Have been dealing with this for 3 years. Pins & needles pokes occasionally in eye ball, first 2 years occasional pokes in between fingers and toes. Last year I discovered L-carntine will stop the pins & needles poke but if I don't take it the pain is continuous now in between my toes, still only occasionly between my fingers.

Eye doc says I have no disease. I have been tested twice this past year for diabetes and test results are negative.

I do have celiac and have been on a gluten-free diet for 11 months with no improvement to the nuero symptoms. Currently under care with a pain doc. I do have a bluging disc in my back which he believes is the reason for my numbness and tingling in my feet but that still does not explain the pins and needles.

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

Celiac patients often have malabsorption of many nutrients.

Have you had B12 blood work? Do you know the numerical result? Many doctors remain clueless on B12 metabolism and needs.

--can be a source of neuropathic pain/neuropathy all by itself.

There are numerous references on this, many of which are collected in the Gluten File, if you want to peruse:

http://sites.google.com/site/jccglutenfree/

MrsD, I am on a large dose of B complex for nerves and that does stop the tingling and numbness I get in my feet. Last tested in Nov on the high dose my levels were normal and as long as I am on it I am fine. I did recently go to a pain doc who found a bluging disc in my back. So some of the numbness may come from that.

I am more concerned about the pins & needles. I use L-carnitine to keep the sensations away and on 1000 mg a day I am fine but if I cut back at all I am in misery. I just don't want to be putting a band-aide over something that might not be related to celiac.

I have been tested twice this year for diabetes, had an MRI of the brain and all brainwaves are clear so I think we can eliminate MS. I am not an alcoholic and have never been a heavy drinker.