Anxiety or Neurologic Problem

[Run2Win]

I'm a 26 year old male, who has been suffering with off and on again anxiety and panic attacks. Recently I've experienced a set back and I'm not sure if it is just another bout with anxiety or if there is something wrong. I often get these attacks where my head gets waves of numbing sesnations, my feet feel numb and legs feel like jello, and my neck gets real stiff. Sometimes my left arm feels numb and tingley to and trouble breathing. I've had a headache now for a few weeks and when I get these attacks I obviously panic. While I know this may sound like panic, I also know one can have a panic attack and heart attack at the same time. So how can I tell if this is symptons of panic or something neurological. Is their anything I can do besides going to see my doctor and having him order a CT scan or something. I don't want to ignore symptons, but I also do not want to rush off to the doctor and get tests done everytime I have a bought with panic? Thanks for your help.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

I do not think you can differentiate these symptoms on your own. I would encourage you to see your primary care doctor and discuss these concerns. He/she will take your entire history and examination into account, and then decide if testing is necessary. Patients can have a paniac disorder and other medical problems, and I would agree with you that ignoring new symptoms would be foolish. Good luck.

[spitfire77]

Prolonged periods of stress can cause migraine headaches for life, according to my neurologist.  I was having severe abdominal pain off and on for a year that took three doctors (family, GI, surgeon) and five tests (CT, colonoscopy, endiscope, ultrasound, HIDA) to find the cause was a diseased gallbladder.  During this time I was stressed a lot because I was recently married and my wife was pregnant.  The testing looked for all kinds of organ problems or cancer.  Would I live to see my child born?  The stress caused migraines to affect me exactly one year after the pain started.  So I was diagnosed with migraines before the surgeon ordered the HIDA test and discovered the problem.  I had surgery a month later and that was taken care of, but now I still have migraines thanks to that prolonged stress.  My child was born fine and he is 14-months now (and causing me stress sometimes, but that's part of having children).

I have been trying to get a question into this forum for weeks because my legs are feeling weak, tingling, painful sometimes and I thought I might have ALS.  My neuro said no last week but ordered a MRI scheduled for today.  I've been under stress and some panic after reading the symptoms for ALS.  So I understand what you are feeling with panic, but your headaches may get worse and worse unless you can ease your mind about your physical symptoms.  See the doctor to find out for sure.  If the doctor says you are ok, then your mind is eased and you are only out a little money well spent.  Good luck!

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[TigerTiger]

Have you ever had a quinolone drug ?   They can cause neurologic problems, especially intense anxiety attacks, in a small percentage of people who took them.

Quinolones include Cipro, Floxin, Levaquin and Tequin.  If you think this may pertain to you, (or even if you wish to learn more) you can check out more info at www.fqresearch.org or www.fqvictims.org.

Doctors will try & tell you those side effects listed mean nothing - don't listen.  I'm sure til the other day doctors told their patients the same thing about Vioxx (now pulled from market for causing double risk of heart attack and strokes).

Good luck finding a cause and treatment that will work.

PS Personally I find that a compound called "Deep Sleep" works - it contains all natural herbs including Valerian.  BUT - talk to your doctor first, before taking ANYTHING.

You can read more about that online too; if you wish to.

[mineandours]

Only you can distinguish anxiety from real, physical symptoms.  If you can't get any answers, consider Lyme disease.  It causes all sorts of bizarre neurological symptoms.  Here's some info to get you started:  (Email me ***@**** if you have questions.)

Head, Face, Neck
Unexplained hair loss
Headaches, mild or severe
Twitching of facial or other muscles
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Tingling of nose, cheek or face
Stiff or painful neck or creaking
Jaw pain or stiffness
TMJ – sudden onset
Sore throat
Loss of sense of taste
Difficulty Swallowing

Eyes/Vision
Double, blurry or dim vision
Increased floating spots
Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes
Over sensitivity to light
Flashing lights
Optic neuritis

Ears/Hearing
Decreased hearing in one or both ears
Buzzing or clicking noises in ears
Pain in ears or sound sensitivity
Ringing in one or both ears
Pressure or feeling of fullness in ears

Digestive and Excretory Systems
Diarrhea
Constipation
Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping)
Frequent urination that is not normal
Upset stomach (nausea or pain)

Musculoskeletal System
Joint pain or swelling or tenderness
Stiffness of joints, back, neck
Muscle pain or cramps
Bone pain

Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
Shortness of breath, cough
Chest pain or rib soreness
Night sweats or unexplained chills
Heart palpitations or extra beats
Heart blockage

Neurological System
Tremors or unexplained shaking (especially at night)
Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
Weakness or partial paralysis/stroke-like symptoms
Pressure in the head
Numbness in body, tingling, pinpricks
Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking
Increased motion sickness
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Sudden jerking of fingers or entire limbs

Psychological well-being
Mood swings, irritability, rage
Unusual depression
Disorientation (getting or feeling lost)
Feeling as if you are losing your mind
Overemotional reactions, crying easily
Too much sleep, or insomnia
Difficulty falling or staying asleep

Mental Capability
Memory loss (short or long term)
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration or reading
Going to the wrong place
Speech difficulty (slurred or slow)
Stammering speech
Forgetting how to perform simple tasks

Females only:
Unexplained menstrual pain, irregularity
Unexplained breast pain, discharge

Males only:
Testicular or pelvic pain

General Well-being
Unexplained weight gain, loss
Extreme fatigue
Swollen glands
Unexplained fevers (high or low grade)
Continual infections (sinus, kidney, eye, etc.)
Symptoms seem to change, come and go
Pain migrates (moves) to different body parts
Early on, experienced a "flu-like" illness, after which you have not since felt well.  (You may not even recall this.)

LYME FACTS
1. You do not have to recall a bite or have gotten the target rash to have Lyme disease. Less than 50% of people with Lyme do.
2. The tick that carries Lyme is as small as the period at the end of this sentence and their nymphs are nearly microscopic.  
3. You do not have to experience ALL of these symptoms to have Lyme disease.  It is also typical for many of these symptoms to come and go.
4. It is possible to have Lyme disease and have a negative test result.  After it enters your system, it tricks your immune system into no longer producing antibodies to fight it, hence, a negative test result.
5. Lyme bacteria hide in the spinal fluid, bone, tendons, muscle and nerve fibers and tissues and in many cases are not “floating” around in the bloodstream where they can be picked up on a test.
6. It takes a LYME SPECIALIST to diagnose and treat Lyme disease and any of its associated co-infections. To find one go to www.LymeNet.org.
or www.ilads.org.  They do not require a referral.