I appreciate your information as I am totally FREAKING MYSELF out about having ms. I have a mother who is sick and this is the second time I have worked myself into a frenzy over having ms... I just don't know if its real or if its anxiety physically manifesting. I have muscle spasms. some numbness. my legs feel like they might give. My head feels funny. I am a DISASTER. any adivice or things you learned that might help me?
Oh Angie, U and I need to talk. First let me tell u I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder 20 years ago. I'm 39 now, and since Feb. 2010, I have been experiancing neurological symptoms. Legs tingling, muscle twitching, brain fog, legs feeling stiff and heavy, feelings of weakness, tremor, fingures twitching, a numby kind of tingly feeling in the left side of my face. I had originally went to the E.R with nausea, and my legs felt weak and shakey. The ER doc wanted to send me home saying I had a stomach bug, but I said "what about my legs and arms shakeing". He then checked my reflexes and did a brief neurological exam.
At this time he appreciated ankle clonus in my left ankle and said that isnt normal. He went to call the Neurologist on call Fand came back and said, we need to give u a CT scan of ur brain before we can let u leave to make sure u dont have a brain tumor. I freaked out. CT scan was totally normal, and I said can it be MS, and he said yes, maybe. Then I really lost it!!!!
From that moment on I was in full blown panic mode, I didnt eat, I barely slept, I read way to much info on MS on the internet. (Way to Much). But I really did feal sick and was very confident that something was wrong. The following weeks have been a nightmare, Numbness, tingling, panic attacks, nausia, stiff legs, painful muscle spasms. Anxiety???
I had follow up neuro app. He did very thourough neuro exam and said he wanted a MRI of my brain, I had it done 2 weeks later. Freaked out so bad waiting for the phone call with the results, and I was totally convinced I had MS. Got the call 2 days later and NOTHING, MRI, completly clear and normal, His nurse told me that doc said he would do MRI of my Cervical Spine, just to rule out MS completly but chances were that he wouldnt find anything there either. So I had it done and had to wait 4 days for the results from that one. That about killed me. Got the call and NOTHING, totally clear. She said doc said there was no reason to do MRI of lower spine because thats not how MS lesions work.
So according to them I do not have MS and they said that all the scans I have had plus all the blood work, they said they have ruled out most if not all of the really scary stuff. So what does that leave on the table. ANXIETY!!!
Which we know I deffinatly have that. So.. a big fat YES to ur question to can Anxiety cause neurological symptoms. Why? I dont know how exactly, but I do know that anxiety and panic run through ur nervous system, so if ur anxious or have a very worried or stressed mind then ur nervous system can become over stimulated and excited and there u go, every nerver and muscle in ur body can be affected.
I hope what I've told u about my situation will bring u some comfort and peace of mind. I usually dont post on here, but ur story and my story were to simular not to respond and offer u some insight to what might be happening with ur body, I know how scary all those sensations can feel. They are absolutly awefull.
If u need someone to talk to directly, (because I know how terrible it feels to post ur fears on here and have to sit and wait for someone to respond).U are welcome to txt me or call me on my cell phone. (317)504-6580. Please dont hesitate, and know I'm not some kind of weirdo. I just know how scary and how alone all of this can make a person feel. I didnt have anyone to talk to when all of this started happening to me. So call me or txt me if u need someone, And I'm up late so dont worry. I'm still having some sleeping issues because of my leg symptoms. Take Care Angie
I feel you can rule out MS or any other neurological issues. But I would want to have a complete physical check-up to rule out any other causes, before assumimg it's anxiety.
Anxiety can cause some pretty severe symptoms, and with anxiety you can become "fixated" on one particular thing like MS, and start to view every little twinge you feel as a symptom of it. Your high energy level is probably a symptom of anxiety (I have this) and you don't necessarily have to feel anxious to suffer with anxiety, it will mask itself in other ways like what you're experiencing now. Anxiety has a root cause, and this is where therapy can benefit you immensely. Once you find out what that is, you can get it out in the open and deal with it, easing your anxiety. You will learn relaxation
methods as well. Sometimes medication is needed, this needs to be discussed with your psych doctor. I would have your heart checked, and see an Endocrinologist to rule out any thyroid problems and if all of this is okay, it may be time to address the anxiety. I can understand your frustrations with the two doctors not agreeing about it being anxiety. If everything comes back fine, I would seek the opinion of a second psych
and go from there. Stay with us, I'm sure there will be others who can offer advice to you as well as support. Take care and forget about the MS.
I have many neurological symptoms and it is from anxiety.
You had an MRI and it didn't show MS. So forget that.
Just to be 100% sure, besides all possible blood work, do an ECG test to check your heart.
I believe it is stress and/or anxiety.
I'll start of by saying that I have PTSD, POTS, Fibromyalgia, and chronic migraines. So I've had almost all of your symptoms and know how you feel. Sounds to me like you could have fibromyalgia or some other autoimmune disease. Fibro would explain the normal blood work(except the vitamin D, which a low level of is common with fibro). Have you had your blood pressure tested? Your vertigo could be from chronic low blood pressure. I would suggest getting a cardiologist consult as well as a rheumatological consult to rule out other problems. I'm having some bizarre neuro issues right now that my primary doctor thinks is NOT anxiety, so there's a good chance you could have something else going on.