I finally got my doctor to do a spine MRI. I’ve been falling, loosing my balance, pulsating feeling in my back, legs shaking 24/7, dropping things, back pain and pressure, muscle cramps and twitches.
They all said it’s just anxiety, I’m making myself sick. D**n right I made myself sick. I was worried why all this was happening, I knew it wasn’t anxiety causing it. I knew it wasn’t helping the matter any though.
For a year now I have been in the ER countless times. In pain and completely miserable. Only to be ridiculed by staff and doctors for being there too much, shoved out the door with them rolling their eyes. EMS staff belittling me when I would call, and my sick mom having to call for herself. Being told we are ridiculous for going so much. How professional.
My spine MRI proves this isn’t all in my head.
I have several bulging cervical discs, as well as arthritis.
My thoracic has mid and lower spondylosis, mild diffuse disc disease, small disc bulges, small schmorl’s nodes on end plates with mild loss of disc heights. Mild facet arthropathy.
My lumbar has spondylosis, scoliosis, and bulging discs.
If you have concerns about your health, go to your doctor and express them. DEMAND that you get tests. If they don’t offer any, go to a new doctor. It’s their job to help and test you. Not assume and send you on your way.
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Kawa
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neck twitching, tingling down arms, weak arms, shaky legs (which started more after meds) constant trapezius muscle spasms, started on one side now its both.
Having a bulging disc could easily cause that. I mean... it’s pressing against nerves.. it really doesn’t take a specialist to figure that out.
I hope you can find someone that will listen to you and help. It’s frustrating in the mean time, I know. But just keep at it and maybe look online for things that can help the symptoms of a bulging disc. Heat can help and I know certain sleeping positions can help as well
thank you, and this is what caused most of my anxiety in the first place. I am doing physical therapy and also waiting for a nerve test, insurance got canceled in a mishap now just waiting for them to reactivate it, always something i tell ya,
I hear you. If it’s not one thing it’s another. My anxiety started after a house fire, two close deaths, my mom almost passing a handful of times in two years, my own sickness, and financial issues. Still having things snowballed at me to this day. I’m about to go buy myself and my family bubbles to live in! Haha
Humor helps this all, so does family and friends. Just try to stay busy and know it’s okay to have anxiety. But anxiety doesn’t define you or control you. Keep up with the physical therapy, I really hope it helps
Hi i dont know if you know the answer to this but worth a shot. I have severe anxiety and have been drs and hospital countless times with dizziness and off balance and so much more and they always say its anxiety. Ive taken citalopram and it has not stopped by dizziness or moving feelings. I have scoliosis and have had many spinal surgeries putting poles and screws into my spine and fuseing it. Could this cause any of these problems x
I don’t know because I’m still trying to figure out for myself, since I have those symptoms too. I’ve been told it’s anxiety and vestibular migraines. Both I’ve had medicine for, and the symptoms stay.
Exactly. I know that anxiety can be tricky. But at the same time, we know how our bodies feel. If you go from awesome to crap overnight without any trauma or stressors, good thing something could be wrong.
You have had a very rough road. Am so glad you were persistent about having the MRI. Now the question is what you are going to do which what was found with the MRI.
Are you being referred to a good neurologist and neurosurgeon?
Unlike you, I can honestly say I had the best neurosurgeon and neurologist available. But I also worked in hospital administration area and knew which physicians were preferable.
Some physical therapy may move some of the discs back into position and ease the pain if caused by them. Not all small disc bulges are problem areas. The Schmorle's nodes have not been a great concern with my physicians over the last 30 years. The spondylosis, if causing pain, can sometimes be relieved with epidurals.
My back has more MRI's than I can remember, as well neurological testing to ID what was the cause and what would help. My back history includes a minor fall that twisted my neck and a truck that struck my auto.
Several fusions in my neck was the only option when I could no longer turn a doorknob, etc. I will always have back, arm and leg pain, but epidurals twice a year kept the pain under control so I could work without taking oral painkillers that affect my thinking.
I do not know your age, but some of the issues you mention can occur with natural aging, and some may have been from the type of work you do, or a fall or lifting something too heavy.
Please do not have any spinal surgery without trying the much less invasive measures. As long as your discs are bulging, but not pressing against your spinal cord, your walking and arm movements shouldn't be affected. Sometimes a more minor surgery where the disc may be partially "shaved" can be recommended to relieve pain and difficulty walking due to it. The spondylosis becomes a factor if you have osteoporosis.
I am hoping you are in the US where you will not have to wait a long time before receiving care from a neurologist.
With proper care and maintenance, hopefully, your pain will be reduced significantly, but as in my case, you might have a lifelong pain issue that will need care. Try to avoid the opioid meds if you can; the proper exercises taught me by the physical therapists and deep muscle massage have helped a great deal when the pain in certain areas of my back increase.
The opioid meds may be necessary for awhile if you do need surgery to have you stabilized.
And I have learned that I can tolerate pain more now than I could when I was younger. I use a cane at times when my balance is a bit off when my pain is worse.
But, I still travel, work in the garden, sometimes adjust the distances I drive....I am writing you from a ship off the coast of Portugal..would not have been able to do this when I was first injured and had surgery. You're going to hopefully see a great improvement in your life with the right medical care. Will take some time, but most good things do.
I wish you the very best in your recovery from the pain you have been dealing with for too long. Been there, and am still doing after all these years. If you have been experiencing anxiety, some may still travel with you even after the pain has been relieved. I do.
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Is this just my anxiety
Is this really just anxiety?
Anxiety is just horrid 
Anxiety is just so scary!
I just don't understand anxiety!
