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Why do my extremities get pins and needles, then go numb, when I stretch?
I asked my chiropractor about this, and he said he'd never heard of it before. I've been doing daily stretching exercises lately to try to loosen up my body and help me get in shape. Whenever I do a stretch involving my legs, I start to get pins and needles from the knee down after a few seconds of holding a stretch. Similarly, when I do a stretch involving my arms or shoulders, I get pins and needles from the elbow to my hands. Eventually the areas go numb. The sensation slowly goes away after I release the stretch.
I have had people watch me stretch and I know that I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm not terribly flexible yet, but I can do basic stretches and I'm getting better. Still, the pins and needles will not stop. Any ideas as to what is going on here?
I am not experiencing pain, just the pins and needles. I believe pinched nerve would entail pain. I'd prefer not to see my doctor about this, as I was just at her office three days ago for joint pain problems, and the copays are starting to add up...
2 Answers
- MisMischievousLv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
Your question is better answered by a doctor, which I am not. I am a RN. I will tell you that the 'pins & needles' sensation is caused by only 2 things. 1) circulation impairment, or 2) nerve impairment or problem.
You should see speak with a doctor about this. Only they can appropriately answer your question. I would also advise that you might stop this activity until you find out the cause because deliberately causing numbness is not good.
If you were just at your doc, then you should have mentioned it to them. Did you, and if not, why not? If you forgot, make a note of all you need to discuss or ask and take it with you the next time.
Nerves are not 'pinched' as used in lay mens terms. They have pressure put on them. This might explain, just as with circulation problems, why the pins & needles problem comes and goes. When pressure is applied because of a particular situation, the nerve/artery/vein is compressed thereby causing the pins and needles sensation. It still is something that can only be answered by a doc and IS NOT normal or good.
It's your body...therefore your choice. I will tell you that I learned my lesson the hard way. The body sends it's messages, and either you listen or you don't. Numbness is NOT normal. I do understand about money! I live on disablity now. Guess why?!! I continued working with the numbness! I was tough huh.
As to a chiropractor that doesn't know what causes such things, I would stop giving that individual my money, but that is just a personal opinion.
Source(s): RN - disabled after 3 back surgeries from L5-S1 ruptured disc with nerve damage in 1992. - 1 decade ago
I would assume your chiropractor SHOULD know as they are well trained in that area. I will pass this on though, experiencing very identical symptoms I was diagnosed with pinched nerve. Through physical therapy I was able to relieve that pain. Had to work on it daily. Whats odd is that the pain never was in the back even though the nerve in l-4 L-5 runs down spine and was pinching where it exits between vertebrae in runs down to leg.