HomeAnswersNeurologytingling sensationI Have A Tingling Sensation In My Hands And Feet. Can It Be Due To Anxiety?

I have a tingling sensation in my hands and feet. Can it be due to anxiety?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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Published At September 5, 2017
Reviewed AtAugust 17, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 26 year old female. At the beginning of this year, I had a bad cold, and two weeks later, I had a tingling in the wrists, feet, and legs, which the doctor said was reactive arthritis which lasted a few weeks. Then, the first time my left hand felt weak was five months back. It felt weak, more so at rest but, when I had to grip things, I was able to. I went to a physio and had a neck massage as my back was also tense and the next day, the weakness was gone. So, the massage helped it. Now, more recently, I had foot weakness on the left side and a weakness and very mild tingling in hand. Again, my back is very tense and tight from gym and work position. As soon as I get this, I get very anxious, and I feel the tingling gets worse. The only difference in daily activities is lifting weights at the gym, weighted squats, and heavier arm exercises. I used the foam roller on my foot last night, and today the foot weakness was gone. The foot weakness lasted 12 hours on and off. There are no problems walking or anything like that. It just felt weaker but, it was not. The weakness always comes randomly but, I do seem to always have a tight back when the weakness occurs as well. Could this be multiple sclerosis (MS)? Does it sound like it? I am extremely worried now. I have never been diagnosed with it. I have just read about it online. What could this be from? I went to the opticians last week, and my eyes were fine. There were no eye symptoms. It was just a standard check-up. My eyes were said to be perfect. I do not have any bladder or bowel symptoms and no other weakness anywhere else.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. You have remitting symptoms, which have not hampered your activities. Also, these symptoms are not objective but, only subjective. This can be related to your stress. Try doing meditation. Do not worry at all. These symptoms will disappear. But, if you get any objective evidence of weakness, please consult a neurologist.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

But, can this be multiple sclerosis (MS)?

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. The symptoms do not look like multiple sclerosis. So do not worry at all. If you do not have any objective evidence of weakness, you do not have to worry. They can be a manifestation of your stress. My suggestion would be to get an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine done to rule out the possibility of a neurological illness so that you will be relieved of your anxiety.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

Could this just be related to my tense back? So, are you saying that only if I have an actual weakness like not being able to walk, etc., I should be concerned? Could it be peripheral neuropathy?

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. It does not look like a neuropathy at all since you said it gets worse when you are anxious, relieved with a back massage and with periods of complete improvement in between. It does not look like it is related to your tense back as well. It never causes such symptoms. Yes, if you have persistent symptoms that do not get relieved on their own and are associated with weakness or any such objective signs you should consult a neurologist. Otherwise, I think it should go away on its own. Do you have any stressors?

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Nene Devavrat Harihar
Dr. Nene Devavrat Harihar

Neurology

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