Panic due to lack of leg room???!!

[Katie_feeney]

Hi I'm katie, 17 years old! The other day I was on the way home from a day trip in a long car journey and I was in the back of a 7-seater with very little leg room. The seat in front of me was pushing against my knees and I started to have trouble breathing and I felt the urge to push on the walls to try and make space for myself. My legs started tingling as if they were itchy from inside my skin and I felt like I needed to move them and tense them but I couldn't because I had no room. (I always have a feeling that I need to constantly tense and move my legs I just thought it was normal???!) I also felt dizzy and extremely hot and tight-chested! This has happened to me before and I don't know what is wrong it feels awful. Please help if you can, thank you!

[Hidden]

Sorry that you felt so stressed in the car. We are not doctors and can't really diagnose you.

But I get the same if I can't move my legs, I have a condition called Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

With it you get blood pooling in your legs and then your heart rate goes up to supply blood to your brain, it also makes you hot and sweaty and will make you faint. Please give it a google and see if it matches your experience.

Otherwise your experience could be more anxiety related or something else. Hope you get the answers you need. Take care

[Hartleyhare2]

Hi Katie, were all different and react in different ways, I simply can't do long car journeys anymore without regular stops. Firstly I have a lower back problem and it gets painful and I start squirming. Secondly I have something called RLS Restless Leg Syndrome. It's in both legs can be very painful like pins and needles, throbbing, heat, muscle tremors and nerve twitching, sometimes one, a couple or all. A cramped seat would be all. There is a separate page here on Healthunlocked for RLS perhaps have a look.

Lastly it sounds like this may have understandably brought on a bit of a panic attack. Ask for the car to take a pit stop. Walk around as much as you can to get your legs moving, do some deep breaths, maybe some water. If there is someone in the group you trust chat to them if not call a friend and get it off your chest. I always plan a stop about every 45 minutes if someone is taking me on a long journey.

Don't worry your not alone and I'm sure will get a lot more replies

Patrick x

[irishoday]

It sounds like claustrophobia that then sent you into panic attack? I am no specialist but that was my first thought. Do you have claustrophobia honey?

[Katie_feeney in reply to irishoday]

I was thinking the same thing and I spoke to my mom about it and we both think that it's claustrophobia. I also have pretty bad asthma so I usually find it pretty hard to breath in stuffy enclosed spaces anyways!! Thanks so much for the help!!

[Hidden]

Yes, it's a horrible feeling. I often feel like this at the end of e day, my jeans feel as if they're stopping my legs moving and I know it's time to change into the pjs.

Investigate the POTS, talk to your doctor if you're concerned it might be more than the awful feeling of claustrophobia -- that sends your body into fight or flight mode with adrenaline released into your blood stream. You can run in a moving car and I'm assuming you wouldn't take to fighting so there's nowhere for the adrenal to be used up.

It could be a one off. I once had a horrendous panic atttack in a shopping mall. Never happened again.

[Hidden]

Hello Katie- ask your gp about Restless leg syndrome it sounds like you are getting this.

[Shazzzy]

Hi Katie, it does sound like claustrophobia, but you also sound like the fibro is affecting your leg muscles. The best way to combat leg pain, odd sensations etc is to use Epsom salts in a bath, I use between one and two cupfulls depending on how much pain I am in. It works on all muscles and is very relaxing too. B and m sell it cheapest. You may also need vitamin d, your go can check but people with fibro are usually deficient in this vitamin which also helps with muscular pain. I would hate to sit in back of car too, cannot bear to feel hemmed in, All the best