Tingling Extremities
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Tingling Extremities

While not a common menopause or postmenopause symptom, experiencing tingling extremities can be unsettling and unpleasant. This tingling can affect any part of the body, though it commonly occurs in the feet, legs, arms, and hands. Tingling extremities during menopause are usually the result of hormone fluctuations.

Fortunately, most cases of tingling extremities during menopause and postmenopause do not indicate a more serious underlying condition. Nonetheless, women who are experiencing tingling extremities and those who are curious about this menopause symptom should learn more about its causes and treatments.

Continue reading to learn more about tingling extremities during menopause.

About Tingling Extremities

Tingling extremities, medically referred to as paresthesia, can occur at any time. In milder cases, tingling can arise after a certain position or posture pinches a nerve or presses on an artery, causing a limb to temporarily "fall asleep." In these cases, the tingling extremities usually return to normal shortly after the compression is relieved.

Symptoms of Tingling Extremities

Changes in sensation
"Pins and needles"
Prickling or burning sensations
Numbness or reduced feeling
Increased sensitivity
Creepy crawling feeling

Along the same lines as paresthesia, a low number of women in menopause also report experiencing formication, or the sensation of insects crawling on the skin. This is akin to a “creepy-crawly” sensation, even though nothing is there on the surface of the skin.

While tingling extremities are not usually cause for concern, these sensations can be indicative of another condition. Read on to learn more about the causes of tingling extremities.

All About Numb Fingertips in Both Left and Right Hand

Although most people assume that all tingling and numbness sensations are caused by extremities falling asleep, that is a false assumption. There can actually be a number of different and varied causes behind this sensation, and some of them are entirely unrelated to blood circulation.

Pin and Needles Sensation in Hands

Although people don't usually think of pins and needles as a medical problem, it can be a symptom of some medical issues. The technical medical term for any sort of tingling, numb, or pins and needles sensation in any part of the body is paresthesia.

Causes of Tingling Extremities

In most cases, tingling extremities experienced during menopause are the result of natural hormone fluctuations. Estrogen, one of the primary hormones in flux during menopause, has a complex effect on the central nervous system. When this hormone is thrown off balance during menopause, it can affect the nervous system, producing symptoms like tingling extremities.

While estrogen fluctuations are a prime cause of tingling extremities during menopause, other medical conditions can trigger tingling in the hands, feet, arms, and legs.

Other Causes of Tingling Extremities

Nerve injury (from neck or lower back injuries)
Spinal cord injury
Hyperventilation
Herniated disc
Vascular claudication, or lack of blood supply to an area
Anxiety
Carpal tunnel syndrome

Diabetes
Migraines
Multiple sclerosis
Stroke
Seizures
Thyroid problems
Electrolyte or vitamin deficiencies
Side effects of medications

Read on to discover when tingling extremities might warrant a trip to the doctor's office.

Tingling in Face: What Causes it and What to Do

While a tingling face may be caused by anxiety, it can also actually cause anxiety. If experiencing this symptom, it is best to stay calm and rationally consider all possibilities rather than panicking and feeding the cycle of anxiety. Staying calm may even help to reduce the feeling if it was a result of stress.

Numbness and Tingling in Toes: Causes and Solutions

Tingling and numbness in toes is often a symptom of a minor problem that will not affect your health. However, there are rare cases of tingling toes that may be a symptom of more major health issues, like a seizure or stroke, so it is important to consider visiting a doctor if other symptoms are present.

Extreme Cases of Tingling Extremities

While tingling extremities during menopause are not usually cause for alarm, there are some cases of tingling extremities where medical attention is necessary.

Seek immediate medical attention if tingling extremities are accompanied by any of the following:

Weakness or paralysis
Back, neck, or head injury
Inability to control the movement of an arm or leg
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Loss of feeling or tingling on one side of the body
Loss of consciousness
Slurred speech
Vision changes
Trouble walking

If you experience any other unexplained symptoms along with tingling extremities - such as increased urination, worsening of symptoms while walking, rash, muscle spasms, or pain - it is wise to seek medical help.

Because most cases of tingling extremities in menopause do not require medical attention, it can be important for women to learn more about the management options available. Please read on to learn about the treatment of tingling extremities during menopause and postmenopause.

Constant Tingling in Legs, Feet, or Hands

When your extremities are tingling, it can be difficult to separate normal sensations from the tingling. This makes it more likely that you may damage your hands, feet, or legs. Be sure to pay extra attention to protect your extremities from bumps, cuts, bruises, and burns.

Tingling Extremities Treatments

As with any menopause symptom, it is usually wise to begin with the least aggressive tingling extremities treatment and move on to the next method only if relief is not achieved.

In most cases, a combination of lifestyle changes and natural therapies is the most effective and safest approach to managing tingling extremities during menopause. A good, balanced diet, hydration, and adequate sleep are basic lifestyle measures that can help. A doctor can also recommend other changes that can help to ease tingling extremities.

Using certain alternative treatments can also help to get to the source of tingling extremities in menopause: hormonal imbalance.

Most experts recommend that women who suffer from tingling extremities and wish to treat the symptom begin with lifestyle changes, then move onto alternative medicine and finally, look to medications or surgery if nothing else seems to work. Click on the following link to learn specific treatments for tingling extremities in these three categories.

Tingling in Hands and Feet at Night: Causes & Treatments

Experiencing tingling extremities in the middle of the night can be a problem at any stage during a woman's life, but is particularly common during times of hormonal imbalance, such as pregnancy and menopause. This article seeks to explain the causes and symptoms for tingling extremities.

5 Fruits and Vegetables to Improve Circulation and Reduce Tingling Sensations

Eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day is essential to a healthy diet and can help reduce some menopause symptoms. Getting enough vitamins, such as B12, can also help to ease tingling sensations.

Sources:

De Azevedo Guimaraes, A.C. & Baptista, F. (2011). Influence of habitual physical activity on the symptoms of climacterium/menopause and the quality of life of middle-aged women. International Journal of Women's Health, 3, 319-328. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S24822
National Institutes of Health. (2015). Numbness and tingling. Retrieved May 20, 2016, from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003206.htm

General articles

Updated on Mar 17, 2017
Tingling at Night: Feet, Hands, Legs, and Other Body Parts
Tingling is the sensation of having pins and needles in the hands, legs, and feet. If left unchecked, this nighttime affliction can grow painful, eventually disrupting normal sleep patterns, triggering anxiety, and exacerbating mood swings and other symptoms. This article presents the main causes and signs of tingling at night.

Updated on Jul 18, 2016
Tingling Extremities FAQs
Tingling extremities can be suffered from at any stage during a woman's life, and are particularly common during times of hormonal imbalance. This article answers the most frequently asked questions about the symptom, including what causes it, what the symptoms are, whether it is serious, and what can be done to relieve it.

Updated on May 13, 2016
Tingling Extremities during Postmenopause
Tingling in the extremities is not a common symptom of postmenopause, but can be experienced. This article aims to clear up any confusion regarding this symptom, and give useful information about why and when it occurs. When accompanied by troubling symptoms, it should be checked by a doctor.

Updated on Mar 11, 2016
Top 4 Vitamins for Tingling Extremities
Tingling extremities typically occurs in the arms, hands, feet and legs.This abnormal sensation can be caused by vitamin deficiencies, hormone fluctuations, nerve injury, or lack of exercise. Taking vitamins, exercising regularly, eating healthy, and drinking plenty of water can help prevent tingling extremities and related sensations.

Updated on Nov 09, 2015
Tingling: A Common Symptom to Watch for
Tingling, numbness, pins and needles, or the sensation of a part of the body falling asleep are all common occurrences. Sometimes they are a symptom of a serious condition, or more commonly, women can feel them during the menopausal phase. Read here for more information about tingling and treatments for relief.

Read all Tingling Extremities Articles