Loss of blood flow to the arms after fifteen minutes of moderate walking.

[loopspin]

Loss of blood flow to the arms after about fifteen minutes of moderate walking.
Initial symptoms begin with a tingling sensation in the right thumb, which slowly
works it's way up the entire right arm. If I do not stop walking at this point the
numb tingling feeling will eventually spread to the left arm.
This results in extreme pressure to the arms and I must stop walking completely.
When I stop walking I can feel the blood rushing back into my arms and after about
five minutes the blood flow to arms return and I can continue walking, for another  fifteen to twenty minutes before the symptoms again return.
I have been to many neurologists and doctors, who taken x-rays' and MRI s' of the neck and shoulder area. These images have revealed nothing of significance to the medical professionals. I am at my wits end and fear that this symptom will eventually kill me because there is obviously some kind of blockage of blood flow to the arms (right arm first), which is causing this problem.  I have been experiencing this problem for about twenty years, with the problem getting worse over the last six years. I am currently fifty years old and in good health.

[Quixotic1]

I cannot come up with a theory as to what is actually happening to you.  But, I had a huge suspicion that it was not a bilateral spasm of the major arteries to the arms, which is what you were you were describing.  This would be extraordinarity unusual.  I suspect that you are having some sort of abnormal neurologic sensation, which is sending signals back to the brain that you "interpret" as the blood leaving the arms, then rushing back in.  These false nerve signals, called "paresthesias" can mimic ANY sensation, including cold.

The normal brain tries hard to put a real definition on abnormal nerve signals, trying to "make sense" of it.  I have had paresthesias where it felt exactly like water was running down my leg.  I KNEW I was being incontinent.  I had NO doubt, but, it was something easy to check, and clearly I was wrong.  So I understand how you can believe what you do about the sensations you are clearly having.

Your normal perfusion test is reassuring that this should not be a life-threatening problem. So is the 20 year history.  Have you seen a neurologist for this problem?  It would be interesting to run some diagnostic (sensory testing or nerve testing) tests with you on a treadmill, reproducing the problem,

I wish I could tell you what is going on.  Good luck, Quix

[loopspin]

I did the  thumbnail test after bringing on my symptoms by walking for 15 - 2o minutes. The normal perfusion (blood return) at the nailbed was between  1-3 seconds. Yet I could feel the blood just gushing into my arms as normal. What could the possible diagnosis be?

[loopspin]

Thank you for your response. I neglected to mention that my arms do change temperature when the numbness occurs, they get quite cold.I will however do the the thumbnail blood return test as you suggested and post the results ASAP.
Thank you so much.

[Quixotic1]

Just curious.  Do your arms change color or temperature?  If not, it is likely not a "blood flow" problem.  This could be tested by checking the "blood return" under a fingernail (pressure on the nail ti so that the nailbed turns white - then release and count the seconds until the nailbed is pink again.) The normal perfusion (blood return) at the nailbed is 1-3 seconds.  You would check it before you walk, during the numbness, and then after sensation returned.

Quix