HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

T1 - sudden neuropathy numbness/tingling?

Support Forums
>
Diabetes
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/19/2014 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 38 years old, T1 for 12 years on pump and decent control, could be better - last A1C was 6.7. I had great control when pregnant last year and got down to 5.3. A few weeks ago I noticed a numbish spot that came and went on my inner left ankle. I am pretty active so figured i did something working out. Over the wekeend I noticed numbness on my front of that left ankle and a little on my shins on both legs. During my last appt w my endo I was fine - he checked my feet. I've never had an issue, maybe some slight stuff but not like this - it's pretty constant, feels good when I wake up and I sleep fine. No pain, just numbness some tingling. I also was in a car accident a few years ago and herniated 2 discs L4L5 and L5/S1. I had bad sciatica after that. I assumed this was due to that. I had worked out again fairly recently after a break (havent worked out as consistently in recent weeks). My endo made some adjustments to my insulin - my next appt isnt until Sept and until then he's making weekly tweaks to my basals. I'm having a bit of anxiety over this and I'm sure the numbness/tingling is exacerbated by that. He was going to prescribe me Neurontin but I'm breastfeeding. Can it just randomly flare up? Does something cause it - stress? I had a week in May where my pump was malfunctioning with a lot of highs and no symptoms then... I am going to make an appointment with a neurologist but it's a long wait. Also my feet feel ok its really just ankles/shins. wondering if my diabetes is making the existing nerve issues from my back flare up?? so confused.

Post Edited (Amy Cate) : 8/19/2014 2:16:49 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/19/2014 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Amy and welcome to HealingWell. I'm not sure. I'm wondering if those numb spots have something to do with the herniated discs. Normally if it's related to diabetic neuropathy numbness would start in the toes. And of course that's related to very high blood sugar over a period of time.

I guess only a neurologist would be able to tell you it's definitely from a particular cause so I hope you can get in to see one sooner.

I hope you can get your blood sugar back down to more normal levels, too, so you can avoid complications like neuropathy.
Posted 8/20/2014 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks! Yes, it really doesn't make sense to me either. Also my feet feel fine - it's more my ankles/shins... so it's weird. Seems more like a pinched nerve. I also would like to switch endos at some point. I'm really surprised that he would just write a script and not see me AND i can't take it because I'm breastfeeding. I'm working extra hard on my sugar as that's all I can do right now. I'm trying to keep my anxiety in check because it makes it all worse anyway. Glad I found this forum!
Posted 8/20/2014 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning, Amy. How are you today? I think you should find another endo from what you wrote, too! Have you seen a neurologist because of the discs?
Posted 8/20/2014 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
I will make an appointment. I will call today. I'm unemployed and it will be $$ I'm sure... I'm also worried because I have panic/anxiety attacks brought on by the numbness and now I can't tell what is just anxiety and what is real symptom. (sorry I sound crazy!)
Posted 8/20/2014 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
I understand that well. I also had anxiety attacks when I was younger and I had several physical symptoms from them. When I finally learned it was panic attacks and not something physical (I was checked out for heart and a whole range of problems.) I began to understand that I was able to control those feelings. I was put on something, xanax, I think, which I took for awhile and then I was able to slowly come off it. If you're unemployed, see if you qualify for some assistance. If not, sometimes medical offices will work out plans with you.

Stress and pain can raise blood sugar unfortunately, so take care of yourself!
Posted 8/20/2014 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much. Yes, it's a vicious cycle with anxiety, sugar, symptoms... I really appreciate your help.
Posted 8/20/2014 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Therapy can be useful. Knowing others are going through the same thing or have gone through the same thing helps you, I think. Then you know you're not alone having those strange feelings. It's hard reasoning with yourself sometimes to convince yourself you are not crazy and that you do have the panicky and anxious feelings. So, whether you need anxiety medication or not, it does help to find others who've been there if you know what I mean.

And when you also have some physical issues this can add to your anxiety and rightly so because you don't want to be sick or incapacitated.

So, you need to take care of yourself physically, eat correctly for the diabetes and for your child if you're still breastfeeding. If your child is old enough to be weaned, then consider that so you don't have to worry about medication that you need to take.
Posted 9/10/2014 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there, still waiting for my appointment next week. So since I last posted, my back has flared up big time. I have cramps in calves, both sides, and some foot cramping as well. This sounds like sciatica, I think, still not diabetes related... Can it take longer to heal from these things when you have diabetes??
Posted 9/10/2014 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. I'm not sure if it's sciatica but it could be. This is why a doctor needs to examine you to figure it out and if you need certain tests.

It's true that diabetics are very slow to heal wounds but in the case of body aches and painful conditions, I don't know.

I wish I had more ideas to share with you. Are you taking vitamins and minerals?
Posted 9/10/2014 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
I take multivitamin and b complex. I felt a lot of tightness in my ankle and I did some stretches and it helped a lot. I have muscle spasm I think. Just trying to do what's helped me in the past. My fasting was good today - 93 - trying to stay positive and not indulge health anxiety
Posted 9/10/2014 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
I'd really like to know what your doctor thinks about this! I had problems with the sciatic nerve about a year ago and I had pains from the butt down a leg. Sitting on some chairs aggravated it. It seemed to last for months. I was prescribed a muscle relaxant because my doctor felt some muscles were squeezing the nerve. I started doing a range of stretches I'd found online specifically for sciatic nerve pain, too.

In my case, what helped me besides the stretching was using a stability ball. I lay across it and stayed there for a few minutes. I think one of the websites said this was to help stretch the spine and if the sciatic nerve was being squeezed by disks, then this would help.

Anyway, I'm glad you're staying positive. Your fasting is great today!

yeah
Posted 9/10/2014 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Did you have any tingling too? I have that in backs of thighs and calf cramps plus some stiffness/tingling in lower legs/ankles. How long did your take to resolve?
Posted 9/10/2014 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
I think it lasted about 3 or 4 months. I don't remember tingling, just pain radiating from the back hip area/left side buttocks down the leg, back of the thigh and I 'think' the front of the leg to the ankle. It was painful to start walking and then ease up after some steps. Lying in bed really hurt too.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply