Anxiety or Neurologic Problem

Question

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.

mineandours · Answer

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

TigerTiger · Answer

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.

CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS · Answer

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 · Answer

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!

1sp · Answer

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Anxiety or Neurologic Problem

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