Buzzing in legs/feet

[Shannon Wyatt]

Hi, quick question about anxiety symptoms.  I'm a 41yo male suffering from anxiety.  I have this constant buzzing or vibrations in my lower legs/feet (mostly left) that is just driving me crazy.  I'm thinking of all kinds of things that could be medically wrong with me -- which is causing the huge anxiety that I'm feeling.  Just was curious if anyone else has experienced this.  Also, I get slight numbness and tingling in my toes (both sides) from time-to-time, but mostly in the morning when I wake up shaking.  Thanks!

[Tovalady]

Or ANXIETY

[Tovalady]

SCIATICA

[terryj1974]

yes i have-i'm just 40 but had anxiety state for years-it feels from your feet thru the back of leg up thru spine to the neck and up to the head like been "plugged into the mains electric"- its adrenaline thats coursing thru all your nerves-its like a buzzing feeling -i always say to my doc its like standing in a train station with the electric overhead wires on a wet day and you hear that buzzy,current dispersing into the air off the conducting apparatus,its like that buzzing thru your body starting feet upwards. i thought i was alone desscribing it-and i sympathise you got the same condition it seems

[66Chris]

Have had a buzzing tingling and shuddering in my feet then my legs for the last 5 months im 66.It started with vibrations in my feet when I was lying in bed, if I lay still they went away, then I started to have them in the daytime like a buzz then a pause then a buzz, pause also  started to get them in my legs, it gets so bad feels like an earthquake under my feet. As I also had cramps in my feet I think it may be a circulation problem in my case.  Im in the Uk the doctor said it was nothing serious even though she didn't know what it was Ive now got vibration buzzing  in my back seem to get worse when im active and a pounding in my ear I still think it may be a circulation problem anyone else

[Sassy18U]

Thank you - you're the only one that is making any sense :)

[curtisangler]

I have had my heels crushed in an accident three years ago, I will have massive buzzing in my feet when my painkillers wear off or when it rains or heavy moisture in the air or both. It has almost put me over the edge many times including this morning. I feel for you. When I wake up from it I chew painkillers and put them under my tongue , in  30 minutes I end up going back to sleep . I am going to try vitamins and anti anxiety meds now . Thanks for your post and good luck !!

[kv229]

This really helps reading this.  I started having the "buzzing" sensation in my right calf.  It's on and off, 2 seconds on, 2 seconds off.  It's not constant, because when I wake up in the morning, it's not there, but as soon as I start my day, it comes back.  Sometimes I notice it all day, other times when I'm busy I don't notice it.

I started going to a chiropractor who believes it's a pinched nerve, Sciatica.  He says that it does branch off to the front of the leg too.  I'll give this a try for awhile and hope that it goes away.

My anxiety has been much better lately, but just because the mind is calm, doesn't mean the body is.  So I understand that anxiety could be a major part of this.

I've hesitated on taking any meds just because I'm so sensitive to them.  I too worry about MS and other things, but ti's reassuring to read that so many people have this on a daily basis for months with nothing wrong.  Thank you everyone for your posts!  It does help sharing and discussing!

[Edjo]

All of your remedies are great for stress and anxiety.  These feelings of vibrations and bubbling are harmless.  Anxiety attacks the body in many different ways.  Stay focused on meditation and relaxation and you will feel much better.  Good luck!  

[bobcat42]

I have just started having slight buzzing in my left upper half of my leg,,,just like you said I was reaching for my cell phone...   only my left, not sure what causes it, but maybe b12  shortage

[kojak1982]

Hi Everyone,

I too experienced a buzzing sensation in my left foot.  It started off as short random sensations and after a month became constant.  It didn't hurt, it was just really annoying.  After seeing a few doctors and having multiple tests done with no findings I started my own research.

I was diagnosed with Celiac in August of 2010 after being very sick (gastro problems) for many years.  As soon as I was diagnosed I went on a gluten free diet immediately.  About 6 months later I started having a lot of problems with muscle coordination, twitching, pins and needles, etc.  Like I mentioned above, I saw doctor after doctor and was given a clean bill of health because my tests were all normal.  That wasn't good enough for me because I knew something was not right.  

I began reading studies doen in England on patients with Celiac and the nurological effects it can have on your body.  I learned that it is not unusal for Celiacs to experience twitching/numbness/pins & needles feelings in the muscles (yes, I thought I had MS too like most of you on this forum).  However, I had been gluten free for over 6 months and the sypmtoms were now just starting to come about.  The more research I did the more I learned that I wasn't 100% gluten free.  My shampoo and conditioner were not gluten free and I used the same toaster and butter containers as my husband.  Just because my diet was gluten free didn't mean I was living a gluten free life.  So, I started over.  Cleaned up all hidden sources of gluten and thought that would do the trick....wrong!  I was still having nuro issues.  So, I continued to read!  I read an article that stated just becuase you're gluten free doesn't mean your body's absorbing nutrients due to the damage to your small intestine.  So I started my own trial and error test with vitamins.

I started to test different vitamins and how my body reacted to them.  I eventually found the combination of vitamins that worked for me to stop the buzzing!!!!!  Since I have started taking B-12, Vitamin E, Iron, Magnesium and Niacin most if not all (day by day) of my symptoms have gone away.  However some brands made the buzzing worse.  I cannot tolerate Nature Valley's B-Complex vitamin.  As soon as I take it within 15 mintues the buzzing comes on strong.  It may be an additive or dye that they use that is causing my syptoms.  I do use Nature Valley's Magnesium and Niacin so it's not all Nature Valley's products that can contribute to the buzzing.  However, what works for me may not work for you.

I do want to strees that I'm not a doctor and do not recommend trying what I did until you consult your doctor.  However, I encourage you to be tested for Celiac (blood screen and/or scope) because that could be the underlying reason for your problems.

I personally know how frusterating it can be when you know something is wrong with your body but doctors don't believe you.  It can't hurt to get tested for Celiac and start taking daily vitamins.  Most vitamins are water soluable so whatever you're body doesn't need you'll eliminate.

Good luck everyone!

[courage9070]

I have vibrational  sensations that come and go usually in lower legs . I  believe that this could be resulting from vitamin deficiencies. I am in the healthcare field and am aware of the effects of high stress on the body and it can really be a killer. The higher stress the more the body burns up vitamin/nutrient stores as mentioned by others. However, I also believe that are bodies can act as a medium (like a tape recorder)for outside energy forces, as we are an electrically complex structure that sends out energy manifestations and we can also act as a receiver. I began to think that these vibrations were manifestations of spirits flowing into my energy field. This may sound crazy but I believe it to be valid. I feel that I need to block and guard myself against negative energies, so I have been researching yoga, meditation and  pretty much anything that could potentially work. I have also read that clear crystal, amethyst and black tourmaline rock emit energy to block negative energy.  

[fedupofhotfeet]

I have buzzing in my left foot and lack of feeling due to a chiropractor damaging the sciatic nerve during treatment for sciatica. Ive had a epidural which has helped my leg as this too was buzzing and lack of feeling,but now it is just my foot.Ive asked to see a neurologist but my dr says it wont make much difference,so she says im stuck with it,but i dont believe this! Im interested that one person on here took vit B12 and it helped,has anyone else tried this or any other help i can get i,ll be most interested.After all it does control your life this problem as ive no balance due to this complaint,i have to use a walker which i hate!

[Jools6009]

I had the buzzing in my left arm and left leg, left side of the neck, and later down the spinal cord. Initially, in 2007, I was told by my primary physician and PT that my symptoms were stress and anxiety related and told to have body work, take a light muscle relaxer, to do relaxation breathing exercises, and take supplements (calcium and Vit B-12). In 2010, after the buzzing went to the right side and my feet buzzed to the point I had difficulty walking, sitting and standing. In May 2010, I went to the ER because I wasn't able to walk, stand or drive. After an MRI, I was told I had moderate cervical stenosis and myofacial (sp?) syndrome. I am currently involved in conservative treatment, which is  PT (often 2x a week), and on a regimen consisting of exercises and of course, taking muscle relaxers and pain medication. If I had known this in 2007, I'd be much better off today. The buzzing went away for a month or two and has returned, and it's agonizing. I haven't been able to resume daily activities for over 9 months. Now, because I'm not improving, I have to consider surgery, which is difficult, since I'm a caregiver for a very sick spouse, and I've heard the recovery for stenosis surgery is a serious, difficult process.  I urge all of you to have MRIs to rule out stenosis, which can become a serious disability, preventing you from working and keeping you from doing your daily activities.  I'm not kidding, buzzing is a serious symptom and shouldn't be ignored for too long.

[heyiamgary]

its a vaporizer

[Roseyposey08]

I initially looked up this symptom because I get this very uncomfortable tingling feeling in my feet when I take in marijuana in some form. I used to smoke pretty regularly and it was a mere relaxer and very rarely produced paranoia or the like. Now even the slightest amount sends my feet into a frenzy that I can agree must have something to do with anxiety. The shift is sort of unimportant but I assume it has something to do with my anxiety from my experimentation with hallucinogenics. Anyway, good to know.

[LowMac]

Hey all!

I'm an infrequent poster on MedHelp, much more posting in my earliest days as a member.

I've had lots of health problems starting in 2003 (autoimmune thyroiditis-hypothyroidism,vitamin deficiencies and peripheral neuropathy). The thing that has been underlying with these health problems is intense anxiety, that for a period of time I was controlling very well. As my vitamin levels went lower (D, E and B12 - the later being low-normal, the previous 2 being flagged low), my neurological symptoms of carpal tunnel and tarsal tunnel worsened. Once treated with vitamin replacement therapies, they didn't worsen but also didn't improve. I did gain slighlty more energy however.

I am convinced that the addition of muscle twitches and buzzing sensations in my legs/feet, was more due to my stress/anxiety responses to these issues, than to the medical conditions them selves. I say this for several reasons, one being that mine-too are calmed by taking an as-needed xanax or by doing some exercise. While I believe my health problems do play a role in these weird symptoms, I'm convinced that when my anxiety levels spike, this is where the symptoms are coming from.

One other reason I say this is because as others have related in this thread, I too can awake mornings and feel no buzzing or muscle twitching but as the adrenaline rises from my expectations of what I'm facing for the day, these begin to occur. Common sense says that a purly neurological cause of them would not see them flare with anxiety but they would be independent of it and would occur apart from it.

I've enjoyed reading the previous comments and seeing others I relate-to with these symptoms.

[lisasmore]

Just another thought on the buzzing and tingling stuff.  Has anyone been tested for Lyme Disease?  Turns out that's what I have and I've been suffering from those symptoms and many more!  Doing IV antibiotic treatment as I write this!  Good luck to all!

[hugandkisses]

I got here hoping someone could tell me what the heck this buzzing is and I have only read other people have it. Is it like the phantom pain from a leg that has been amputated? Why does it come and go?

[amf17]

I have been having buzzing in my feet going up my legs.  It is better when I am active. I have myself convinced I have MS!  I went to the Dr. and told her about it when it was isolated to my feet and told her it seemed to improve when I took xanax.  She said not to worry about MS and that her mother has it and she thinks I don't.  No tests were done.  I don't want tests and do not have any other symptoms but still think I have MS.  What should I do?

[mrslique]

Hi Everyone!

I am grateful for this supportive forum. I just wanted to let you know that I too have suffered for more than a year with the same buzzing symptoms and they can make you feel like you are going nuts!  I just want to agree with the comment on CLARITIN.  I took one at eight this morning because my buzz was soooo bad!  By eight thirty, I was feeling much better, this OTC drug should last twelve hours.  I have had not adverse side effects, however always check with your doctor first before taking it.  I think it blocks the nerve receptors and I actually am able to function at work today without having to take a half a day. This will take time, our nerves are overworked.  We constantly focus on these symptoms twenty four seven and its tooooo much!  We will get better, we must change the way we look at this stuff.  I know that the symptoms prevail, but we must understand that after going to the doctors and all is well we have to accept it and move forward.  We can do this together. Hit me up anytime at ***@****

[buddypal]

I have had buzzing in my body - since August 2008....
Started in feet, went up legs, then into body, 9 months later...
Went to a bunch of Dr's - they do not know what is causing this....
Last month - my neurologist decided to prescribe a medicine for me called,
" Claritin "... I have the generic brand.." Loratadine "....10 mg's at night...A few hours before bed....The very first night, I slept a normal amount of hours... I am still sleeping alot better....(and I hadn't before)....AND....the buzzing in my body....IS MUCH BETTER !!!

[Trev57]

I also have  tingling and buzzing feelings,sometimes in my left leg and/or foot,sometimes causing me to walk with a limp,sometimes accompanied by a dull migraine,sometimes light is intensified in daylight,and spots are seen in a dark room.The diagnoses has repeatedly been stress,but often I have had my doubts,and believed it to be some neorological problem perhaps exagerated by stress.I think that any illness or disorder that isnt very cronic is difficult to diagnose.I have had more than my fair share of worry and anxiety in my life,so reading the above commentries,could explain my symptons,which incidently,are causing me a lot of anxiety in themselves.

[stresshead130968]

hi again, had my first meeting with my counsellor and although she said we will get more in depth this week she did tell me ( and gave me me some booklets to read) to think of a triangle of things being ,thoughts, physical feelings and behavour and that they are in no particular order, the aim is to try to break this triangle at any one of these points thus creating a break in the cycle( they make it sound so easy )does this sound familliar to any one and if so how do you go about this ?

[Dooges]

Hello fellow anxiety sufferers. I say felloe sufferers because what I am reading here in ALL these posts is mostly people suffering from anxiety but actually do not have an understanding of how anxiety effects your nervous system and the effects that can have on your body.
For a start, let me list a few symptoms I have had...
Muscle Twitching.... Random twitches everywhere from eyes to toes and all in between.
Muscle Tension....  For me mainly my stomach muscles.
Muscle ringing/buzzing.. Just started recently in left shin area and a little in my foot
Stomach bloating and gassy feelings and noises.
Fatigue.
Weight loss

Just to name a few..
ALL ANXIETY..
For months I was worried sick it was all those nasty diseases mentioned above. Only as I didn't know that anxiety can cause all these nasty things. You see when you have had anxiety for a period of time your body/nerves  becomes  over sensitised. Ths the symptoms.. Does this following sequence sound familiar to a lot of you?    
1. Stress 2. sensitisation 3. Symptoms 4. Bewilderment and fear of symptoms.
Thats how it went for me. And when this happens you get caught in the viscious circle.
So you start thinking worst case scenario, you google all your symptoms, you find the nasty things and makes you even more afraid. You are adding to your fear, this causes your body to become even more sensitised. So more symptoms.
When your stressing out like this and worrying you are producing more hormones. In this case Adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones set the body in the fight or flight state. Increased heart rate, increase in blood pressure, muscles tense etc So you can start to see that if you are in this viscious circle for a period time ( it's different with everyone ) that eventually your body is going to start to show symptoms. I hope this makes sense. It is so easy for people to get caught in the fear  - adrenaline  - fear cycle because they don't understand how the body reacts to prolonged anxiety.
Not understanding is probably their/your greatest enemy.
What I suggest is reading a good self help book on anxiety.. My recommendation is a book called " complete self help for your nerves " by Claire Weekes. It worked and keeps working wonders for me. ( I got some of the info i wrote above from this book)
The second thing i did was became a member of a web site called anxiety centre.  I www.anxietycentre.com
I thoroughly recommend you join this site.  It's like doing your own CBT ( Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)  It also has a great section in there on all the symptoms and how the symptoms come about. It really puts your mind at ease and once that happens you are on your way to recovery already.. If you want to chat more feel free to send me a message.
This was just a quick message with some info but if you want to chat more about it feel free to message me.
Cheers
Doogie