of these tingling feeling, do they involve the hands and feet (socks/stockings and gloves like distribution), or are they present further up the limb. Or do they involve only certain fingers or other localized areas of the limb. Any other info on how long have you had them for, exacerbating or relieving factors, other symptoms of pain, weakness, loss of balance etc might be of help.
For the moment a symmetric bilateral tingling of the extremities would generally call for an evaluation for the possibility of peripheral neuropathy the main test for which are nerve conduction studies/electromyography.
I remain at your disposal for further questions possibly providing more info.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
OK, thank you I didn't know stenosis could be anywhere. The back doctor said I have stenosis in the spine and he said quite severe. He recommended shots but I didn't really like that idea so decided I'd rather to Advil. Had to take Advil for arthritis anyway. I also have sciatica - (pain in my butt on right side going down right leg (at times). Everything else is normal BP and weight etc. An MRI was done at the hospital and then sent to the doctor (I forget which kind but a back specialist). I initially thought the tingling was severe sore ITCHING cuz seemed as if I wanted to scratch my skin off. I tried stop the synthroid 122 (only pill I take as I thought maybe pharmacy changed how it was made and pill was making me itch. I went through changing detergent etc. Then this morning I realized this is happening only in the morning when I get up. Weird. So I tried looking it up on the web and found you. It is a tingling like little pins pressing against my skin from the inside. My hands - worse in the fingers and feet - worse in the toes but ankles and some in lower arm are tingling. They itch, they feel numb sometimes but just itch a lot but I now realize it is tingling. It stops after I am up for about an hour. That is all I know - does that help? Thank you XXXXXXX Galloway
Brief Answer:
Peripheral neuropathy likely.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the update, that is helpful.
I wish you could have specified where in the spine the stenosis is, usually it's lumbar or cervical (or both). However from your description of your previous issues it seems it was a case of lumbar stenosis.
Judging from that update I would confirm peripheral neuropathy as the most likely diagnosis. As I said, apart for the physical neurological exam to check for signs like loss of reflexes, muscle wasting etc, it is necessary to confirm it also with nerve conduction studies testing.
If it's confirmed, other tests would be necessary to look for the cause (the causes can be variable, at times impossible to find) such as complete blood count, blood glucose and HbA1c, liver and kidney function tests, electrolytes, thyroid function check, vitamin B12 etc.
The stenosis isn't likely to be the cause. It could explain numbness in lower limbs, but not the upper ones. Even if it was a case of a stenosis of the cervical region still that symmetrical distribution of the abnormal sensations isn't typical and should have other signs as well.
I hope to have been of help.
Peripheral neuropathy likely.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the update, that is helpful.
I wish you could have specified where in the spine the stenosis is, usually it's lumbar or cervical (or both). However from your description of your previous issues it seems it was a case of lumbar stenosis.
Judging from that update I would confirm peripheral neuropathy as the most likely diagnosis. As I said, apart for the physical neurological exam to check for signs like loss of reflexes, muscle wasting etc, it is necessary to confirm it also with nerve conduction studies testing.
If it's confirmed, other tests would be necessary to look for the cause (the causes can be variable, at times impossible to find) such as complete blood count, blood glucose and HbA1c, liver and kidney function tests, electrolytes, thyroid function check, vitamin B12 etc.
The stenosis isn't likely to be the cause. It could explain numbness in lower limbs, but not the upper ones. Even if it was a case of a stenosis of the cervical region still that symmetrical distribution of the abnormal sensations isn't typical and should have other signs as well.
I hope to have been of help.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
