Question: I developed Raynaud’s two years ago. Around the same time, I also started getting an intermittent pins and needles feeling in my hands and feet in the winter. I am now getting this fleeting feeling several times an hour every day and all over my body. I feel like someone is sticking me with a needle. I also get a feeling of cold water on my skin on some areas and burning others. I went to the Dr. over a month ago because I had woken up with a numb and weak arm. I had nerve pain so bad that it left a bruise in the shape of a line, all the way from my arm pit and down. Then, the pain spread to my back, neck and head. The Dr. did an x-ray and bloodwork. He checked B-12, thyroid and vitamin D. All is okay, except for my Vit D. I’m taking supplements. Since the Dr. couldn’t figure out what was wrong, I went to the Chiropractor and have been getting massages a few times a week. The head pain (throbbing at the left base of my skull with some sharp shooting pains) seems to be lessening. The Chiropractor told me after the 2nd appointment that he thinks adjustments are not going to help me and that I have a possible nerve problem. The massage therapist determined that I also have inflamed and painful areas where there are nerves on both buttocks, the bottom of my feet and the palm of my hands. I don’t understand what is going on. I am not under any undue stress and I’m only 40 years old and in good shape. I do have asthma, bad allergies and get frequent infections. Other than that, I’m healthy. My husband is concerned that I am not wanting to spend the time away from work to persist more testing from the Dr. I have read that the pins and needles sensation is called paresthesia and that if it’s usually begin if it occurs in a migrating fashion. So, I’m not concerned that it’s serious, even though it has gotten worse and is extremely annoying. Do you agree this is probably nothing to worry about or should I take my husband’s advice and go back for further testing?

I was treated about 5 years ago with Hyperthyroid and had a goiter as well. The uptake scan indicated Grave’s but the Endocrine Dr. was surprised that I didn’t show any antibodies. I was started on PTU. I had an allergic reaction after 2 weeks and discontinued. At that point, we discussed iodine treatment but we decided to wait on my thyroid levels. They were borderline normal and I decided to wait on iodine treatment. To this day, I remain borderline normal. During the onset of thyroid symptoms, I had lost a lot of weight. I had also been diagnosed with POTS. I was seeing a Neurologist, Cardiologist and Endocrinologist during that time. The POTS seems to have resolved but I do have exercise intolerance and temperature intolerance now. I also get frequent migraines with aura, about 1 every three months.

Thank you very much for your response. I will follow up with my Dr.