Help me

Ok, past 4/5 days had a numb left arm, sore left shoulder that's constantly aching and a tight feeling on the left side of my neck. So sore I've been doctors and she's said it's 99% muscular but I'm panicking it's my heart. I'm so frightened

[Hidden]

Of course you're concerned. I would be too.

Let's do a bit of elimination of some things physical that can cause this, that might help calm you a bit, ok?

Before we do that, are you in any physical therapy or massage therapy to help relax the muscles? If not, maybe you might want your doctor to arrange for that. If you are going to that type of therapy, or on a rx for muscle relaxing, no need to read the rest of my reply.

Sometimes an issue with your neck, like a nerve being "pinched" there, or a muscle squeezing a nerve can affect the nerves that travel down your arm to your hand. But your doctor would probably have ruled that out.

As far as it being a stroke, again, you would have known that by now, as other physical signs would have appeared...and your general practitioner would have definitely caught it. The same goes for any serious heart condition.

Are you able to use your arm hands and fingers? If so, good. Another clue to relieve your concern.

I had an experience like yours many years ago after a trip and fall. It was traced first as a muscle sprain in my shoulder, but as it got worse, my family MD sent me to a neurosurgeon because I couldn't turn a doorknob anymore and the pain in my upper arm and neck gradually became severe, and the proper care was then provided.

But never was my heart considered an issue with my symptoms.

Hope sharing this has given you some assurance that maybe your doctor is correct. But you haven't mentioned what she did do relieve your discomfort and numbness...that might help members of this venue to see how to offer support or information.

In the mean time, try to calm yourself in ways you know how and be patient. We're here waiting to hear from you if you want to write again.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Thankyou. That helped a lot. It's muscular pain bacuse when I tense it make it worse so has to be that, just accepting that it is that. I might go for a massage later on

[Jeff1943]

So your doctor has said that the soreness on your left side is muscular but you believe it's your heart. Your doctor went to medical school for umpteen years and has the experience of seeing dozens of sick people every day. But you prefer your own diagnosis. O.K., Mr Heap, doctors havebeen known to make mistakes. But not this time. We're having this conversation on an ANXIETY forum, not a forum for people with heart problems. That was your choice of forum. That says something, namely that deep down you know your symptoms are caused by anxiety. So you and your doctor are in agreement after all. You're not going to have a heart attack. You're far too young for that anyway. But your anxiety has caused muscular tension in your left arm, shoulder and the side of your neck. Anxiety is known to be able to do that, it's very, very good at imitating physical or organic illnesses.

Somewhere along the way your nervous system has become over sensitised by worry and stress. Only you know what caused it but if you can get rid of the cause, or reduce it in dome way, all the better. Maybe if you confided in someone you can trust then they may come up with a solution that will relieve you of that worry and stress. But that still leaves you with over sensitised nerves - and you're constantly 'topping up' the over sensitivity by the constant fear you're self-generating.

The answer, wherein lies recovery, is to do the opposite of what you"ve been doing so far. Instead of fighting the symptoms and flooding your system with fear why don't you instead stop fighting (which only causes more stress and tension) and simply accept for the moment all your bad feelings. Once you Accept them you generate a lot less fear. After all they're only blips in your over stressed nervous system and you now know for sure the symptoms aren't going to kill or cripple you.

So again I say: Accept your numb left arm, your shoulder and side of your neck. I know they're uncomfortable but you can cope with that, they don't stop you getting on with your life. And accept them with the minimum of fear and anxiety. That way you give your nerves a break from being constantly bombarded with fear and they get a chance to recover. And when they recover......... That's it, you've guessed the rest of the sentence.... you recover to.

So the bottòm line, Mr Heap, is that you're going to live at least until you're 90 and probably longer than that. And if you can only Accept the bad feelings without adding fear, you and your nerves are going to recover and you're going to live the rest of your life free from fear and anxiety. With patience and persistance you CAN learn to 'accept' the bad feelings and that will lead you to your cure. Good luck and good health in the future!