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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by ReadersLeaders on September 13, 2005, at 16:24:42
I've always wondered what caused these feelings as I withdraw from Effexor; the scientific name is, paresthesia.
Definition of Paresthesia
Paresthesia: An abnormal sensation of the skin, such as numbness, tingling, pricking, burning, or creeping on the skin that has no objective cause. Paresthesia is the usual American spelling and paraesthesia the preferred English spelling.Pronounced par·es·the·sia. From the Greek para- (abnormal) + esthesis (feeling) = an abnormal feeling.
Found these articles and thought they would help others here with the same problem:
What is Paresthesia?
Paresthesia refers to a burning or prickling sensation that is usually felt in the hands, arms, legs, or feet, but can also occur in other parts of the body. The sensation, which happens without warning, is usually painless and described as tingling or numbness, skin crawling, or itching.Most people have experienced temporary paresthesia -- a feeling of "pins and needles" -- at some time in their lives when they have sat with legs crossed for too long, or fallen asleep with an arm crooked under their head. It happens when sustained pressure is placed on a nerve. The feeling quickly goes away once the pressure is relieved.
Chronic paresthesia is often a symptom of an underlying neurological disease or traumatic nerve damage. Paresthesia can be caused by disorders affecting the central nervous system, such as stroke and transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes), multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, and encephalitis. A tumor or vascular lesion pressed up against the brain or spinal cord can also cause paresthesia. Nerve entrapment syndromes, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, can damage peripheral nerves and cause paresthesia accompanied by pain. Diagnostic evaluation is based on determining the underlying condition causing the paresthetic sensations. An individual's medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests are essential for the diagnosis. Physicians may order additional tests depending on the suspected cause of the paresthesia.
Is there any treatment?
The appropriate treatment for paresthesia depends on accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause.What is the prognosis?
The prognosis for those with paresthesia depends on the severity of the sensations and the associated disorders.
The above came from this website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/paresthesia/paresthesia.htm
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Paresthesia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Paresthesia
ICD-10 code:
ICD-9 code: 782.0, 355.1, 782.0Paresthesia (paraesthesia in British) is a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of the skin with no apparent physical cause, more generally known as the feeling of pins and needles. Transient paresthesia is usually caused by inadvertent pressure on a superficial nerve, and disappears gradually as the pressure is relieved. Other kinds of paresthesia, however, can be chronic and painful, and can come from a wide variety of sources.
Chronic paresthesia indicates a problem with the functioning of nerve cells, or neurons, in the central nervous system. This malfunction, which is especially common in older individuals, is often the result of poor circulation in the limbs, or may be caused by atherosclerosis—the build up of plaque on artery walls. Without a proper supply of blood and nutrients, nerve cells can no longer adequately send signals to the brain. Because of this, paresthesia is also a symptom of vitamin deficiency and malnutrition, as well as metabolic disorders like diabetes and hypothyroidism.
Irritation to the nerve can also come from inflammation to the surrounding tissue. Joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome are common sources of paresthesia.
Another cause of paresthesia, however, may be direct damage to the nerves themselves, or neuropathy, which can stem from injury or infection, 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, a brain tumor, motor neurone disease, or autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis or lupus erythematosus. A diagnostic evaluation by a doctor is necessary to rule these out.
Paresthesiae of the mouth, hands and feet are common, transient symptoms of the related conditions of hyperventilation syndrome and panic attacks.
Other known causes of paresthesia:
alcoholism
anticonvulsant drugs such as topiramate, sulthiame, and acetazolamide
dehydration
heavy metals
migraines
radiation poisoningThe above article is from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ParesthesiaI believe my nerve damage and poor functioning thyroid are a direct result of the Effexor.
RL
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