Pins and needles
 

This may sound odd, but my extremities have been falling asleep MUCH quicker since I started this diet. I can't sit for more than 2 minutes with my legs crossed before my leg falls asleep, and sometimes I wake up at night to find my arm totally numb.

This has definitely never happened to me before, so I'm attributing it to the diet. Any ideas?

-Jinkster

Not sure if it is the diet or not, but this tingly feeling happened to me a few months ago - waking up in the AM, and feeling like my leg was just not attached, it was so numb. The feeling has since gone away, but I would be curious to know if others have experienced this.

Not to answer my own question, but...
 

...I just found the below link that says that an excess of "paresthesia" (or pins and needles) may be caused by a B-12 deficiency. I'm going to start taking an extra supplement on top of what I take now and see if it helps.

Website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and...paresthesia.htm

Thanks for the link! My pins and needles dissappeared shortly after I starting taking a new brand of multi-vitamin. This one has 80mcg of B-12 - which is %1,333 of the recommened daily dose not sure how much my previous one was.

I've had a couple instances lately and I do attribute it to the program -- or at least weight reduction. Basically, as I lose fat, things are shifting around in my body, exposing blood vessels, etc.

It's like my occassional back-aches. Every once in a while through this process, my back starts aching after only a few minutes of typing at my desk. It goes on for a few days or a week and then it stops. I figure as my center of gravity is changing, certain muscles have to adjust.

I wouldn't worry about it. For me, at least, it comes and goes and I know I'm getting plenty of vitamins and minerals.

;-Deb

hi,

I too have this problem and had it the last time (about 5 months ago) while low carbing. I'm pretty sure it is some kind of deficiency. I may be wrong but have heard that potassium deficiency may cause this. I've been taking lots of different supplements and it seems to be helping.

danyele

Hmmm... that's interesting. I used to get bad pins and needles all the time - one time, I woke up and my arm was so numb, I couldn't move it for several minutes! Another time, my fingers went numb and it was the middle of the day before the feeling returned.

This hasn't happened to me in a long time. Last fall, I started eating a lot more Yves veggie burgers and other Yves products, and they're all loaded with B12. On fitday, my B12 intake is usually 200-500% of the RDA. Coincidence? Maybe that was my problem.

Update
 

Thanks for the comments, all. My update: I've been taking a B-complex for the past week and I've definitely noticed a decrease in the instances of pins-and-needles when I'm sitting or sleeping. I guess my multi-vitamin wasn't enough :)

See ya!
-Jinkster :wave:

Did you feel dizzy too?
 

I just posted about pins and needles...has been gradually getting worse since I started Atkins Nov 3rd.

I get periods of lightheadedness as well on days tingling is worse.

Did any of you have this as well? Did it go away with extra B12?

My vitamin has 75 mcg of B12, but I am going to take more now and see what happens, and see my dr tomorrow.

Thanks!
Natascha