defining numbness and tingles

I have been a long time board troll for a few years here but never really posted. However Im a bit concerned and would like the opinions of those who suffer anxiety like me.

In 2004 I was diagnosed with clinical depression and severe anxiety (thanks for nothing army) and was put in a psychiatric ward for a week. Ever since then, I have been having panic attacks (hard time breathing, palpitations, fear) and from time to time I will have a real bad panic attack to the point where I feel like Im having a heart attack. Ive learned to live with this and not let it dominate my life.

About a month ago, I had this aching pain in my neck up to my ear (left side). during this time, I was under a lot of stress and I hatted my job with an absolute passion. For a few days I was dealing with this pain and it went up my head and immediately I thought I was having an aneurysm. So like alot of others that live with anxiety, I sat here and googled for hours and hours and hours. I worried so much that I was having one panic attack after another. Eventually after a few days, that pain went away... but the moment that it went away, the left side of my jawline started tingling. It felt like a spider was crawling on my face. So for the next few days, I was getting tingles all the way up around my eye.

After about 3 days, the tingle went away but I still had an odd sensation there. For the past week, my left calf has been very tight... it feels like a muscle cramp. So I have put icy hot on it and stretch it like crazy.

Currently Im on the worry roller coaster again, but this time its MS. I have read that alot of the first signs of MS are numbness and tingling. So of course Im worried I have that. I went to the doctors on Thursday and he said its 100% anxiety and put me on celexa. I cant get an MRI yet because I took a new job and my insurance doesnt kick in until Jan 1st.

So I guess my question is, what is numbness? Is it to the point where if my foot feels numb that I cant feel it? If I ran my fingers across, I wouldnt be able to feel my foot?

I get confused with these terms

thanks!

[motorcitygirl]

I wish I knew the answer to what is numbness too.  Is it like having a lidocaine injection and you can't feel anything, or just altered?  Or that foot falling asleep pins and needles feeling?  I am in the same boat you are right now.  I've had some odd sensations in my foot, supposedly due to a neuroma but I am also worried about MS.  Extremely worried.  I've been to three doctors, one being a neurologist that won't even order an MRI because she is so certain that's not what it is.  She had said if sensory symptoms were the first presentation it would be pretty pronounced not just something not quite right.  Still nothing is putting my mind at ease and I've been having panic attacks about it as well.  Its been pretty bad, I must say, waking me up at night and constantly on my mind.  

[ODNation]

i think thats pretty arrogant of your doctor to tell you that. I would want the MRI just for a "peace of mind"

You must be from Detroit. Im down in Toledo. Once my insurance kicks in, I will be getting in contact with the University of Michigan. I heard they ahve an excellent neurology department. Naturally I will be getting 2 or 3 opinions from different doctors.

I think you should get in contact with UM and setup an appointment.

[Melissa072]

Do what you feel is right with you, and if you need mri even just for peace of mind then wait for insurance to kick in and go get one even if it means going to several drs to get the referral. I am in same boat, I have been having tingling and numbness going on now since april this year, today I still have tingling in groin, feet and weird sensation up both legs, numbish feel to face although when I touch face I can feel it, under my feet also have numbish feel and i have a numb patch under one foot, I have mri of brain and spine in July, my neuro says I don't have ms but I am still not convinced so am going for a 2nd opinion this sat as I still have symptons. I have been told by 2 gp's that its post viral and stress, yes I am an anxious person especially when it comes to my health, this year I was convinced I had breast cancer, skin cancer and once thought I had thyroid cancer but it was a multi nodular goitre, whenever I have something wrong with me I always think the worst, I can't help it but I am going to follow it up with 2nd and even 3rd opinion because until I feel comfortable that there is nothing wrong I can't rest.... Your not alone, trust me, if you feel something ain't right you have every right to seek medical attention.

[motorcitygirl]

I am from Detroit.  I am going for a second opinion the end of November to a different neuro.  I do want the MRI for peace of mind at this point.   I didn't know UofM had an excellent department.  That's another option as well.  The unfortunate thing is the wait times for these appointments are forever which doesn't help the situation or quality of life.

[ODNation]

nice to see there are others in the same boat with this state of the unknown. My face is like yours, it kinda has this numb'ish feeling, but its defiantly not numb.

And just like you, I constantly think of the worst when it comes to my health. Im not sure why we are like this, I dont care to know... I would rather just live a normal life. I try hard to eat healthy and stay active - but sometimes we cant stop the inevitable with diseases.

Good luck with you! Get many opinions about your condition... I certainly will - even if it is only for a piece of mind.

[ODNation]

Here is the number you can call UM Neuro:

[phone]

Also I think the best "neuro" doctor is in Ann Arbor - but thats just from what I read. I would call UM and see what the wait time is. Maybe its not long

good luck and I hope you get your MRI done with negative results :)

[ODNation]

going back to the original question...

what is numbness? Is it to the point where if my foot feels numb that I cant feel it? If I ran my fingers across, I wouldn't be able to feel my foot?

[slickaroo]

I also have the tingling and needles in my feet ..now it going up my legs..and in my arms and wrist and hands...i have felt some in my lips...i am on paxil..i have been reading some nasty things about paxil...I have a appointment for a EMG next week ...I also always thing the wrost ..I have no one to talk to ....does anyone one else out there have the needles and pins in there feet ...my Dr is checking me for Diabetic....I am new at the web site ...dont know how to check back for any responce....my email is ***@****

[jody1969]

hi. i used to have the pins and needles also. i had them on my face, tongue, hands, feet, everywhere. i was sooo convinced i had MS. it was horrible. mine ended up coming from my drinking. i quit drinking 3 months ago, and lo and behold, the tingles are gone :)  im not saying thats everyones case, just mine. but if anyone who drinks, has the tingles, they could maybe try quitting and see if thats the problem. good luck everybody :)

[ODNation]

have you had an MRI yet? do you have stress and anxiety in your life?

doctor told me that its stress and anxiety...he put me on some pills, and away went the pins and needles.

[jody1969]

you know what? i actually just realized that i went on paxil and stopped drinking at the same time, so it could've been the paxil helping too. hmmm....   cant believe i forgot that! duhhhh!! sorry. no, ive never had an MRI, for the fact i have no insurance. i have had anxiety since i was 22. im 37 now. i was diagnosed w/ GAD and panic disorder.

[Topher7]

Alot of what you are explaining OD sounds like tension. I had an MS scare too where I thought my headaches and all were MS. One day I was so freaked out that I couldn't feel my legs I pinched my ankles until they were bruised. I was fine and it was probably my shoes. An MRI showed I was fine. The thing that happens with anxiety is you tense up everything without knowing. I clinch my jaw and teeth alot and right now my neck and jaw line feels incredibly tight. I'm holding in stress. This happens with tingles too. Once you start releasing the stess the tingling is almost like a leg that has been asleep or tensed...it starts to unwind. That is just the way I look at it.

[slickaroo]

No i havnt had a MRI yet ...Im having a EMG on the 21st of this month...i hope its not painful ...and yes i am alway stressed ...I have been on paxil for 4 yrs ...i dont think i will ever be in my right mind again...i will never get my real life back..I am so scared what they will find ..with all this needle and tingling feelings in my feet, arms hands ....I know its something bad.....I just sit in fear and wait

[ODNation]

I sure hope its nothing but tension.

I agree with your logic that once you release all that stress, thats where the tingles come. That prolly explains why my I got the tingles after my neck felt fine.

Im doing better today. My left leg was feeling very tight the past few days and of course I thought it was MS related. Doctor says no way but we can check for blood clots. So yesterday I went to the hospital and did an ultrasound on my leg and everything checked out normal. So I keep stretching it and applying icy hot - woke up this morning feeling pretty good.

Im trying not to take any Lorazepams since they are Benzo's ... and I really dont wanna get addicted to it.

I hate anxiety

[ODNation]

please let us know what happens after the test