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Neurology (Expert Forum)
followed your advice
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
followed your advice
by allsherote, Mar 10, 2004 12:00AM
I followed your advice and am going to a neuro on Friday but I have some other ?I still cannot get ALS and sometime MS out of mind. It seems that when I have these panic attacks my right side siezes up. It does not go numb, I can still pick up my 2 LB child. I am shakey when it happens but it is more of a tickling feeling in my arm and leg (not tingling)I perceive it as weakness until I really make myself pay attention and realize that I can still run, jump, lift heavy things etc then I clue into the way it feels and realize it isn't really weakness. I am still having very bad attacks dailey and twitching.I am worn out but right now have none of the feelings explained in my arm or leg.I feel off but I feel that is b/c of my blood pressue has been 152/102 almost dailey from the attacks. I had a normal brain scan.I am still scared to death.I asked the psychiatrist how stress and anxiety can cause this and he said I didn't need to know.I feel that if I had a better understanding of it it would help. Can you help?Also will the neuro be able to suspect something that needs further investigation or will he auto. do tests?I saw a hypnotist who did guided imagery and my arm and leg symptoms went away. Still twitching and he said that was from my overloaded adrenal gland and the fact I have been under panice 24/7 since Jan.I have started on Buspar b/c I can't take certain anit-dep but was told it may take a while for buspar to work.I think the spells with my body didn't start until after I read about weakness,etg.Please give me your hoest opinion as to what you think may be going on
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Mar 11, 2004 12:00AM
Stress and anxiety can cause many different physical symptoms. How these symptoms are caused is not fully known. We know that the mind has connnections with every area of the body, and in some way interacts or influences with most of our day to day functions. The neurologic doctor should only do tests to either diagnose or rule out a disorder. As I said previously I think MS and ALS are unlikely, but I can not be sure without having the opportunity to see you. You should discuss these concerns with the neurologist. Good luck.
Member Comments (11)
by allsherote, Mar 11, 2004 12:00AM
To: to doctor
today my right arm and leg are weak again. I was fine in the morning yesterday and took a nap and woke up with it weak. It is still week. Does this make any sense that it comes and goes? I am so scared and confused by all the panice symptoms vs. what is a real one. Please comment on this as well. Thanks for your time
by kwag, Mar 11, 2004 12:00AM
To: Allsherote
I experience the same things that you describe. I used to worry and panic and now that I don't, it is only minimal. When I start to feel it, I tell it to go away and leave me alone. Sound crazy? I agree but I have made a decision to not panic nor to worry about it and to enjoy the life that God has given me. I have changed lots of my lifestyle also. I have to tell you that I feel much better and I KNOW that if i choose to concentrate on every little odd feeling that comes along, they will get worse and i'll worry myself sick. I hope this helps. God bless
by allsherote, Mar 12, 2004 12:00AM
To: kwag
I went to the neuro today. I told him about the panic attacks, twitching and the weak spells in my leg and arm. Because of me having ON twice in the past he did order an MRI of the brain and event potentials but he said I can get ALS out of my mind. He said the weakness with ALS does not get better and he said by the time someone visits the doc with ALS they do not pass their neurological exam and he said I passed my with flying colors. I still have a stiff hand and my hand tickles as well as my leg sometimes. I guess it is just left over anxiety. I'm still having attacks daily and probably have a ton of anticipatory anxiety waiting form my legs to be weak again, etc... Do you think this could cause it? He said absolutely nothing in my exam suggests ALS but I can't get this odd feeling in my leg and arm out of my head. One day it's weak the next it might tickle then next it may be normal. Could this all be the anxiety???? I think once you said you were a nurse that had worked with ALS patients so what do you think? My muscles all over my entire body are tense and stiff but I guess it is from the intense panic I have suffered for three months straight. What do you think?
by kwag, Mar 12, 2004 12:00AM
I do not think that anxiety is causing all of your symptoms. You are anxious because of what you are feeling. In other words, first came the symptoms and then the anxiety and then the symptoms amplified. You are not imagining them. I have my own theory on what is causing soooo many people to have these same things that you are describing. I
by kwag, Mar 12, 2004 12:00AM
I do not think that anxiety is causing all of your symptoms. You are anxious because of what you are feeling. In other words, first came the symptoms and then the anxiety and then the symptoms amplified. You are not imagining them. I have my own theory on what is causing soooo many people to have these same things that you are describing. I
by kwag, Mar 12, 2004 12:00AM
SORRY!!! I did not mean to submit once let alon twice. Yes I am a nurse and I have taken care of people with ALS. You do not present as such. What you feel is real but it is not consistent with ALS or MS. You sound toxic to me. I do not know what kind of lifestyle that you lead but that is where I would start. I firmly believe that what you have can be cured but you did not get that way overnight and I have never seen anyone cured overnight. I've read about it but have not seen it. Your anxiety is making it impossible for your body to do it's job and heal. I was anxious when I felt what you are. But I came to a point when I saw what was happening. I was allowing my worry to rob me of my life and joy. Please don't think ther is now hope. There is always hope. Go to www.gardenoflifeusa.com and read it. Consider if it might help you. I am not affiliated with them but I do take their products and advice. My best karmen
by allsherote, Mar 12, 2004 12:00AM
actually no my panic attacks strarted after doc told me I had red blood cells in my urine and could have kidney disease. Then the panic attacks started and all of the other odd **** started happening, like the weak spells, tingling, muscle cramps, twitching,etc... I do believe the worrying about it all did amplify it though. I hate this. I still feel like I should have an EMG but the doc said he saw absolutely nothing to suggest ALS. It appears as if your last post didn't make it all the way on. Just to let you know.
by MWJordy, Mar 13, 2004 12:00AM
Hi..I don't know if we may be experiencing the same thing, but the symptoms seem similar. About 3 months ago I started to notice a numbness in my left leg. Over the next two months it progressed from my leg up to my arm, my side, and my face including lips. It is an odd numbness. I can still feel everything, including pain sensations and I have full use of my left side as well but there is a constant feeling there. It is almost like the feeling you get when you have "chills" down your spine. Kind of numbness, kind of tingling but not quite as severe. It's just enough to know it's there. Well, in January I started to have strange twitching in the left side of my head and noticed some irregular bumps on my head. I went to the ER and they did a series of tests including a CT scan which came back negative. The symptoms have only persisted and amplified and so Friday I went to a physician who sent me to do a full se tof labs, whcih I will follow up with next week. Everyone around me says its stress and anxiety, but of course none of them are doctors. I have no idea what it could be. The last few weeks I have noticed some changes in my vision as well as some motor changes. Thoughts are more easily lost and my memory seems to be decreasing. The physician seems to think it could be a viral or bacterial infection, but that doesnt really explain all of the symptoms I don't think. Well, if anyone has these symptoms or could help me with some avenues to research before next week plase let me know. Thanks.
by irishmisty, Mar 14, 2004 12:00AM
I am a 59 year old female who unfortunately came down with shingles in January/93 and in Feb./97 I had surgery and the doctor burned 52 nerve endings leaving me numb from the waist down and just my right leg and buttocks. It has now affected the bowel and bladder whereby the message isn't getting to those areas to tell it to do its thing. I am on cathetars for the bladder to empty it or it wouldn't empty on its own. The pain is horrific and it is not shingle pain it is Post Herptec Neuralgia. Do you know of any new medications that might help with the pain