Help?

[Crewchief67t]

HI,  I am a 33 yo male. My cholestorol levels are good, BP is usally good.  Smoke a couple of smokes a day (litterally), no alcahol, eat fairly health and active.

For the last 11 months i have had a lot of issues.  Abdominal pains (all over), chest pains that are very sharp, sharp pains in my legs, arms, hands, fingers, shoulders, neck, back (upper and lower), sharp pains in jaws (upper and lower), feet, pains in my groin area when this was first going on but dont have them anymore.  Sometimes the pains shoot and last usually from split second to a few seconds.  I have had constant muscle pains in my arms, neck and shoulders since this started.  The chest pains are very infrequent.  But i have pains everyday.    They pains seem like they are postural but im not 100% sure i guess.  When i take a xanax the pains almost always go away.  I am on 50mg metoprolol for anxiety as well. And Nexium.

Now for the tests ive had done.

CT angiogram (clear)
At least a dozen ekg's (normal)
Echo (normal)
Stress test (normal)
Corotid doppler (normal)
Coronary calcium screening (score 0)
CT of abdomen ( mild diverticulosis)
EGD (esophogitis)
Ultrasound of liver, spleen, gall bladder, kidneys, pancreas (nothing noted)
Countless blood work( ie. er workups, h.pylori, and all others i think)
Chest x-rays (nothing noted)
MRI of Cervical Spine ( Lots of Bulging disks, hemangioma at c5 level, narrowing of spinal column)

I think i got it all but im sure i forgot something.  This is not my 1st post and i was hoping for some more clues.  
I have had some serious anxiety issues with all of this.  

I have seen a total of 14 docs including 2 cardio docs, 1 GI doc, 2 Internists, and some Family docs.  None of the pains are related to any physical exertion (mostly when i am relaxed) but anytime of the day except for sleep.

I have posted here before and am just looking for some new ideas on who i should see.  All of my family docs and internists and cardio docs say anxiety.  I guess i cant totally make the connection when i am feeling the way i do.  

Please help if you have any ideas!

Thanks
Mike

[Crewchief67t]

I really appreciate the advice and kind words.  Mentally i feel great most of the time.  But the pains come at the oddest of times and drive me NUTS!  If i am busy at work or something else to take my mind off of everything the pains dont really bother me or i really dont notice them at all.

I have seen a counselor in july and had to move for job reasons before i got to see a actual Dr. for this.  I set up a appt. with a new doc as soon as i moved here and i asked him if he could refer me.  He said it was easier if i did it myself?  

I am due to have another mri in the next month or so.  It was planned that way after my last one to look at the hemanioma.
I have also been going to the Chiropractor on a somewhat regular basis with no relief for my pains.  I guess i will just keep working on it and look into seeing a professional for my anxiety issues.

Once again thanks
Mike

[mammo]

I would see a neuroligist regarding the hemangioma on your spine. Although benign it's growth is probably what's causing the narrowing of the spinal column and this needs further evaluation to determine if it's presence is causing you pain.  Plus, all your bulging disks need to be evaluated to make sure they aren't impinging on the spinal cord as well. It depends on the location of the impingement as to what areas of the body are affected, a neurologist can map this.  All the above can cause a lot of pain, and this is what I would concentrate on.  Are they not addressing these issues?  I can see why your anxiety level is high, sometimes it's the unknown that scares us the most. Except for the spinal issues you are very healthy, so you can stop worrying about the rest of it.  But your spine needs attention, and I feel this is where the problem lies.  I've seen the pain caused from one bulging disk, so if you have several it can be intense.  Keep in mind that a bulging disk can be there for a very long time and not cause any problems, the problems come when and if they impinge on the spinal column.  I would also want to know "why" so many at your age, and if the hemangioma is causing them to bulge. All of this is treatable.  Get this checked out thoroughly and go from there. We're always here to support you with your anxiety, so please visit us anytime.  Take care...

[cj29]

Anxiety can really take a toll on us both mentally and physically in my opinion.  My original bout with anxiety came with concerns about heart health.  I just knew something had to be wrong despite the multiple tests and the doctors telling me it was anxiety.  In my opinon, it can also snowball and we can get caught in a never ending cycle of concern. Furthermore, we become so 'hyperaware' of everything going on in our bodies and can tend to misinterpret symptoms as something catastropic.

Feeling like crap is par for the course when we experience this in my opinion.  Unfortunately, the worse we feel, the more we convince ourselves something must be wrong.  You did the right thing by getting checked out by the doctors, but you need to believe them, in my opinion, which of course is much easier said than done.

Have you considered counseling?  In my experience, learning about my anxiety and pattern of thinking gave me the knowledge to accept and confront it.  There is a reason for the saying, 'knowledge is power.'  Keep us posted!