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For the past 3 days I have been having numbness in my right pinky and ring finger and up my wrist.

Is this a sign of a flare up? Should I call my neurologist?

Christine76 wrote:For the past 3 days I have been having numbness in my right pinky and ring finger and up my wrist.

Is this a sign of a flare up? Should I call my neurologist?

Welcome to ThisIsMS, Christine76.

As you probably know, numbness/tingling in the fingers, hands, toes, and feet is the classic definition of peripheral neuropathy. This symptom is very common to many conditions – MS is one. Peripheral neuropathy is also the most common symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency. In the investigation leading to your MS diagnosis, I hope testing for B12 deficiency was the first step.

As for whether this numbness is part of a flareup, I doubt that any of us can tell you one way or the other with certainty. In fact, I doubt that your neurologist can either, but it may give you peace of mind to call the office, to document this new symptom in your record, and to see your neurologist (I hope your neurologist is more responsive than mine – I called once, in tears, about new symptoms and was told I could see him in 8 WEEKS! By the way, I changed neurologists immediately!).

I highly recommend this 50-minute documentary featuring Sally M. Pacholok, RN, BSN & her husband Jeffrey J. Stuart, D.O. (authors of the book, Could It Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses); Lawrence Solomon, M.D., hematologist with Yale Medical School; Ralph Green, M.D., hematologist at UC Davis; and Donald Jacobsen, PhD, at the Cleveland Clinic (Homocysteine Research Lab):

"Everything You Want Your Doctor to Know about Vitamin B12"

Thank you so much!! Will be calling today...