Tingly Legs

[goteamwhite]

Everytime I exercise, I get a pins and needles feeling in my legs, and my feet begin to feel a little numb. I also feel an extreme weakness/heaviness in my left arm and leg off and on. I'm in the process of seeing a neurologist to get everything checked out. I am wondering if it's possible that this is caused by anxiety/depression. My friends and family keep telling me that that's causing the symptoms, but I simply cannot believe that a mental problem could cause such an extreme physical problem that occurs everytime I exercise. I'm convinced that there must be a physical, diagnosable cause to this.

My question is, could anxiety or depression cause such an extreme heaviness feeling in my arm, and tingly feeling in my legs? I feel like I know my body and how it reacts to anxiety and I can't see how these exteme physical symptoms could be caused by a mental problem.

[Sonaya]

I can hear the frustration in your voice.  And can relate.  Its a catch 22.
You want answers to what is happening to you, the path to getting those answers when its not clear cut, can be long and frustrating.
Its only natural that you are worried about what is happening to you.
We wouldnt be human if we didnt worry about what is happening.
Of course the mind does become more occupied, and I have to agree the more we focus on our symptoms etc, it does increase the anxiety.

But I feel you have to pursue ruling out all the possible physical things first before you can just put it all down to anxiety or depression.

You can become anxious and a little down and depressed about all the worry your symptoms are causing you and that in itself might possibly be adding to your symptoms and causing some of the numbing and tingling.

I absolutely get so annoyed when people tell me to take it easy, calm down relax, etc etc when your trying to find answers but it does actually work to try and remain focused & not let things get out of hand.

Im not an expert, just someone going through similar problems at the moment.  I have become a little too focussed on all my symptoms and it gets me a little anxious and frustrated because I want to know what is happening to me.  I woke up one day and stuff started happening, my life before that was fine, I was not depressed or suffering anxiety but now since this has all been happening, doctors appts, specialist appts, tests, neurological symptoms, it does wear you down.
Try not to be so hard on yourself, keep pursuing the physical causes until you are happy that nothing more can be done for answers.  IF it all comes back ok and nothing does eventuate for a clear diagnosis then perhaps consider the possibility.
I hope this makes sense
Good luck.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You are doing the right thing by having this checked out.  All I can tell you is that it is possible that anxiety can cause these symptoms, because once you start focusing in on them, they become a kind of obsession that keeps your mind occupied, and the closer you watch, the stronger they become.