What Causes Tingling In Face And Limbs While Having Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

Posted on Tue, 10 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 10 May 2016 Answered on

Tue, 21 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : This morning I have extreme tightness in my neck and shoulders, I feel nauseous, and have a burning sensation in my stomach and throat area. I feel like I have mucus stuck in my throat and it rattles if I cough or clear it. I made myself throw up and took an XXXXXXX seltzer and a tums. I also took a nexium when I woke up this morning. I feel better since I threw up and am burping. This has been going on for a while and has progressively gotten worse. My mother, grandmother and aunt all have autoimmune disorders, and my mother and aunt both had thyroid disorders. I have been tested and most of the time I had active mono and once had low B12. I also have some face, lip, and leg tinglings from time to time. Furthermore, I get constipated regularly. Last year, I visited an allergist. He found that I had some antibody problem. I only had 13 of the 23 antibodies for sinus infections, meningitis, etc. I know this is alot. Maybe it is not all related, but it seems like they may be.

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome on HCM!

I carefully passed through your question and would explain that your actual symptoms seem to be related to a gastro-esophageal disorder.

The tingling on the face and limbs could be related to vitamin B12 deficiency.

From the other hand the deficit of this vitamin could be related to malabsorbtion due to a gastro-intestinal autoimmune disorder.

That is why I would recommend consulting with a gastro-hepatologist and performing a fibro-gastroscopy, coupled with biopsy of the gastric mucosa if necessary to investigate for possible gastric atrophy (which can be an autoimmune disorder).

Vitamin B12 plasma levels should be repeated too.

You should discuss with your doctor on the above issue.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (58 minutes later)

My primary care physician tested my B12 levels when my legs were tingling. It was a few days after it occurred. He did not find a deficiency. During a visit before this is when I was told that I had low B12, but not low enough for any medication. Would that matter or change anything?

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

Thank you for the information!

I would explain that the fact that your plasma levels of Vitamin B12 were normal, can exclude possible deficiency. From the other hand you have no anemia (which is a common finding in this vitamin deficiency).

Anyway, I would recommend performing a fibrogastroscopy to exclude possible gastro-esophageal disorder related to your symptomatology.

I would also advise performing further tests:

- thyroid hormone levels ( thyroid dysfunction can lead to tingling in the body)
- blood electrolytes, including calcium, potassium and sodium.

Hope to have been helpful!

Best wishes,

Dr. Iliri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar