I need some help. Coccyx pain and weak shaky legs feeling.

[Kellylou1712]

Hi everyone, I hope you are well.

I am currently wrecked with anxiety. A few weeks ago I felt a pain in my coccyx which seemingly came about after I started doing 5-10k walks every other day. I don’t have the best posture and will often spend hours in the bath and in bed in a recline position but I’ve never felt this much sensitivity in that area. Shortly after I started to get a weird shaky weak feeling in my legs, almost like they were going to give way on me. I get pins and needle feelings in my hands and my legs very regularly. I have started to lose weight - I’m not sure if this is stress, I feel too nauseous to eat much most days and I feel like I just can’t get a handle on these symptoms which I would usually be able to rationale. I am terrified I have some kind of bone cancer or tumour which is pressing on my nerves. The more I try to distract myself the worse the symptoms seem.

Not too long ago I had an abdo, pelvic and bladder scan as I was having intermittent lower back pain and diarrhoea and constipation - my bloods, stool and urine samples all came back okay and I was told I like have Ibs. I don’t know if there is a link between this and any symptoms I’m facing.

This health anxiety stuff really sucks!!

[Jeff1943]

You did the right thing having all those tests, the fact that all was well should give you some reassurance and strongly suggests your symptoms are to do with anxiety (and in particular Health Anxiety).

Having said that it is always good to discuss new symptoms with your doctor even if you're 95% certain the symptoms are caused by anxiety.

Anxiety is an accomplished confidence trickster: it can easily convince tired and over-stressed minds that you have some serious illness. Anxiety deserves an Oscar for its ability to mimic the symptoms of genuine organic illness. Anxiety takes many forms but it is always still anxiety.

You say that your doctor concluded that some of your symptoms are due to IBS. It has been noted many times that the stomach (which includes the bowel) is the organ most sympathetic to anxiety.

Likewise, 'jelly legs' are well known to those experiencing anxiety disorder. But jelly legs will always get you there and back no matter how wobbly you feel.

You see, once your nervous system becomes sensitised by too much work, worry and stress it exaggerates small aches and pains ten-fold into 'terminal illnesses', thus your false fear of bone cancer or tumour.

The first thing to ask yourself is what caused your nervous system to become over-sensitised in the first place. Causes are many and can include over work, loss, disapointment, toxic relationships, fear of losing your job, money worries, grief...the list is almost endless. First you must neutralise the cause whatever it is, this may involve making major changes to your life. You may have to be ruthless but do it you must - it's your peace of mind that's at stake here!

Often the original cause has passed but the nervous sensitisation lives on in a self-perpetuating cycle of symptoms causing anxiety causing more symptoms causing more anxiety etc etc.

This then is your first step towards respite and recovery: to acquire understanding and reassurance concerning your nervous illness. These are the prelude towards acquiring new ways of thinking that will restore your quiet mind.

Just remember that you are walking in the footsteps of so many here who have gone on before you and have achieved respite and recovery.