How many of you get pins and needle sensations all over your body. I have gotten these alot lately. I am reetering zith after a week off. After the first 125 mg I started having these.
Parethesia is listed as a rare side effect. I wonder if I could get this from being on it so long--8 months.
Doctor said it was probably a herx but benadryl and hot baths don't help. What helps to alleviate them? What could be used instead of Zith. I am also on Omnicef and Tindamax but have not had either of those for eight days. Thanks for you help.
Posted by Marie1959 (Member # 24009) on :
Hi. I'm new to the board and to the world of Lyme having just started abx 17 days ago but parethesia was my first symptom. It began in my left glut. muscle and, within a year, the tingling traveled all the way down to my foot. It must be awful to get them everywhere.
Could it just be a part of the disease rather than the abx?
Posted by TS96 (Member # 14048) on :
I had this too, but it migrated all over.
I had it when I was on Zith, Septra and Plaquinel and Malarone and when I stopped Septra it went away.
It was worse when I was just coming out of the hot shower.
hth
Posted by btmb03 (Member # 18394) on :
Yup, been there, still have it. But in your case if you think it might be the Zith why not substitute it for another macrolide such as Biaxin? Won't hurt and might help!
Posted by farraday (Member # 21494) on :
I had it so bad in my feet that I couldn't stand to put socks on! That was after intense IV treatment in the hospital. Now I still have it, but not as bad. I am sure it is related to the antibiotics.
I also have trouble with numbness in hands and feet. I think that, too, is a common problem here.
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
I have sharp pins and needles feeling after starting my Rocephin IV. I took this stuff for months and never had this reaction before. I thought it was an allergic reation because I also had itching. My new LLMD says that it is toxins and not allergies. I am still taking the stuff because I feel better on it then off it. Let me know what you find out.
Posted by Imaginit (Member # 20399) on :
My LLMD thinks it's a herx---this symptom and my stomach problems are always the toughest to handle. I did feel I was too toxic even after taking a week off of abx. So I did a neuro toxin test on line. Cost is $15 and is recommended by Dr. Singleton. IT's an eye test and I flunked.
So now I'm off all abx and am doing some detoxing with Welchol. We'll see if this symptom returns when I go back on abx.
That said--it's all part of neuro lyme. Those little critters are everywhere.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- sending up for more replies. -
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
My epsom soaks helped loads I think. Doc said cool
the skin afterwards, by showering with cool/cold
water. I think it helps as much as I hate it.
Posted by MDW005 (Member # 22706) on :
I have this my dr. says neuro lyme. antibiotcs
helped lesson the pins. I couldnt even be emotional.
the pins and needles would hit from head to toe.
I would have to calm myself down and the symptoms would subside
Posted by Sick Tick (Member # 23003) on :
It was by far my worst symptom after the initial first week of illness, and nearly sent me over the edge! All over my body-I felt like I was holding onto an electric fence and couldn't let go. Started for me after my 1 month of Doxy, and went away quickly with IV Rocephin which is used for neuro Lyme.
Returned at a lesser intensity after Rocephin. Now it is only my head, rarely my feet, and comes and goes. Not as intense. But.....I can NOT sleep during this!
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
I have it only on my head. I don't think it's a herx. That's just my opinion.
Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
It is most likely a symptom. It is a form of neruopathy. For me pins and needles was a prominent symptom before abx. It went away on the Penicillins and re-emerged when I stopped them. Although, nerve pain started and I haven't found and abx yet that got rid of the pain.
Zith amped the nerve stuff to the point that was intolerable. I was put on Biaxin and it was easier.
Lyme effects the nervous system, most likely any symptom that appears while on abx is part of a herx. Although there are some abx that can cause neuropathy, such as Flagyl, Levaquin and Cipro to name a few.
I'd ask my LLMd for Biaxin if Zith turns out to be too hard like it was for me.
If the symptoms continue doctor's will likely put you on Lyrica or Neurontin I am guessing. Xanax relaxes the nervous system and gives temp relief.
Posted by maps (Member # 19758) on :
I have had tingling for a long time but two weeks ago I had a severe attack of pins and needles and numbness all over my body, it was quite scarey.
Since then it has been constant to some degree. I have done research as I have severe white brain matter disease.
This is what I found on wikapedia, notice it mentions lyme.
This is so disabling I am currently trying a mix of tylenol three and lorazapam pending doctors appointment this week.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS or visceral nervous system) is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions.
[1] The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils, micturition (urination), and sexual arousal. Whereas most of its actions are involuntary, some, such as breathing, work in tandem with the conscious mind.
It is classically divided into two subsystems: the parasympathetic nervous system and sympathetic nervous system.[1][2] Relatively recently, a third subsystem of neurons that have been named 'non-adrenergic and non-cholinergic' neurons (because they use nitric oxide as a neurotransmitter) have been described and found to be integral in autonomic function, particularly in the gut and the lungs.
With regard to function, the ANS is usually divided into sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) subsystems. Within these systems, however, there are inhibitory and excitatory synapses between neurones.
The enteric nervous system is sometimes considered part of the autonomic nervous system, and sometimes considered an independent system. Chronic paresthesia indicates a problem with the functioning of neurons.
In older individuals, paresthesia is often the result of poor circulation in the limbs (such as in peripheral vascular disease, also referred to by physicians as PVD or PAD), most often caused by atherosclerosis, the build up of plaque within artery walls, over decades, with eventual plaque ruptures, internal clots over the ruptures and subsequent clot healing but leaving behind narrowing of the artery openings or closure, both locally and in downstream smaller branches.
Without a proper supply of blood and nutrients, nerve cells can no longer adequately send signals to the brain.
Because of this, paresthesia can also be a symptom of vitamin deficiency and malnutrition, as well as metabolic disorders like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and hypoparathyroidism.
Irritation to the nerve can also come from inflammation to the tissue. Joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome are common sources of paresthesia. Nerves below the head may be compressed where chronic neck and spine problems exist and can be caused by, amongst other things, muscle cramps which may be a result of clinical anxiety or excessive mental stress[citation needed], bone disease, bad posture, unsafe heavy lifting practices or physical trauma such as whiplash. Paresthesia can also be caused simply by putting pressure on a nerve by applying weight [or pressure] on to the limb for extended periods of time.
Another cause of paresthesia, however, may be direct damage to the nerves themselves, i.e. neuropathy, which itself can stem from injury or infection such as frostbite or Lyme disease, or which may be indicative of a current neurological disorder.
Chronic paresthesia can sometimes be symptomatic of serious conditions, such as a transient ischemic attack, motor neurone disease, or autoimmune disorders likes multiple sclerosis or lupus erythematosus. The herpes zoster virus can attack nerves causing numbness instead of pain commonly associated with shingles. A diagnostic evaluation by a doctor is necessary to rule these out.
Demyelination diseases may also cause cross-talk between adjacent axons and lead to parasthesia. During impulse conduction some aberrant current that escaped a demyelinated axon can circulate in the exterior and depolarize an adjacent demyelinated, hyperexcitable axon.
This can generate impulses conducted in both directions along this axon since no part of the axon is in a refractory state. This becomes very serious in conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
Posted by jennie46 (Member # 20953) on :
I feel your pain. I have been having pins and needles and burning for the past 4 months. My LLMD thinks it may be bart.
Posted by Beachinit (Member # 21040) on :
Treatments for the neuropathy: include lipoic acid which is governmentally approved in Germany for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. B complex and B-12 seem helpful B-6 in particular but really need the whole complex eg B-50 complex. Also check thyroid function and treat if low.
Treatments for neuropathic pain: you want to block the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) pain receceptor: blockers include Magnesium-safest and cheapest, Amitriptyline an older antidepressant which blocks the receptor, Dextromethorphan- actually available Otc but usually with quaifenesin can get by itself at CVS though., Amantadine used to prevent Flu and also used to treat parkinsons and also used in lyme to make lysozomes more alkaline to help in attacking intracellular microbes. There are others such as memantine used to treat alzheimer's dementia etc.
Pain/tingle/itch one nerve fiber - three sensations.
Beachinit.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Pins and needles sensations weren't from abx. I know because I had this during abx years and for a couple years after abx.
Might have been herx reactions. Most likely some type of neurotoxin. I very rarely have these now and they only last for couple hours and gone again for months.