Hello everyone. New on here...I have been suffering from physical symptoms of anxiety for five months...
Burning sensations on arms, feet...hypersensitive skin...hard to sit or lie down at times...were feet feelings...numbness and tingling...had extensive bloodwork, mri, EMG all normal...is this anxiety? I am deathly afraid that I am dying a terrible disease.
Hi Harzee and Welcome to the Anxiety Forum...Having had extensive testing, it sounds like you have a case of severe anxiety causing all your symptoms. You are not dying from a terrible disease but being made to feel that way by your brain feeding that false info to you.
With anxiety, our nervous system is over sensitized to begin with. When afraid, we start shallow breathing bringing on numbness and tingling in our extremities. Seeing a therapist to work out the root of what brought this on as well as some medication to lower your stress levels may be warranted. A book that is recommended by many on this forum is by Dr. Claire Weekes called "Hope & Help for your Nerves" It is clearly written for you to understand the Mind/Body Connection of anxiety disorder as well as Acceptance being the key to getting better.
I'm glad you found this safe place to come to and talk with other who are going through the same issues and struggles. We learn from each other and what better way to feel comfortable than being with people who truly understand and care. 
xx
Thank you for your reply. I am scared that I have small fiber neuropathy...has anyone else experienced these symptoms?
Has a doctor mentioned that to you in the past? I have a neuropathy in my feet as well as my hands go numb and tingly because of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. A Neurologist would be better able to give you a diagnosis after doing an Electrical Stimulation Test. Improper breathing can also cause sensations in the feet and hands. Always best to check out any health issues before assuming it's anxiety. Diabetes can also be the issue.
Wish you well in finding some answers so you don't worry and stress out over it. xx
When I asked the Neurologist about small fiber neuropathy he said "You sure have been doing a lot of reading." AKA Dr.Google
I wondered that too Harzee, where you got that info from. I have a medical background and yet I had to look it up Oh...I always say never consult with Dr. Google...it will send you into a tail spin each time. It is too generalized. Sounds like you are in good hands with the Neurologist. He knows best as well as knows your health history. Sounds like we are back to Anxiety...
This forum will help you as you see yourself in others who will respond to you. It will all come together. Read and learn from the forum. If you must go on line, only use reputable medical sites. I still say the best advice is your doctors.
Hi agora1. Do you have ibs or any of the bowel diseases so any of the (irritable bowel disease syndromes ) there’s many?. Also do you have heat patches or hot spots like in your buttocks feet legs arms hands legs which can change daily or hourly? Do you have depression with all the above symptoms feeling sometimes life’s worthless or your not getting anywhere with a diagnosis. Your hypersenstivify is clear indication of nerve pain and nerve pain is a real physical illness that’s very hard to detect and diagnose many years ago but easier now but usually needs a collections of other genuine symptoms. Anyone pretending to have these symptoms for claims for benefits would be genuinely sick in the head as they would be no different to saying they had cancer as you can prove the following condition same as cancer. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1995 when no one had been and never been heard of. Unfortunately it goes down hill from there much like ms sufferers except you don’t die of chronic pain but you do if the pain relieving drugs that now the pain relief specialists who used drug you up like zombies now in last few years trying get people off. I been on end of life dose as in last 4 hrs if end of life for last 9 yrs going up and up with other drugs added to ones I had. I come off some. I used to drink 500ml bottle of oramorph in week swigging from bottle plus took 17 oxycodeine a day. Now I’ve come off most off them except patch they want me off that suddenly and I’m also in lot of diazepam in and out of dossett as I have 16 other diagnoses of conditions /disabilities wrong with me I’ve collected over the years. Now they don’t drug you up and don’t tell you not to exercise but then they did. Why you need take advantage of keeping your health inc diet physically fit and your weight. More excericuse you can do the better as the least extra disabilities and conditions you’ll get added and more drugs. I’ve spent 19 yrs in hospital bed 24/7 and I’m only just learning walk again. I’ve been housebound 17.5 yrs. I was very young when this started and it was caused by domestic violence. I’m hoping I can help and that this isn’t what you’ve got but I fear that this is what you have.
I am going through the same thing and actually just went to the hospital yesterday because of it. I’m totally here for you if you wanna talk.
What are your symptoms? What did they say it was?
My symptoms are all over the place. I get the same burning sensations, numbness, and tingling you described nearly all the time. In addition I get dizzy spells, racing heart rate, pounding heart, chest pains, heart palpitations, tremors in my hands and legs, spasms in basically every possible trigger point, headaches, and a lot more but I can’t even remember everything right now. After 8 months I finally went to a doctor and they sent me to the ER for countless blood tests, ekgs, heart ultrasounds, mri scans on my brain, all of that. The doctors just told me I was healthy and sent me home. I felt like I was dying but after yesterday’s appointment I have officially had every test possible and all of them have said I was healthy. Now when I get my symptoms I can confidently tell myself it’s my anxiety and I won’t actually die. Just being able to remind yourself you won’t die is extremely helpful in fighting the symptoms. They really aren’t fun.
How are you going to ignore them?
I don’t ignore them. I just do some breathing exercises and accept that they are part of my life. Distracting yourself while you have them by watching a movie, swimming, talking to people, playing with your pet, and stuff is very helpful. Today I woke up with the worst tension headache ever and I’ve been doing some stretches to try to help and studying for my upcoming exams. It’s not fair that we have to deal with these symptoms but it’s something we need to do, luckily we can support and help each other through it.
Do you have weird feeling feet...like numb big toes? Burning feet? Arms?Hypersensitive skin? I am trying to believe it is anxiety...but I am having such a hard time. Does your elbows ever ache?
Yes, also sometimes it feels like my skin is covered in sandpaper and other times my toes and fingers will start shaking or vibrating. Some nights my skin gets so sensitive I can’t even lay down to sleep.
That is exactly how I feel.
I had a few really bad months of these tingles and stuff but recently I’ve been working really hard to accept it is because of anxiety and not some other scary medical condition like multiple sclerosis. Since I started doing this things have gotten a little bit better. As I am writing this response I’m not having any physical symptoms besides some spasms in my neck. There still are some worse days but there’s also some better days.
Did all the doctors think it is anxiety? Did your feet ever burn?
Harzee see my diagnosis top. I used teach Drs and consultant for many years plus university’s doing studies long before arthritis Uk with their study ‘chance with a cloudy pain’ You may have fibromyalgia and there’s nothing I don’t know about fibromyalgia and I’ve been teaching Physio’s last 10 yrs things they don’t know about long term sufferers of fibromyalgia having much worst symptom s than short term sufferers inc no good days and hot weather causing pain not just cold and wet weather. They are learning from me having had mine for over half my life. Also back then they couldn’t predict the weather but I can predict the weather a week or more ahead by my pain so don’t need a weather forecast. Also your skin on your hands and feet tell a nerve specialist and you if your suffering nerve damage as it’s red blotchy speckled like blood red patches all over hands and feet which is very prominent and gets worse when pain is worse. Hope this helps.
How are you feeling? What tests did you get done?
I have felt pretty good today, I had a short panic attack this afternoon but otherwise all good. I got ekgs, blood tests, urine tests, x-rays, mri scans, ultrasounds, and went to multiple neurologist and cardiologist appointments a few times a week for months.
I am glad you are feeling good today! Did you ever get an EMG? Of arms and legs?
Did you ever have burning feet? Numb feet? Sore elbows?
Yes and I had EMGs done too, basically I had every test possible done on me, they all came back healthy which I’m glad nothing is wrong with me but also disappointed that there is no cure or treatment I can take to instantly make things better.
Did they EMG just your arms
They did arms and legs
They only did my arms. Should I get my legs done...sorry I keep asking, but did your feet burn?
I am freaking out...were your elbows ever sore?
We have the same symptoms so I am pretty sure that you are having these feelings because of anxiety. Honestly, I would get your legs done, not to find something wrong with them, but just to give yourself some peace of mind. Everyone was telling me on this community that I had anxiety but I refused to believe them until getting every medical test possible because I kept obsessing over what if it isn’t anxiety. Getting the tests made me feel a lot calmer.
Did you do a lumbar puncture or a skin biopsy? How long have these symptoms lasted for you? How can anxiety cause this kind of pain...
They did a lumbar puncture. These symptoms have lasted 2 years for me. I think it has to do with the adrenaline that’s released in our bodies all the time and how hypersensitive we are to our symptoms.
Jamie?
Hi Jamie. Hope you are well...did you find that your burning is always symmetrical? Like both limbs at the same time?
It can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. And yes same things, it’s ok to ask. How are you doing?
I am tired of feeling like this...how are you? I had an EMG done of my legs and everything is normal. I know I keep asking, but do your feet ever burn or feel cold, but not to the touch?
Yes. You just need to try to not think about it. WAY easier said than done, I know.
Did your feet burn all the time? Did they ever check you for small fiber neuropathy?
Sorry that I keep asking you questions, but you are the only person who has the same symptoms.
They told me I may have fiber neuropathy but after testing they realized I didn’t. I’ve been doing a lot better, but last night I had a bad night. I lost feeling in both my hands and they were tingling then itching then later even hurting like throbbing pain. I woke up this morning with my hands completely fine besides my left pinky which is still tingling.
I am sorry you had a bad night, but happy you are better this morning! What tests did they do on you for small fiber neuropathy?
What your experiencing is what I used to have I call it Body anxiety , people that have anxiety tend to over think things were people with out anxiety don't think much of a weird sensation , or a certain pain . And before you had anxety you probably did not either think to much about a pain and so on . But as we get older we get more intuned to such things cause each and every age we reach we don't know what to expect the body is always changing and we fear alot of things but we over think things because of the unknown . So now you said everything was normal , so now try to relax and tell yourself your ok and that it's just some over adrenaline in the brain that needs to release . The more possative thinking you do when it happens the better your body will react to the anxiety attacks your body won't have to work so hard to protect it from your thoughts you put in the brain . It's kinda like your body is fighting yourself because you put signals to your brain by thinking something is seriously wrong . Hope this helps you . Take care .
What symptoms did you have? Thank you for your response.
I had chest pain fast heart beat feel of doom sunk in chest feeling neck shoulders tight I have even hyperventilated once my hole body went numb . . I get dizzy but like I'm getting pushed down like gravity is making my body feel heavy . Sometimes I feel like I'm on an elevator . But I always try to do something that might relax myself to make it go away . I try to think of simple things that it could be like the elevator feeling I clean my ears . Gravity feeling I eat something . Just to see if I start to feel better .
Im in the same boat with you. I get alot of physical sensations.
Hi dont know if you still come in here just wondering if your still haveing them same sensations x
Yes...are you?
Yes but mines just numbness in my foot n tingling in my leg its realy freaking me out im so scared to go doctors coz i know there gonna say ive got ms or somthing realy serious i cant cope
Please go and see a doctor to rule out anything serious. Our minds are very powerful. Were you anxious when this began? Have you been on the anxiety centre website?
I just cant the fear is to overwhelming i read so many things online and its terrified me everynight i think ill call the docs tomorrow then i wake up and im crippled with anxiety all im thinking is if im barely coping not knowing what it is how am i going cope with a serious diagnosis like theres no going bk from that
I was there back in February. STOP GOOGLING...everything you read on the Internet is not necessarily true and is meant to scare us. Please go and see a dr. If you are going to Google, then go to the anxiety centre website.
Ill have a look x
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