I have recently been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and have been experiencing numbness and tingling in my hands and feet. is this normal?

Comments: Low thyroid function certainly can cause peripheral neuropathy issues, and your description may well be a complication. Should reverse with treatment but if not, should have this fully evaluated with electrodiagnostic studies and blood tests for co-morbiities.

Neuropathy: is seen with many conditions. People with hypothyroidism often have other autoimmune disorders ( B12 deficiency from inability to make intrinsic factor, SLE, Mixed connective tissue disease, scleroderma, immune based neuropathy, Diabetes, etc) Define the type and extent of the neuropathy ( EMG-NCS testing ) Discuss with your neurologist the work up for treatable conditions.

Another possibility: is that you are developing carpal and/or tarsal tunnel syndrome from the swelling that sometimes accompanies hypothyroidism. Same sort of testing is done as for neuropathy, but it may also respond to other measures while your thyroid is getting up to speed. In case you are having any swelling, try to sleep with your feet a little elevated and wear wrist braces (not tight) to sleep. Good luck!