I will try to keep this short. I am 53 and three years past menopause. About six months ago, I began HRT, starting with a .05 mg patch before increasing to .075 mg, along with 100 mg of oral progesterone daily. I have undergone every possible test, including MRIs of my brain, neck, and spine, as well as nerve conduction studies. Everything indicates I am healthy, but I feel terrible! It began with pain and sensitivity on the sides of my thighs and evolved into tingling and numbness in my hands and feet. Now, I have a burning, prickly sensation in my feet. Some days are tougher than others. I really expected HRT to resolve this, and I am stuck on what to do next. Has anyone else dealt with this? I feel like I am losing my mind!
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I have numbness and tingling in both my hands and feet, as well as my lower legs. I am just beginning to look into it. I am still in perimenopause but I use a .0375 patch and 200mg of progesterone. My neurologist wants to check for vascular problems first, so I have an appointment with a vascular surgeon. I am also dealing with a lot of dizziness, so I’m seeing a cardiologist for that. It feels like my health just collapsed this spring.
It might not be this, but your description sounds like the symptoms a relative had before being diagnosed with vasculitis. It is a rare autoimmune condition that presents in many different ways. I am just mentioning it in case it helps. Vasculitis: Symptoms, Types & Treatment
I struggle with this as well. I have fibromyalgia, but I also experience these sharp pains in my toes and fingers, plus the tingling. I suspected it might be small fiber neuropathy. I have also noticed petechiae lately.
Over the last year (I am 48 and in peri), I have had neuropathy in my hands and, weirdly, a burning feeling on the tips of my ears. I think HRT and a recent iron infusion helped some, but it hasn’t fully cleared up. I am scheduled for an EMG nerve study in a few weeks to see what’s going on.
I lost the sensation in my toes and parts of my feet right when perimenopause started. No one has been able to explain why yet.
Yes, I have had almost every test done. I was on gabapentin for years for neuropathy related to a surgery, but it didn’t help this at all. I recently started Tegretol to see if it would make a difference, and it has actually eliminated about 95% of the symptoms.
I dealt with this too. It would start in my left foot and move up my leg, mostly when I was on my feet. I can’t point to one single thing that fixed it because I tried so many changes at once. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis, and while all my nerve tests were normal, nobody even brought up menopause. I started working with a great physical therapist and did a lot of my own digging. I cleaned up my diet, focusing on fiber and protein, and added supplements like B12, magnesium, and Nervala to support my nerves. I also began HRT and strength training. I’m not sure which was the “magic” fix, but I suspect it was the combination of estrogen, the supplements, and the PT. After two years, I’m 99% symptom-free. Definitely look into the book “Estrogen Matters” and follow experts like Dr. Jen Gunter. Doctors often miss how much hormone loss impacts us.
Could it be insulin resistance?
This is off-label, but I started taking a low dose of daily Cialis, and it has really helped the neurological pain that I was told could never be treated.
Yes, I have the exact same symptoms, except for the thigh sensitivity. It began a few years after menopause while I was already on HRT. I have had tests, including a skin biopsy, which showed no neuropathy, yet the symptoms remain. I use supplements and acupuncture, but nothing has completely fixed it. The symptoms fluctuate but never totally go away.
For me, it is the outer part of both thighs near the hips (my doctor called it gluteal tendinopathy) and my feet are very painful (he referred to that as metatarsalgia).
Just a thought… I have dealt with many symptoms throughout my life that affected my quality of life. Have you looked into an antihistamine diet? The Food List | Histamine Intolerance It is a long list, but it might be worth investigating. Sticking to it cured my burning legs, ear ringing, and mood issues. It doesn’t have to be a permanent change, but it lets your body heal so you can slowly reintroduce things later. Sending love to everyone here; you will find your way through this.
Have you checked your B12 and Folate? Neuropathy is a common symptom of a B12 deficiency.
I can’t believe I finally found this conversation! I have spent three years trying to determine if this is menopause or something like MS. I have seen specialists and had nerve and vascular tests… I have posted in many groups, but no one seemed to recognize this as a menopause symptom. While I am sorry you are going through it, I am so relieved to know I am not crazy! I get this in my feet and it travels up my legs. It feels like a cold burn, like frostbite thawing out. It usually happens in the evening, and I have found that heat, like a warm shower, helps. An internist told me it is “unexplainable neuropathy.” I do have low iron, though my B12 is high. I am thinking about trying HRT to see if it stops it! I’m just glad to know I’m not alone.
Have you had your A1c tested? You might also want to get a glucose monitor and test your blood sugar two hours after a meal. If it is over 140, you could be dealing with prediabetes or diabetes. Anything over 140 at that two-hour mark can cause gradual nerve damage. Diabetes is very quiet in the beginning but can cause significant damage if it isn’t caught.
Check your B6 levels. It is a common but often unrecognized cause of neuropathy, as even low doses can lead to toxicity. Your doctor can run a blood test for it. Otherwise, it could be hormone-related; I am the same age and going through the same thing.