In quite a lot of pain today, my TN is playing up. Also though my left hand has been going dead on me at other times it has a strange tingling sensation. My left arm feels very heavy. Is this connected to my TN, or perhaps to the drugs I have had to take. Be glad of some advice. Margaret
It might be the drugs, I used to get numb and tingling sensations in my hands while I was on tegretol. I think it would be best to get it checked out though if this persists!! 
Hi Margaret,
I am so sorry you are feeling so badly. The medication I am currently taking makes my hands and feet feel strange. Tingly like they “fell asleep” but more severe and “heavy” in a way that I have trouble using my hands at times. But not really in my arms. My guess is that it is from your medication but you might want to double check with your zdoctor to make sure he/she is does not have any concerns. I am currently taking Oxcarbazapine and Topamax but have had this with other meds and you know these meds affect everyone differently. I hope your pain begins to subside very soon.
Hugs,
Debbie
Margaret: please review for us, the medications you are now taking? Numbness or tingling in the extremities are unlikely to be related to trigeminal neuralgia itself. But several of the meds used with this disorder can cause generalized effects in the nervous system, including peripheral parasthesia. If you have “heaviness” in one arm, I would also suggest that you be prudently cautious about circulatory and cardiac issues. How long has it been since you had a stress cardiogram test in a doctor’s office?
Regards and best,
Red
Hello Richard, I am on 900mg Gabapentin 3 times daily, I also take a cipromil for depression. Co-codamel is also prescribed for me in 2 different strengths. Not had any sort of test for a while, I am waiting to see a specialist. My hand at the moment is behaving and my arm feels easier too. Keep having very hot flushes which I know is not my age because I am 63 now and well over that stage. Think its all just down to my TN and medication I take. Doctor has also given me liquid morphine for when I can’t take the pain any more. Thanks for helping it’s good to talk to people who understand. Margaret
Richard A. “Red” Lawhern said:
Margaret: please review for us, the medications you are now taking? Numbness or tingling in the extremities are unlikely to be related to trigeminal neuralgia itself. But several of the meds used with this disorder can cause generalized effects in the nervous system, including peripheral parasthesia. If you have “heaviness” in one arm, I would also suggest that you be prudently cautious about circulatory and cardiac issues. How long has it been since you had a stress cardiogram test in a doctor’s office?
Regards and best,
Red
Hi Margaret –
I am not a TN patient but a carer of one, my mom. She had hand tingling and twitches in her left arm quite frequently when she was on Trileptal. Spasm like attacks or like you said, it would feel like it was sleeping. I would research more about the drug(s) you are taking and make sure it’s a common side effect, and of course, tell your doctor too so they are aware. Good luck making the right connection!
-Beth
Margaret, this happens to me a lot. I get it in both hands and it feels like tingling sensations. I have always put it down to my drugs, but I could be wrong. I have bilateral TN so I wonder if thats why it happens in both arms/hands? I can’t explain it, but I can make you feel less alone.
Sorry I can’t help anymore than this
nikki x
Margaret and Nikki: tingling in the arms and legs could be a side-effect of medication, I hear from a lot of pain patients who experience something similar. But it is almost certainly NOT a direct effect of facial neuropathic pain itself.
Co-Codamol is a compound analgesic of codeine phosphate and acetaminophen (Tylenol). It can be habituating or addictive when taken at high doses and for long periods, and it has quite a range of side effects including nausea, constipation, drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, or skin rash. Peripheral tingling and hot flashes aren’t on that list, but I believe are sometimes seen with Trileptal and Gabapentin. Taken with liquid Morphine, this is quite a powerful narcotic cocktail. It would be wise to discuss the long term effects of the combination with your doctor.
The reason I suggested testing for circulatory issues is that face pain and tingling in the extremities can sometimes BOTH be symptoms of cardiac problems. Likewise, although Gabapentin and Trileptal do not appear to be as hard on the body’s metabolism as Tegretol, it is still prudent to have a liver panel and other blood work to establish the serum levels of medication in your system done every six months, to be sure your body is not building up toxic levels of the medications you are taking.
Go in Peace and Power,
Red
Once or twice I have had tingling in my hand. My physiotherapist reckons that the nerves in my neck are very irritated. She pressed on a few trigger points in my shoulder muscle [trapezius] and I felt more relaxed than I have done in years [that was until I had to drive in rush-hour traffic when the tension returned].
Nancy Price said:
I have this problem and it is from a pinched nerve in my neck. Something you may want to get checked out.