charles shepherd
Senior Member
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MEA website survey on sensory symptoms (pins and needles etc) - March 2017
Vote via the home page of the MEA website:
http://www.meassociation.org.uk
Overseas votes welcome in this month's survey
Current responses:
WHY ARE WE ASKING ABOUT SENSORY SYMPTOMS IN THIS MONTH'S MEA WEBSITE SURVEY?
There are a number of neurological symptoms involving sensation - patchy loss of sensation, increased sensitivity to touch/pain, unusual sensations/paraesthesiae/'pins and needles' - that can occur in ME/CFS.
However, it is sometimes very difficult to know whether they are part of ME/CFS, or a sign of another medical problem
Other causes of sensory symptoms include vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes, hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), MGUS/monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance and Sjogren's syndrome
These conditions can all cause fatigue and other ME/CFS like symptoms
Sensory symptoms can also occur in anxiety and when people over-breathe/hyperventilate
Reliable source of more detailed information:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Peripheral-neuropathy/Pages/Causes.aspx
So it is important to properly investigate these symptoms, especially where they are more pronounced or have more unusual features
The investigation of sensory symptoms in ME/CFS is covered in more detail in the Investigation section of the MEA purple book
If the problem continues, and a GP cannot provide a satisfactory explanation, a GP could make a referral to a neurologist for a more thorough clinical assessment and investigation
Dr Charles Shepherd
Hon Medical Adviser, MEA
Vote via the home page of the MEA website:
http://www.meassociation.org.uk
Overseas votes welcome in this month's survey
Current responses:
How often do you have sensory symptoms in the skin such as 'pins and needles', loss of sensation, or pain on touching the skin?
- Constantly (13%, 6 Votes)
- Frequently (47%, 22 Votes)
- Quite often (13%, 6 Votes)
- Occasionally (19%, 9 Votes)
- Never (9%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 47
- Constantly (13%, 6 Votes)
WHY ARE WE ASKING ABOUT SENSORY SYMPTOMS IN THIS MONTH'S MEA WEBSITE SURVEY?
There are a number of neurological symptoms involving sensation - patchy loss of sensation, increased sensitivity to touch/pain, unusual sensations/paraesthesiae/'pins and needles' - that can occur in ME/CFS.
However, it is sometimes very difficult to know whether they are part of ME/CFS, or a sign of another medical problem
Other causes of sensory symptoms include vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes, hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), MGUS/monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance and Sjogren's syndrome
These conditions can all cause fatigue and other ME/CFS like symptoms
Sensory symptoms can also occur in anxiety and when people over-breathe/hyperventilate
Reliable source of more detailed information:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Peripheral-neuropathy/Pages/Causes.aspx
So it is important to properly investigate these symptoms, especially where they are more pronounced or have more unusual features
The investigation of sensory symptoms in ME/CFS is covered in more detail in the Investigation section of the MEA purple book
If the problem continues, and a GP cannot provide a satisfactory explanation, a GP could make a referral to a neurologist for a more thorough clinical assessment and investigation
Dr Charles Shepherd
Hon Medical Adviser, MEA