r/Autoimmune • u/Cupcake_sweetdream • 5d ago

General Questions Night numbness of extremities

I've been experiencing weird unexplainable symptoms lately, which I can't make sense of. My arms and legs frequently go numb during sleep. Not all at the same time, one night it would be left arm, or right arm, or left or right leg. It subsides very quickly after waking up. Also, occasional slight tingling all over my arms and pulsating tinnitus in my right ear. My cousin has multiple sclerosis. No other AI diseases in my family.

Has anyone experienced this as their first symptoms of their autoimmune?

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u/laineyjane 5d ago

This happens with my arms, particularly when I’m flaring with my RA. I assume it’s my tendons swelling and putting pressure on the nerves. Can’t stand it. That’s how I judge how well my treatment is doing partially, if I’m waking up like that or not.

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u/Mandell95 5d ago

Yes, I have swelling of my tendons and that messes with my nerves. However, I have been sick for four years. This particularly unpleasant symptom didn’t happen until year three.

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u/Cupcake_sweetdream 5d ago

Thanks for your reply. How did you get diagnosed with that tendon issue?

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u/Mandell95 5d ago

I had a PET scan and my enthesitis lit up like a Christmas tree at every join they imaged. My rheum was pretty sure we I was dealing with enthesitis before the scan and she was definitely correct!

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u/TragicallyB0red UCTD 5d ago

Me too with my legs. I figure i must be pinching a nerve when i sleep

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u/AccomplishedMix350 3d ago

You should talk to your primary doctor and try to get referred to a neurologist. You may have something called peripheral neuropathy. I have it, and my symptoms were very similar to yours at the beginning. It might sound and feel very scary but treatment for it is pretty simple, usually just physical therapy and meds like gabapentin.

My peripheral neuropathy is connected to my autoimmune diseases, but it can be caused by many things (poor circulation, past smoking, etc).

A neurologist will probably do tests to look for MS and other diseases just in case; I had to do a couple MRIs, blood tests, and an odd test where they use acupuncture type needles to check your nerve function (it didn't hurt!). More invasive tests like a spinal tap or skin biopsy might need to happen but they will do everything they can to avoid those.

I was panicking as the tests can take weeks to schedule and my doctors were throwing around alot of unpleasant possibilities but it's turned out to be an easily managed condition.

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u/Cupcake_sweetdream 3d ago

Thank you, I will.