muscle aches in the legs

I am experiencing muscle aches in the backs of my legs. From my butt muscles,down through to my hamstrings and into my calves. I feel like I've just run a marathon. There is an actual ache or cramp, I'm not imagining this. I also feel those little involuntary muscle twitches in various places of my legs and body too. I have been to my doctor,neurologist etc and so far I seem to be fine. I have struggled with anxiety in the past (and currently too) and have worried myself sick about symptoms. I'm dying, I have cancer, I have MS,and on and on)I think my muscle pain seems to  spike when I get really anxious about it,and so it is a cycle. The muscle twitches in my body seem more frequent at really anxious moments too. The pain lingers for days after though, causing more anxiety, and off we go again, more pain!! Can anxiety cause this kind of pain? Real pain. Achey (achy) legs. Seems weird for it to target there. I thought shoulders, but legs??? Anxiety and real muscle pain like mine. Anyone??

[DragonTU84]

Unfortunately, Panic and Anxiety can do a LOT more than you think....for me, it did the unimaginable, and was like a living nightmare...

Let me introduce myself.

My name is Crystal, and I am a 23 yr. old female. Since 3 am (yes, I remember the time) on Oct. 31st, 2006, I have been suffering from severe bouts of on and off anxiety and particularly severe panic attacks.

I cannot even start to explain all of the horrid symptoms my anxiety has caused me.

It all started at 3 am that night on Oct. 30th into the 31st while I was brushing my teeth, and I all of a sudden experienced this SEVERE bout of pain in my chest. I felt dizzy and lightheaded, and my heartbeat also felt really irregular and I had severe palpitations. I thought for SURE I was having a heart attack or something. It was just SO unbearable. I felt my heartbeat get light at one point, and all it did was make me PANIC. I ran from the bathroom into my bedroom, my hand placed upon my chest, and I leaned over my bed trying to breathe heavily for oxygen. I eventually DID feel my heart beating quickly yet normally again, and I thought for sure it was a near-death experience.

After that initial attack, which lasted on-and-off in bouts for about 35 min., I was getting attacks similar attacks: some more minor and some even more severe EVERY DAY!! Yet little did I know that it was just all anxiety and panic attacks. I was CONVINCED something was physically wrong with my heart!! The pain I felt was almost unbearable.

About a week from the first attack on a Monday, I went to the ER after waking up at 7 am from a BAD attack. It was constant heart palps, severe chest pain, and dizziness/vertigo which I thought was heart related. My fiancee rushed me to the Emergency room, worried that I was having a minor heart attack, since I was screaming and shaking in fear and in pain.

Anyway, he took me to the ER, and they IMMEDIATELY hooked me up to an EKG, checked my blood pressure and whatnot, then shot me with an anti-anxiety med. (dunno which one exactly). About 10 min. after the shot, I felt a boost of relaxation, my heart rate returned to normal, I no longer felt the chest pain, and I felt over all calmer and at ease. They still did a chest CAT Scan/CT Scan, tested my thyroid and others, and all came back normal...

I was dismissed as having had an anxiety/panic attack, and was told to just relax and go home. They prescribed me with Ativan, and told me to take that and a Tylenol if I experience any pain. I didn't take it, though, since I didn't know what the drug was and I was CONVINCED it was something more...

Anyway, to keep a long story short I have had even MORE trips to the Emergency room, I went to my family doctor a couple of times, where I was at first put on Toprol to control the heart palps, and then put on Zoloft to control my anxiety. However, the Zoloft only made my Panic Attacks WORSE, as I had an adverse reaction 2 days afterward, and stopped the med. after being on it for about a month (since I was at first told to wait it out and see if it made a difference).

The Zoloft caused me to have my first head-related attack, as I call it. I was lying in bed, not thinking of ANYTHING, when I had this onset of this severe vibration/pins-and-needles/electrical surge feeling in my head/brain, and I felt extremely lightheaded and like I wasn't getting enough oxygen/air. I FREAKED, thinking I was going to pass out, and started pacing and running around the room. I got clammy/sweaty, had hot flashed, and I even began seeing blotches in my vision. I was SO SCARED, I didn't know what to think!! It was the worst attack I had had...EVER! My fiancee drove me to the Emergency room, but I just sat there and tried to wait it off. It eventually passed, and I returned home and went to bed that night.

The next day, I felt COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED! Like I had NO energy left in me!! I felt completely BLAH, I walked slowly, and I cannot even describe how I felt. I didn't sleep well, and the anxiety/panic from the prior night had just completely worn me out. :(

Now, this was well into Jan., and my attacks had started if you remember on Oct. 31st at 3 am.

Anyway, my anxiety/panic continued off-and-on, and there were weeks it seemed where I was GREAT!! I went a few weeks without any problems, and thought I would be going home-free!!

Not long afterward when going to visit my Psycho-Therapist (who I am no longer seeing since I didn't feel she was helping me AT ALL), I had another attack on the way in my mother's car (since my mom was driving). After that attack, I was AGAIN getting attacks EVERY DAY!! :( The Zoloft (which I was still on) didn't seem to be doing ****!! :( It caused my first head-related attack, and now it was just not even helping me at all!!

Yet most of my attacks have ranged from me getting light-headed/dizzy, the tingling/pins-and-needles in the head, chest, legs, hands or feet, you name it; chest pain; heart palps; electrical vibrations in the head and up-and-down the spine; knot pains in my back and neck, as well as occasional onset headaches (which go away as quickly as they started), pain in my ankles, pain in my knee caps, exhaustion, and has even caused me severe numbness in the limbs, and during one bad attack it seemed as though I couldn't even move my right leg that had gone numb.

Yet it is ALL Panic and Anxiety. It is HARD to acknowledge and accept, I know it. And you, as I, constantly worry about your health. I WAS living in an apartment with my fiancee. I have had to return to my parent's home several times now, and that is where I am currently residing at the moment. I could NOT BEAR fighting it alone and having attacks all alone and feeling helpless. I felt I needed SOME support, especially since my fiancee worked during the days and for the moment I am jobless, so I was at home alone. I am going to attempt returning to the apartment tomorrow, so wish me luck!!

I know it is hard to accept the pains you get as nothing but anxiety, but it IS. Trust me. I feel MUCH better when I just ACCEPT it as anxiety/panic and go on about my daily life as if nothing is wrong with me. You need to try your best to just ACCEPT it as anxiety and nothing else. With all that I have gone through, I am pleased to share my experiences with you: from my thoughts and worries that I was having seizures, going to die or pass out, I even thought I had LYME disease when I was never even bitten by a tick since I was 12, to having TONS of EKGs, Echos, EEGs, haltar monitors, blood tests which has probably drained me dry by now with how much testing I have had done, MRIs and CAT Scans, etc.

I myself have gotten pains in my chest (especially, and the most severe of it all), legs, back, wrists, jaw pains, headaches, and probably others I can't list, and I KNOW it is just nerves and anxiety/panic attacks. Heck, I had an ankle pain so bad that had caused my ankle muscles to tense up that as I walked I could hear the crackling of my bones together since my muscles had just gotten SO tense.

So don't feel like you are alone in this or like you are at a lost cause. You AREN'T!! There are many people, including myself, who suffers with this day in and day out.

Have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at: ***@****

[tanns]

10:26pm, November 22, 2006.

Funny how it sticks in the mind, huh?  Panic attack out of the blue.  The rest of your post I could have written myself!  Still working through it too, to this day.  

[DragonTU84]

I know exactly what you mean. And the MORE you focus on it, the MORE it sticks to your mind, and the MORE likely you are to continue suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. That is what CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) teaches you: to just learn to LIVE ON as if you have NO PROBLEMS, and eventually your mind WILL get off of the problems and let go of your anxiety. Some people are able to do it all by themselves, others need the help of medications to calm them down, where others need CBT therapy or a combo. of meds and CBT therapy.

I am trying my best to just do it all on my own. It is hard at times though, and if it gets to a point where it is too unbearable on my own, only then will I resort to meds. I was prescribed with Lorazepam 0.5 mg 2-3 times a day (depending on how long I am awake and whatnot), and my psychiatrist told me it is the only non-addictive med. of the benzos, yet I'd still like to try it on my own for awhile first, and see how I do. :)

[396SS]

It is terrible that others have to go through this, but I do feel better that I am not alone!  Thanks for the great posts:)

[DragonTU84]

I know exactly what you mean. Yet you have to realize that you are NOT alone in all this.

A friend of mine is just beginning to suffer from anxiety and panic symptoms, as she is now experiencing the first side effects I had before my full-blown attacks came on:

She is experiencing the chest pain, chest palps, increasing heart beat/heart races, her hands grow cold, she gets dizzy and lightheaded, etc.

She had TONS of bloodwork, EKGs, a Haltar Monitor, CT Scans, ya name it, and it all came back FINE!!

I could have told her THAT!!

I immediately told her, "yep, you have the first signs of anxiety disorder/panic disorder."

[miamiflorida]

I started suffering from panic attacks like 10yrs ago- I got it all Migraine headaches w/ the aura. (sensitivity to light) I Thought I was going blind and also ended up in the ER.
Lately, I have been suffering from the aches and pains all over my body to include sciatic pain running down my right leg. I have tried getting massages; they help.

I am seriously getting all these symptons more now since I have job worries, etc. My hands start sweating and get tingling pins and needles in my legs and arms.
I also wake up w/ migraines. My muscles are constantly tightening up like bricks.....

On the good side, I have learned to breath and take it easy by meditating or thinking of something else.

[Topher7]

If you are still around I have/had those EXACT same symptoms. I do have IBS but I've been to a neuro twice and there is no strength loss, etc. It happened in my arms when I tried to test my strength too. Twitches, sore. Most likely it is stress and me not working out in a long time making myself sore. I may be wrong but did you stand on your toes and jump around and test your legs?I did. Then they got sore...wonder why:) Anyways, the only thing I could chalk it up too if it is something is mineral or vitamin deficiencies that came about because of the stress.

[mrworryguts]

You,ve described my symptoms almost exactly.  The legs and calves were my worst places for aches and cramps. One week i'll have them and the next week i don't. They seem to just come and go. I have been walking a lot lately to get fit which seems to have helped. This week my legs have been pretty much ache free, but they might not be next week.

[LauraLy]

i have pains in my legs and arms as well...and i think it's cancer! but hopefully its just my anxiety

[chipwit46]

I have all the symptoms you all have mentioned plus yellow stools for about a month.  Are yellow stools related to anxiety  as well?

[haywardm]

i am only 15 years old and since i suffered one panic attack a couple of months ago i havnt been the same since. I suffer from all the symptoms you have discussed and all day and night i lie in my bed thinking the worst, cancer or some other serious disease :S im so worried that it is. But then i hear that all of you suffer the same and your all fine, just have anxiety. I hope this is all that is wrong with me, but i am scared to go to the doctors about it. Its getting worse though and it disrupts my sleep and i got expelled from my school because i couldnt concentrate and ended up losing control. Now i have no Gcse's and all this is stressing me out way TOO much! I dont want to feel like this at my age, all my friends are going out and having fun, but i just feel too drained or ill to go out. Im either finding it hard to breath or like i cant even move my legs or i feel like im about to pass out. I really want all of it to just go away to be honest :( x

[Paxiled]

I know it's hard, but you do need to see a doctor.  There are a lot of physical reasons for things, such as blood sugar problems or endocrine system imbalances that can cause problems that manifest as anxiety.  Once you rule our anything physical (and it usually isn't physical), then get into therapy quick.  

Did they really expel you without asking you about your mental state?  Or referring you to someone for therapy or counseling?  If that's true, that's disgusting!  

[haywardm]

Yes they just kicked me out. Before i went to that school i was fine. In fact i never got ill, but it has really messed with my head and my mental state is a mess. I mean its hard to admit it, but i know something is wrong and i cant deny it. I dont know what to do though, my parents think im over-exagerating and noone ever takes me seriously. Im just in so much pain everyday i just want help to make it go away.  

[Paxiled]

Don't know what you did to get expelled, but you're acting out something, and you're smart enough to know it.  I'm not young anymore, but face it, nobody takes 15 year olds seriously, and 15 year olds don't usually take anyone else seriously, either!  Fifteen is a nutty time for a guy, but it's a fun time, too, so talk to your parents calmly and seriously and get yourself into therapy.  Your 15, you can probably talk your folks into anything.  Do it soon, don't let this simmer.  Perhaps changing schools changed something in your life; starting a new school can be tough at first especially at 15.  I'm just saying, the best thing you can do is do something about it, brooding and blaming and getting angry won't help.  Help will help.  Good luck.

[girlraceruk]

Wow this post has really given me some insight. Ever since I was about 7 I have suffered from severe anxiety. Ill never forget waking up late one evening, before my older sister had come to bed (we shared a room) with heart palpatations, sweats and dizzyness. I thought I was dying! As Ive grown older Ive realised it was just a panic attack but I never told my Mum, not to this day!

I still suffer from panic attacks, just last night I was in the cinema (which is weirdly where I get them the worst) and I couldnt sit still, I had to keep moving to 'cope' with the attack. My heart was racing and I was shivvering as if cold. I felt sick afterwards and dizzy and today I just feel tired and physically drained as if Ive had a workout! For the last 2/3 weeks Ive also been suffering from pins and needles/aches in my body, mainly down my left side. Ive been seeing a chiropractor which seems to help, probably through some sort of reassurance that something simple like posture is wrong with me and Im also awaiting some blood test results which is just making me even more sick and anxious, thinking Im going to have a deadly disease! But I cant help but think its all anxiety related!! Its weird because when I relax, say recently with friends I said my legs and aches/tingling feel fine now but when I start worrying again about it, it comes back. There has to be a connection.

Ill feel better when I get the blood tests back but Im also off for a holistic body massage tonight to see if that helps.

[Tsteph08]

Your post made me feel so much better.  As of recently I've had a lot of finacial problems.  I've also been having chest pains, shortness of breath, a pins and needles feeling in my legs, arms, hands and shoulders, my hearts been racing, I've been having headaches and been worried sick about it (literally).  I keep worrying that I have a deadly illness.  Just today I had some bloodwork done, an EKG and some chest x-rays.  Now I'm worried about what the results of the test will be But reading these posts is re-assuring to me that maybe it really is just anxiety (I certainly hope so).  Thank you all for posting your experiences and I hope mine is helpful to others as well.

[marthim]

wow this is so amzing to read it honestly brought tears to my eyes. i have been going through hell, and now with a new baby it makes life so much harder, yet gives me more of a reason to try to get through it. I am still trying to get through my head that i dont have a blood clot in my leg, because of the constant pain. my doctor is thinking it may be fibromyalgia, which is also anxiety related, and why my entire body hurts and i have the chronic headaches. It does act up more when i begin feeling nervous or anxious. Im really hoping that there is a clear diagnosis of something, i hate taking medication, and if i have something that i can tell myself it is every time it happens, myabe life will be a little  more bearable

[kimh34]

I thank everyone for sharing the stories. I have been suffering off and on from anxiety & depression for 20plus yrs. I had a terriable attack a couple of weeks ago & it came with a feeling in my arms like I had worked out and some twinges in my leg and shaking. The doctor did some tests and said it was from the anxiety. Clearly I didn't believe him since here I am searching to see what crazy illness or diease I have. I actually feel better knowing I am not alone. thanks again.

[adorkable24]

This is amazing. I too been experiencing hell. Tingling in my extremities & face. Pain & aches all over my body. AND these symptoms are constant.  I always knew I had anxiety problems, because I would get panic attacks, but I never knew it can get this bad. Like most of you, I did all and every tests possible. I went to one of the best Hospitals in the US (Stanford Hospital). It's truly hard to admit that anxiety can cause all of this. I too am trying to beat it on my own.

[Poot80]

Yeah well to me anxiety is way more scary then any other disease cause it messes with your head...

[BluebirdKbres]

Wow! Glad I read this. It makes me feel a little more normal lol. I suffer from many of those symptoms while I also have other health problems...diagnosed by a doctor..not self diagnosed like many worriers, including myself, do lol. It stinks but we can all get through by, as one of you said acceptance and moving forward. I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm not some crazy person..of this helps any future readers, much of my anxiety has to do with self esteem and self worth. I am a pretty confident person, but at the same time, anxiety can hit me in a second, and I won't even know it until I start downing myself and feeling helpless and useless. It's the craziest experience to go through! But again, I just have to use self talk(cognitive therapy) and I'm much better. As a sufferer of both anxiety and fibromyalgia, I have found excercise, any type that just keeps me moving, helps tremendously during just a pure anxiety attack or a pain/anxiety bout. Hope this helps someone:)

[Willo82]

I am a 30 yr old women that suffers from anxiety (on and off) My anxiety seems to flare up when I have health issues. It's only recently my health anxiety has taken a turn for the worst due to one night 4 weeks ago when after a game of netball my joints and muscles throughout started to ache and feel weak. I had to give up netball and stop going to the gym (exercise keeps me sane) and I refuse to go on meds for my anxiety.I have had so many blood tests done in the past 4 wks it's unbelievable, which all come back fine. I have also had a stress test done, ultrasound done on joints and an MRI on my back and all come back fine except for a ganglion cyst on my hand. I find myself stressing over not knowing what is wrong with me. The stress and anxiety has left my neck muscles so inflamed which is causing tension headaches, I have been seeing a physio which is helping. Now that my neck muscles are coming good my legs feel achy from ankles to thighs especially at night when rested... If its not one thing it's another :( my dr has tried to diagnose me with fibromyalgia... I honestly think my health issues are anxiety and stress related. I try to remain positive and healthy as that keeps me sane to some extent.