does anxiety give you weird neuro symptoms?

[wecanhelpeachother]

i have been to the doctor about numbness, tingling, muscle pains and joint pains in my arms, wrists, fingers..... they say 'its anxiety' but I am so worried they are not assessing me properly (they didn't do any examination or tests).... I'm worried docs just write me off as 'anxiety' ... it's not due to meds as it all started before when i was not on any meds

Also i get this weird tingling on a specific spot on my scalp...

These sensations are just there all the time, not coming on in a state of particular anxiety, so it's just so weird and scary

[Hidden]

GM! I can relate to these symptoms. It’s the anxiety. Sometimes I get the tingliness across my face. I have had MRIs, and EEG done. All came back negative.

[Xene]

Hi, unfortunately anxiety can cause multiple symptoms however when I was fobbed off by a gp with similar symptoms, not identical to yours. Luckily I got courage to go back and a different gp examined me and referred me to a neurologist and after tests discovered I had a herniated disc in my neck. We are all different and unfortunately I have had the misfortune of having to deal with some useless so called healthcare professionals. They may be few and far between but I’ve had more than my fair share.🤷‍♀️

[wecanhelpeachother in reply to Xene]

Oh no! Did they manage to help you after the correct diagnosis?

[Xene in reply to wecanhelpeachother]

Well my neurologist did offer me surgery, spinal decompression but she was totally honest with me and stated sometimes the risks can outweigh the benefits. That was it for me I’ve been through so many complex surgeries with not good outcomes so I declined even speaking with a neurosurgeon. I get by and am not in excruciating pain but I’m very careful, not lifting anything heavy, not using my arms strenuously for anything, I even wash up staring at the ceiling.😂 I already have so many physical disabilities to deal with I don’t need anymore.🤷‍♀️

[fauxartist in reply to Xene]

I do think that many doctors are too dismissive....and if they can't figure out what's wrong with you in their 15 min. time allotment for diagnosis, they tell you nothing's wrong with you. Another very common stigma prejudice from doctors is if they know you have something like anxiety or depression....their opinion is then chalked up to it's being all in your head.... and often they ignore real medical conditions due to this ignorance.

I like the old saying that; 'sometimes the cure will harm you more than the disease', when it comes to surgery. When ever a doctor recommends surgery.... I get another 2-3 opinions. I've saved myself twice now from a very painful and debilitating outcome of unnecessary surgery. Once in college when I had a lower intestinal issue from the dormitory food.... they wanted to do exploratory surgery on a perfect body of a 21-year-old, that would have been nothing more than a learning experience for the interns, as it was a teaching hospital and I was told there were no guarantees it would even help me, leaving me scared and looking like a road map. In the end, after 6 days in the hospital... being tube fed....all I finally just needed was a change of diet, I needed food not from steam tables for 12 hours....I needed nutrition.

Another time was with a podiatrist from the schlock ins. company recommendation for my persistent sore foot. And again...the doctor told me 'surgery' within less than 5 mins. in the consultation, he told me his interns would do the surgery. I said no thanks, and got a second opinion....all I needed were orthotics.

[Xene in reply to fauxartist]

Hi Faux, how are you doing? As usual you have hit the nail on the head regarding some dr.’s, consultants and anyone else in the medical profession. I know we have to put our faith, trust in them but quite honestly some of them aren’t the sharpest knives in the drawer and sadly we only learn that from our own personal experiences. They can be very good at sticking labels on patients and fighting them for ones health is no easy task. Fortunately I now have a wonderful neurologist and she has been the only person in the NHS that will pull out all the stops to try and help me as best she can regarding any medical health condition.🤷‍♀️

[fauxartist in reply to Xene]

Boy am I glad to hear that your getting some help my friend... I hear ya.... sounds like you have been through a lot medically. And when you have unreliable medical...geezzz.... it's a double whammy. I have always been one to be my own advocate....I weigh in all the data and decide what sounds right. I am fortunate to have some background....and really....it's what you tell your doctors that they go from to begin with.... and often it can be something unexpected and 180 out from what you thought....but that can only be discovered by having someone dedicated like your neurologist to do the work to help you.

I'm hangin in there, another week of stuff from Long Covid, but.... I'm a bit better today, thanks for asking....I'm still fighting the good fight....

I'm sending good Karma your way...and a lot of healing vibes....

[b1b1b1 in reply to fauxartist]

Faux - You are absolutely 100% correct. I would only add that what you have said is even more true for women. The state of medical care in the US is very difficult for patients to navigate and to receive real help. xx

[fauxartist in reply to b1b1b1]

Oh man don't get me started on that one.... stigma... geeezzz. Being a woman with an education, and then one of the very few women contractors I've ever known, ...it was always a battle to be heard. And as far as the U.S. goes right now....it's chaos in medicine. When doctors used to own the hospitals, there was a certain amount of pride and responsibility in health care...now it's all just numbers. And if your costs add up more than their profit.... your left on your own with the costs.

[GinkgoLeaf]

Different symptoms but similar challenges. Sorry you are going through this. My test is to call someone, whether a friend/family member or a mental health hotline, and see if the symptoms stay or go away during the call. If they don’t, then it’s typically something non-anxiety related. I often find my anxiety symptoms - stomach issues, headaches - go away if I distract myself or do something that helps me relax. Best of luck on the journey!

[PastaDog in reply to GinkgoLeaf]

this is a really great idea! i always wondered why i would feel so sick but then whenever i would call in to work or call someone for help suddenly some of my symptoms would disappear. i always had this heavy guilt that i was making things up when that would happen, i never considered they were anxiety manifestations.

[GinkgoLeaf in reply to PastaDog]

Same thing happens for me with stress headaches - if I go for a run or talk to somebody, often my headache gets a lot better. Also, in my experience, my anxiety/physical symptoms were the worst when I hadn't eaten in a while. Eat/drink, try a distraction. Mental illnesses are tough on the body. You got this!

[Persephone8]

I get this, particularly a feeling like nettle sting on my skin - my GP says it is the effect of adrenalin in the blood stream. He says it could also be fibromyalgia....