Anxietyaway
Member
Hi all,I am new to this forum, but have been reading your very excellent posts for months now…I hope someone will take the time to read this lengthy post, and comment. I am and have been crazy with worry….As of 6/14/10About six months ago I started having constant numbness and tingling in the front of both calves. I thought it was associated with my rt side hip bursitis/tendonitis, maybe sciatica. After 6 wks of Physical therapy in March-April 2010, the bursitis calmed down, but numbness increased and spread. In April I developed severe throbbing/cramps in the back of my right calf on several occasions. Also episodes of really tight muscle contractions in left calf, and several bad charley horses.(attributed it to PT exercises) I had an episode of low back pain, with bad left heal pain, and foot throbbing, on top of and under my big toe. Then I started having random frequent, many times each day, waves of numbness in my calves, arms, back, thighs, hips, bowel area, head, face, hands, and a very weird stiffness/numbness on the tops of my thighs, forearms, wrists and hands (beginning end of May 2010). The strangest thing is I can bring on the numbness in front of calves/knees/elsewhere just touching the area between neck and shoulders. My thumbs and other fingers at times hurt, and my palms/hands feel weird. The muscles above my knees and my knees feel not quite painful but oddly stiff. I rarely feel as if my legs are normal at all. They are not weak, but they feel different. The throbbing/twitching (I can sometimes see moving under skin) happens in both calves, thighs, knees, feet, arms, sometimes upwards of 50-100 times a day…but some days, just 10-20 times a day. Mostly throbbing. As of early May only twice has there been no throbbing or numbness for a day. I also get random heel and arch tightening, my big toes on top hurt where they connect to my foot, and underneath. Weird sensations, fullness and stiffness under/top my chin/top of throat, jaw pain, stiffness, primarily on right side for weeks, difficulty swallowing due to mucus in throat. (Issue/Mucus resolved to a large degree with Biaxin. But returned when finished) My April 28 brain MRI w/out contrast showed nothing except a possible old ischemic event, and the EMG on my right side, where the symptoms began, was normal. But it was done only 4-6 wks after some symptoms they began. My C-spine MRI showed a moderate to severe pinched nerve at C-5-6, and my lower back has a mildly herniated disk, no nerve compression at L-5 S1. The neurologist said my exam was normal. He didn’t think it was MS or ALS, etc. but perhaps a virus, or due to the pinched nerve. I started chiropractor in early May 3 times a week for the throbbing/numbness in legs and pinched nerve. His treatments did alleviate the symptoms some, but only for short periods, a day or two, and, except for 2 days in June not ever completely. Rheumatologist found nothing on exam, and blood work only showed very low vitamin D and borderline low vitamin B12, which I am taking supplements for. Update as of July 13, 2010 Due to facial symptoms, and difficulty with mucus and swallowing, I saw ENT on June 23. He found some evidence of allergy, but on scope found my voice box very red, and said I was “refluxing like crazy,” possibly causing mucus. Increased my Protonix to two a day. Mucus has been less. He also suggested I try mouth guard for possible TMJ, which I did, but it did not help face/chin stiffness/discomfort. For weeks I have been experiencing an internal vibration, particularly on left side of face, and arm, especially in morning, but happens throughout day too, in other areas. Also noticed yesterday twitching of tongue, my doctor called fasiculations. Don’t know how long this has been going on. Think I might have them in my left cheek/lip also, as I feel vibrations there. I also experience twitches where I see movement under skin, mostly when I am at rest, particularly this week in left arm, right thigh, and calves. Elsewhere in prior weeks. The severe frequent throbbing/twitching that occurred 50-100 times or more a day in May/June has decreased and only occurs about 20 plus times a day. The random numbness/tingling all over my body has also decreased significantly, occurring maybe 10-20 times a week, instead of 10-20 times a day. Still can have referred numbness when I touch or rub the neck/ shoulder area. These weeks, I also have been getting a lot of goosebumps. I do have more facial/throat pain, numbness and stiffness, on both sides. Some difficulty these weeks with swallowing, particularly liquids, which make me cough at times, but also pills. I have had to make a conscious effort to swallow at times. Made me hoarse. Also have been biting my tongue, and have had a lot of excess saliva in my mouth. Intermittent stiffness in tops of forearms, hands, thighs. Both thumbs hurt, as do big toes, some needle like-pinching feelings in feet/fingers.Update September 27…I continue to twitch, and throb, but not as often. My main issues now are this intermittent jaw pain, ache, and jaw tiredness when I talk a lot. I also continue to have mucus in throat despite being on Protonix twice a day, and nasal spray, both of which help a lot, but not completely. I also have pain and twitching, in the fleshy underside of my left thumb. A few weeks ago it was happening 20 times a day. Now it’s every few days, and it hurts often. As does the center of the palm of my hand. My right thumb and hand also twitch, and hurt but not as much or as often. My left heel is also hurting, throbbing as is the arch and ball of that foot, and I get pain and throbbing in left calf. My left calf seems smaller and is about a ¼ inch thinner, and I think the ball of my left foot is also thinner than the right. No loss of strength. Is this atrophy???? I also continue to have the intermittent stiffness in right thigh, right and the tops of my right and left arm. And random throbbing/twitching all over….I had another EMG by an ALS specialist in mid July, which did the right side and my tongue…and it was perfectly normal. He declared me 99% no ALS. He said he thinks BFS. He also said tongue fasiculations were only happening when I stick my tongue out, not at rest. The tremors at rest were normal. He also said that stiffness was not ALS, or was pain. In fact here are the notes my friend took at my first visit before the EMG:Tongue – tremor, not twitches; less and less as it relaxes – that is “good news” Numbness not part of ALS Stiffness – not ALS Could be benign twitches No weakness, no muscle wasting Malignant twitches – do not go away Stiffness – comes later on, after muscle weakness/wasting Tingling/numbness – not part of ALS Only tongue twitching of concern but he sees tremor – not a problem Could be anxiety Go to physical therapist for stiffness Does not look like ALS. 85 – 90 percent not ALS(99% after EMG) “No symptoms of ALS” Do not do biopsy on spine MRI best test for MS No brain tumor, ALS, MS Anti-anxiety meds Physical therapy Don’t pay attention too much “ignore it” Weakness is symptom, not numbness, not pain, not throbbing “very unlikely ALS” Anti-anxiety meds Anxiety can cause all of these symptoms Anxiety top of list for causing twitchingI was on three courses of Levaquin last fall/winter, for sinus trouble, last course December 2009 was so bad I was hallucinating and up all night, so I discontinued it. I developed severe tendonitis in hip, but didnt know that that is what it was until the second othropedist diagnosed me in March 201O. There are black box warnings on this medication having to do with tendonitis. I read that people have long term neurological reactions to this medicine also. So maybe that is what started this…?Having spent too much time on the Internet researching this, I am still extremely worried about having ALS, or some other fatal neurological disease, to the point of having difficulty functioning in my job and in my life. I’m sure this does not make my symptoms any better. But they are very real and very scary. Psychiatrist says I am a hypochondriac, and I tried antidepressants, and klonopin, but they alter my thinking and I cannot focus on work…In other areas of my life, I am very happy and things are going well for me so although I have the usual stressors, I do not have highly stressful life. I eat reasonably well, don’t smoke, drink on weekends socially.Just wanted to get these thoughts out here…and thank you all for your honest comments and reassurances. Any thoughts, advice, would be appreciated. I am particularly concerned about jaw issues, and thumb pain/twitching, as well as seeming atrophy in left leg/foot.
) Reflux wreaks havoc with the digestive track, but also the respiratory one as well. I've had the mucous, it sucks, but it will never kill you. With your pills and possibly a change in diet the mucous thing gets way better. Your jaw is sore because you are anxious. Before you discount that just feel how tense your face is right now with worry. All the tiny little, weeny, muscles get super fatigued. Been there, done that, sucks so bad there isn't a t-shirt.Anyway, lots of other good people will come here and tell you the same thing.Bite the anxiety in the ass today, and move on to your long life. Read the posts from old-timers who all say "don't waste time worrying."Basso