Q: I have fibromyalgia. One of my most bothersome symptoms is numbness and tingling in my feet, and nothing my rheumatologist prescribes seems to help. Do you know what causes this? Should I see another type of doctor?
If numbness and tingling are chronic and confined to your feet, I would suspect a condition besides fibromyalgia might be involved. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by diffuse widespread pain associated with at least 11 discrete tender areas of the body. Fibromyalgia can also include fatigue, headaches, restless sleep, irritable bowel syndrome, memory changes and, as you are experiencing, numbness and tingling.
The cause of numbness and tingling in fibromyalgia is unknown. These symptoms don't follow any anatomic or nerve pattern, and they tend to come and go in different parts of the body.
Other conditions that might cause numbness are diabetes, alcohol use, obesity with fluid retention around the ankles (which causes the compression of nerves in the tarsal tunnel of the lower extremities) and compression of nerves in the low back.
Your rheumatologist should be able to help you sort this out by your history, physical exam, lab tests and X-rays. Depending on what he finds from these tests, your rheumatologist can arrange to test the nerves in your feet (nerve conduction test) and refer you to a specialist for additional treatment if needed.
James McKoy, MD, Rheumatologist
Fibromyalgia and Numb Feet
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Vickie
12 Feb 2010, 08:45
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| I, too, have fibromyalgia and had numbness and tingling in my feet. I also cannot take many medications due to hypersensitivities. My rheumatologist tested me for a Vitamin D deficiency which can cause neurological deficits. I laughed at her. My bad! I was very deficient in that vitamin. I now take 2000 IU of Vitamin D-3 each day, and the symptoms have dramatically decreased. It took about 2 weeks to realize the tingling was gone. |
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Deb
11 Feb 2010, 21:51
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| I used to do a lot of driving from Grand Rapids, MI to White Cloud,MI (hour and a half trip). Many times it would feel as though I had a string from my sock caught between my toes. On one trip when this happened, I looked down at my foot and realized it couldn't be a string, I was bare foot in sandles. :-) I have had FMS for over 30 years. I have had numbness in my feet, gout like pain in my toes, numbness and hot burning pain in my knee muscles, as well as arms, hands, shoulders, back .... Hmmm, I think that covers just about my whole body. I react adversly to medications like Neurontin, SSRIs, Elevil etc. I've tried just about everything at one time or another. Right now I'm taking Relafen (an anti-inflammatory) and chelated magnesium supplements. They seem to be working. I neglected to take them over the weekend & by Monday I could hardly walk. I've been taking two Relafen a day and 300 mg of magnesium 2x a day since then. While I am not pain free, at least I'm a lot more mobile and only need my cane for walking distances and for going up & down stairs. |
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MaryJ
11 Feb 2010, 19:48
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| Larry - If you have fibromyalgia and are from the Triangle area, please check out our support group at http://fibromyalgia.meetup.com/277. |
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Barbara Gifford
11 Feb 2010, 18:18
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| I have had sleep apnea with severe snoring since 1996 when diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I take 800 mg. neurontin twice a day for the pain and tingling and also take 1 1/2 ambien at night in order to sleep at least 6 hours with my cpap. Both medicines would be impossible to live without. I also take 60 mg. of oxycontin in the morning for the pain when I get up. I am not pain free by any means but can function quite well all day long. I have also been on disability since 1998. Neurontin is a great medicine for fibro. |
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Jennifer
10 Jan 2010, 06:57
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| I have fibomyalgia, about 1 month ago I started going numb all over mostly my arms hands and legs, it hurts so bad!!! lots of swelling also. Does antone else have this problem? |
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donna pooler
18 Jul 2009, 10:43
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| all over body numbness and pain on 800 mgs of neuronton please help Donna |
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Larry
17 Mar 2009, 21:23
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| I have sleep apnea and have always wondered about memory loss. I have yet
to get a study from the VA on how sleep apnea affects memory. I have cold
feet and tingling and sweats. Head aches are reoccurring and sinus problems
more noticeable. I only sleep 4 to 6 hours before waking. It is difficult
getting back to sleep. It is seldom that I get past second stage sleep. It
is duly noted in my sleep studies. I know that sleeping without my CPAP can
cause serious fatigue the following day and serveral days later. I had a
tough time in college due to loss of concentration. I saw a bone and joint
specialist and he diagnosed me with fibromyalgia after an exam along with
xrays. I feel pain in so many areas over my body. The doctor pressed in
places where I didn't expect to feel pain and it hurt. He asked me about
headaches, loss of sleep, pain and fatigue. Next I might seek a clinical
study with Wake Forest Med Center. Do you have any advice? Larry |
Susan