left arm goes numb during electrolysis

hi,

my left arm goes numb, tingly and cold when i am having electrolysis no matter who i am getting it done with. any thoughts?

Are you in one position for a long time? How are you positioned? Do you move your arm every 20 minutes to get the blood flowing or to take pressure off a nerve?

Relax, take a deep breath. If you tense up do to pain your body will react the same way. If your that uncomfortable please tell your electrologist.

I have experienced something similar myself, though it has only happened a couple of times when getting my face worked on. My arms started to get a little numb, not too bad but a little. But my hands were very cold, even though the room was quite warm and I was not cold at all otherwise. I assumed it was just because I was anxious from the pain after a long treatment session (and I was anxious about something unrelated before my treatment.)

One thing that happens regularly when I have my face worked on, I get a strange sensation on the bottom of my foot that makes me want to move and flex my foot. It always happens on the left foot if the left side of my face is being worked on, or the right foot if the right side of my face is being worked on. Anyone know what might cause this?

I also experience an incredible adrenaline rush after finishing a long painful session, like a runner’s high; I am the only one I have found who experiences this.

Well, Sarah, how much pain are you experiencing exactly? Many of us do not have this kind experience with clients, because there is very little pain / sensation involved with some of the newer electrolysis technology, like the APilus Platinum and Pure epilators, regarding most areas, especially the arms.

One other thought: your non-classical congenital adrenal gland hyperplasia could be making you more anxious and thus affecting your physical perceptions. Do you have generally have nay problems with anxiety due to your adrenal problem?

No dfahey, i don’t have anxiety problems. I must stress that i do not experience anything that i would call pain with electrolysis. I’m getting my chin and lip area done. The arm numbness also sometimes comes with or after physical activity, such as riding a bike. It’s something that i am working on for my doctor to investigate. I do flex my arm now and then.

Thanks for your replies. As long as it is nothing to worry about then i am not overly concerned.

Sarah,

If you are getting left arm numbness associated with physical activity, I HOPE your doctor is considering atypical angina and evauating for heart problems. Women, especially, can have left arm numbness/tingling instead of chest pain when they get angina. If your doctor hasn’t mentioned that yet, I think you should call and ask him and not wait until your next appointment.

Best wishes.

Well, in that case, please do mention this to your doctor as soon as possible as it sounds like it is out of the realm of electrolysis.

Please take good care of your self.

Dee

thanks very much for your replies i do appreciate it. I will try again with my doctor very soon. ( i’ve been fobbed off but now i will insist ) Vger i didn’t know that about women, thankyou.

Best wishes

but then, hypothetically if someone did have angina would that preclude them from getting electrolysis???

(i’ve pinned a lot of hopes on at least trying electrolysis)

Sarah,

Until you know that it isn’t your heart that’s causing your left arm to go numb/tingly when you exercise or have electrolysis, I really think you should avoid both, since this symptom can definitely be caused by angina. I don’t want to scare you and maybe you just have a pinched nerve or something, but I really think you should get evaluated by a doctor before getting any more electrolysis.

Do you know if you have high blood pressure from your CAH? If so, that would put you at higher risk for angina.

I’m sorry you’re having problems getting in to see your doctor. I would think that if you told them that your left arm goes numb when you exercise they would want to see you right away.

In any case, I doubt that your doctor would have you give up electrolysis long-term (if you do have angina, it can be treated). But I think you really should postpone it until you get evaluated by your doctor.

I am in agreement with Vger. The numbness needs to be evaluated and that complaint alone should get you in to see the doctor quicker, at least it would in my locale. It is amazing how fast a person with a complaint that might be related to the heart gets seen and then within the same day they are getting a procedure or even surgery. Take Vger’s advice seriously.

While you are waiting for your appointment, do increase your intake of Vitmans C and E, as they both help the circulatory system. The E even strengthens the walls of the circulatory system.

You are almost certainly doing something to stifle blood supply during your treatments. Does your practitioner hold your arm? Do you lay your arm on a table, with the corner pressing against the inside of your bicep? There is no reason to believe electrolysis would be causing the sensations you describe, and I sincerely doubt it is a major medical issue. The simplest explanation is usually the right one.

thanks again for all your replies, i appreciate the advice

Bryce, i’ve got the arm out flat, i don’t know what’s going on really but i’m going to see the doctor again, it’ll be early next week now.

Vger don’t worry you’re not scaring me and i will take your very well thought out advice. ( i might post somewhere sometime in the near future as to how i get on in the doctors.) I don’t have the high blood pressure. I have mentioned this arm thing to my doctors before, they’re not listening. (Sometimes when this happens you tend to think ok then, i’ll go away then, but i do have a plan of action to get evaluated, i will be insisting, and failing that money talks and will get me evaluated (in private healthcare as opposed to National Health Service - UK readers i’m not knocking the NHS. )

it may or may not be something, but many thanks again for your thoughts and suggestions

Definitely…discuss this with your physician, but to assuage your concern, I have many clients who mention their left (and right) hand and arm going numb during treatments. It could be one of many things related to reclining on your back…including a pinched nerve and carpal tunnel.