Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group pins and needles

Just a couple of quick questions, I have been getting sudden attacks of pins and needles in my feet while sitting down for about a month now. Im only sitting down for about 20 mins or so and I have to get up again suddenly. My diet is good, not lacking salt or anything. Is this a symptom, should I tell my physio, am I becoming a hypochondriac!!!?LOL Do you wonder that about yourself sometimes too? I do a lot, and worry about whether I am making a fuss. Too English I suppose.

It may be likely that you are somehow compressing or pinching a nerve by the way you are sitting down. Maybe try a soft pillow and a more reclining position instead of sitting and see if that helps. Try applying some heat (hot water bottle or microwaveable bag) against the small of your back and see if it lessens the tingling in your foot.

I have a damaged nerve running down my leg from the L5 position in the spine. I was having constant pins and needles feelings which has been somewhat lessened from monthly needling with an acupuncture needle.

No, I never wonder whether I am becoming a hypochondriac or am already one. At the age of 65, I don't care if I am.

George

Breb Assyl

LOL...Yes I do feel like a hypochondriac sometimes...but I think that comes from
years of constantly being told that there is nothing wrong with me...just belief in
myself and the pain I was going through kept me going from doctor to doctor!!!

Don't worry about them...if it is troubling you...pursue it!!!!
Don't wait for it to get worse! You are the one suffering...not them!


Take Care
Ann

" Every problem in your life carries a gift inside it."

Hi Lucy,

First of all you ARE NOT a hyprocondriac. AS effects SOOOOOOO many things. I find that AS and pins & needles go together a lot, from my experience and from listening to other's posts. Especially since it is in your legs, there are several reasonable answers. You could have somehow messed with a nerve in your fusion process, and when you move it in a certain way, your legs fall asleep. If you are having a lot of hip pain, I have heard that that can lead to lessened blood flow through that area, which would definalty lead to Ps and Ns. Definatly mention this to your doc, this is actually a very important symptom for him to hear about, as there can be very unfavorable outcomes of not doing anything about it depending on the exact cause. Untill then the only advice that I would add to the home remidies allready stated is for you (or a special someone) to massage your sides of your pelvis and your glutial muscles to get more blood flow. Good luck.

Take care my friend

Daniel

Keep on keepin on Kicking some AS

I ruptured a disc last year and still get pins and needles feelings in my right knee, feels sort of tingly and numb and oddly like someone is grabbing my knee I also get them a lot in my hands, if I'm holding a telephone up to my ear my hand will get tingly and numb in no time and I'll have to switch hands to hold the phone. With me I suspect it's disc compression - - I've seen the x-rays of my back and it ain't a pretty sight.

The other thing that happened to me once after a virus (had the flu) was something called polyradiculitis, or inflammation of my muscle sheaths where the nerve impluses weren't communicating (via the brain) with the muscles, and that started with numbness and tingling in my hands and feet. However, that progressed rapidly, within 24 hours I couldn't move much of anything and ended up in ICU for a week while my body recovered. That's most likely not the problem you have, though, if it hasn't progressed further than the feet. It does sound like a nerve compression thing, especially if you notice it when you're sitting and not at other times.

Cheryl

Dogs believe in long term relationships

Every body is telling you the worse, but you probably have sciatica, which is common
in AS as inflamation and swelling as well as fusion can interfer with the nerve pathways.
Find a physio you are comfortable with and keep the exercises up as this will assist as
different changes occur. Low impact exercises are the best which will include hydrotherapy in a pool heated to about 34 degrees celcius, stretching exercises help us to maintain our mobility as well as keeping us as straight as possible as we fuse.
cheers , rat

Lucy, I get the pins and needles in my feet and legs, also hands and arms. I believe it is a part of the AS demon...hope you feel better soon...hugs, DC

It's part of AS. I just get up and move, seems to help. Can't sit, stand or lay very long without getting pins and needles. Sometimes it's just pins and needles, sometimes it feels like rubber bands are snapping in my knees. If it is too bothersome, I'd call the doctor. And, no, you're not a hypochondriac. You're a woman with AS, and that's not an easy thing to be.

Hugs,

Cindy