Pins and needles during exercise?

From memory I can say that I have experienced this for about +- 5 years, somedays it only occur during exercise, sometimes it even occurs when I walk in the sun.

I have not found anything that has worked yet:

What I have tried

Different creams
Showering at the occurrence of pins and needles
Pushing through the pain of exercising
Even spoke to medical experts (no solution could be provided)

Cooling cream works to an extent, other than that nothing else works

Pushing through the exercise doesn't work for me, because I don't break out in a sweat, it feels like bee stings all over my body, from my scalp to the top of my feet

I also don't show any physical signs or symptoms, no red bumps, no hives, nothing else but the pain

I am now going to start avoiding caffeine as I saw it is a possible solution and my diet has a lot of caffeine in.

In a few weeks I will post the result here again.

Good luck people!

This seems to be an old thread. I don't know if my experience is quite the same but I figured I would join the conversation. My symptoms only started recently. I have heart issues, and wonder if it could be the medications. When I start sweating, it feels like fiberglass. It also happens when I am not working out. I lie in bed and start feeling it, just not as pronounced. It is usually on my face, but occasionally can be elsewhere. My wife has recently put me on milk thistle and I wonder if that could be what is causing it.

Hello @jasonallen, Welcome to Connect, an online community where patients and caregivers share their experiences, find support and exchange information with others. Here is some information Mayo Clinic has on milk thistle side effects and interactions - https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-milk-thistle/art-20362885.

Have you discussed the symptoms with your doctor or pharmacist?

Hi. I'm 23 and its been almost 8 years since i'm like this. My body especially upper body and back stings and itches and i feel like bees are attacking me when i do this activities like : hot shower , going out in hot weather , working out right before i sweat & when i sweat its over and i feel ok again. Its really effecting my life style and i can't go out. In winter its worst and i can't wear warm clothes cause my upper body starts stinging and i feel needles on my skin and i have to take off my jacket even though i'll be freezing. Nothing helps .i discussed the symptoms with my doctor or pharmacists but they don't know anything about it. I become depressed because of this. Can anyone help please ? Its kinda worse in fall and winter. I take telfast 180 but nothing changed

Hello @rezaborsi, Welcome to Connect. It must be terribly frustrating to have this feeling for 8 years and nothing seems to help. I found an article that sounds like it may be similar to what you are experiencing but I'm not sure and I'm hoping other members who have experienced your symptoms of feeling like bee stings and itching on your upper body and back after doing certain activities. @loribmt @sandrajune @bustrbrwn22 and others may also have some thoughts on your symptoms.

Effects of Pain From Atopic Dermatitis: Interview and Focus Group Study With Patients and Their Families
-- https://derma.jmir.org/2021/2/e29826

Do you have any rashes or hives on your upper body and back when the symptoms occur?

Hi sir , thank you for replying.
No, there is no rash or redness on my body when i happens. My Skin is totally clear but it hurts so much that sometimes i need to run to bathroom and take a very cold shower. Idk why and how it happend. I used to walk under hot sun from school to home like a normal person. Then suddenly i can't stand heat in any form. Everytime i get hot it happens. Sometimes its THAT intense , it gives me panic attacks. I'm hopeless actually. Its not something you just can live with. I hope atleast i'll know what it is even if there is no cure

Hello @rezaborsi. I’m very sympathetic to your symptoms, as I have similar…intense itching, with stinging and slight burning. I have been diagnosed with Large Fiber Neuropathy caused by autoimmune disease and other complications. My symptoms get worse when I’m hot, when I sit against something or lay on my back for more than an hour. And, they’re at the worst at night, making it difficult to sleep.

Are you seeing a neurologist? I’ve not found any over-the-counter remedies that work effectively for longer than a couple hours. The best for me is a lidocaine ointment which I mix with a topical containing camphor, eucalyptus, peppermint oils.

I just got a prescription from my neurologist for a compound topical ointment -
Lidocaine 2%, prilocaine 2%, gabapentin 3%, meloxicam 0.1%. Apply 1/2-2 gm, 3-4 times per day to affected areas. Total 240 gm.
Eastern State Compounding Pharmacy, Littleton, NH.

Unfortunately it’s expensive and my insurance didn’t cover it, so I use it when I’m having a particularly bad occurrence.

I hope you find relief soon!

I tried lidocaine cream once on my back before i start working out. Didnt really work cause i still felt stinging and pain on other parts of my body such as neck or stomach and when i finished and went to take a shower , hot water was painful on the areas that used lidocaine on. Like a sharp pain and stinging. I stopped using it since. There's thing. I workout in my house. Using treadmill and others stuff in doors, But when i workout in summer there is no stinging at all while working out but in other seasons it starts like 2 minutes after i'm doing physical activity. Temperature of the room is always the same but why its NOT happing much in summer ? And its worst in fall and winter ? I dont get it

Good afternoon @razaborsi and @athenalee ..I gave this more thought and realized that we are not taking into account the weather changes in fall and winter. Part of those changes have to do with barometric pressure. As the pressure declines, the pain and discomfort rise. For example, right now a storm is on its way and it is quite brisk outside....in the 30's. I just came back from the river and my body is complaining already, especially my hands.

Regarding the lidocaine compound recipe above......I used those for a while and kept asking my neurologist for more efficacy in the compound. I was maxed out and so I went to medical cannabis. It was more effective as long as I chose the right ingredients.

How about Voltaren.....it used to be by Rx only and now is OTC. I found it helpful pre and post-surgery many years ago. It might be worth a try to see how it works now.

And if you want a record to show your clinician.....just give every day of Barometric pressure a score for your pain and stinging. See what happens.

I am here for you......still in discovery mode as are so many of us.

Be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris

I agree Chris, that weather plays a big part. For me I definitely have more pain and discomfort when it’s cold and damp. And, I itch more in the heat. The itching is a recent step in my neuropathy progression, so I’ll see what happens in the dry winter air in Vermont.

I’ve learned through reading so many Connect patient testimonials that there are a wide range of neuropathy symptoms, as well as a variety of treatment options with varying success. As you’ve alluded to, it seems trying different treatments to see what works best to meet our individual needs is a good course of action. I do agree that medical cannabis can potentially provide relief. However, cannabis (along with many pharmaceuticals for neuropathy treatment) have a major drug interaction with immunosuppressive meds, so I can’t use it.

Thank you as always for your insightful comments. Athena