Dizziness- weakness Anxiety

[Renee_]

Hi all,

For the past year I have been suffering from a condition which has got the best of me.. 1 yr ago I had a manipulation massage which put me in ER for 3 days with symptoms starting of pins and needles , off balance and numb left side of my body. I was scared, how could a massage do this to you.

I had an MRI of the brain to rule out MS and cat scan to rule out possible stroke..All came back clear

everyday since November last year I am still dealing with these symptoms.. I have been to 6 different Dr”s 5 in which are saying I have anxiety.

My symptoms have included

pins and needles, off balance like I am on a boat, blurred vision, weakness in my legs (both) , twitches, spasms, tingling on left side of face, tingling in between my nose.. All these symptoms come and go but the off balance and blurred vision and weakness in my legs has remained with me..

Let me know please if anyone has had a similar experience and if their symptoms eventually disappear.

cheers

[summer_girl]

Hi Renee

A few years ago I went through a bad time and I manifested symptoms similar to yours. Pins and needles, tingling on face and scalp, weakness in legs and some dizziness. I had numerous tests done and went to various doctors only it wasn’t until a few months later I found a doctor that told me my symptoms were possibly related to anxiety and he was right.
Eventually my symptoms went away once I addressed my anxiety and occasionally when I’m stressed out and anxious these symptoms appear for a short time

i am not sure if this helps but a lot of people are surprised to realise how stress and anxiety can manifest themselves in a physical way.

[calmseeker]

Hi Renee, and summer girl too..

Gosh, most of your symptoms sound like what I experience also. A couple of years ago I started feeling as if I was veering to the left when walking, my neck was super stiff and painful, I started having ocular migraines and blurry vision. My left side seemed slightly weaker than the right and I was having lots of tingling everywhere, there were other odd symptoms too. I had CT scan, MRI and bloodwork, even a lupus test. All came back ok. Doc put it down to anxiety. I was so shocked that these symptoms could be anxiety related, they were so physical that I just couldn't believe it. I developed a degree of health anxiety which I am still battling. Like you, my symptoms would come and go.

You asked if symptoms eventually disappear. Good news, I believe they do. I am still experiencing migraines and vision disturbance and a bit of dizziness, but the veering to the left sensation and the tingling and the arm weakness is gone, and hopefully wont come back! Interesting that since I have been taking steps to heal and help myself, some of the symptoms have gone away. I am still trying to convince myself to go on AD's, but I have make adjustments to my diet, sleep, and am starting an online CBT course and slowly I seem to be having less symptoms. Like Summer girl said, once you address symptoms they can dissipate In the past I had panic after eating food, it lasted for years and has now totally gone. There were a number of months where I was waking up with a panic attack at exactly 4am every morning, eventually that settled too. I have many other example of symptoms that have hung around for months then disappeared, Its so strange how anxiety manifests.

I hope this gives you a bit of hope that your sensations are 'normal' for someone experiencing anxiety. Best of luck and I hope your symptoms disappear soon.

CS

[Renee_]

Thank you Summer girl.. It’s a scary feeling isn’t it..

your post has given me hope 🙂

I’ll keep you posted on the recovery

[Renee_]

Hi CS,

Thank you for your post. It has helped me so much and given me some direction.. It’s so scary that anxiety can cause such pain and true physical symptoms .. Sometimes my legs get that weak I think “ this has to be much more than just anxiety” I’m taking time off having a holiday seeing if that will rest the mind and body.

How many years did you deal with all this?

ill keep you posted on the outcome 🙂

[calmseeker]

Hi Renee,

Looking back, I can see that I was having panic attacks from my early 20's but I didn't realise what they were, I thought I was just a bit "weird" in the morning and would come right within an hour or so after waking with morning panic. In my 30's I was diagnosed with GAD, Depression and PMDD. I am now in my late 40's and seem to have episodes or bouts of anxiety that last months with slight relief stages that last a few weeks in between, but it always seems to come back. As of the last 4 years though, the anxiety seems to have become very physical and I experience all the weird symptoms we have discussed, so that's a run down of my timeline with it.

I totally relate to you when you say how on earth can this anxiety when you experience the weak leg sensation, I found it hard to digest that my vision disturbances were anxiety related, I was convinced that there was something sinister going on. But, like you, I have had testing done and all fine so you and I will have to trust in the process and our GPs when they say we are fine and dandy and its anxiety. But hey, that's great news because anxiety is treatable!

I am so pleased you're taking some time out Renee, that's awesome. Hopefully you can relax and rejuvenate and this will ease your symptoms. My fingers are crossed for you that that is the outcome as know how distressing it is being constantly worried about what these symptoms mean. I would love to know how you are doing in the near future.

Sending calm vibes

CS

[SCoo]

You described me to a tee. however I lost all sensation in my legs and left arm and was admitted to hospital for 5 days to rule anything sinister out. I had previously had pneumonia and while in hospital developed anxiety attacks and insomnia and difficulty swallowing and breathing.

its horrible and I totally know what you are going through.
now I only get weakness in my left arm when a panic attack is coming on.

Sending you all the positive vibes.

[summer_girl]

Hi Renae and calm seeker

I’ve only just checked my replies and I’m glad I could of been of some comfort

im on the forums as I’ve had a rough couple of weeks with muscle twitching and aching legs

I went to the gp and he reassured me all was fine, funny enough they went away, my latest is chest pain which I’ve never had before and intermittent shortness of breath .
ive had a good few months of peace but like calm seeker mentioned it keeps reading its ugly head.

ive tried many apps and watching the anxiety guy on you tube however I get a lot of relief by reading these forums . I will get my heart checked out to be sure but I’m seriously sick of these pains that appear out of seemingly no where 😩 I hope you guys are doing ok

[White_Rose]

Hello Renee

You are having a horrible time I can see. It's great that other people have been able to reassure you that these symptoms do go away. I would be very nervous about having another massage as I suspect that was the start of your difficulties. It's always hard to tell which event proceeds another one and what is the effect. It may be your anxiety is due to the various physical symptoms which in turn came from the massage.

I have had pain for a while, loss of feeling which comes and goes and leg weakness. Eventually my specialist sent me for an MRI of my spine which I think you have not had. Head and neck are different. It seems I have two problems which account for my symptoms. I see a physiotherapist regularly and now I know the cause I am getting on well. I do need to take pain relief but getting less often.

I don't want to scare you or send you back to your symptoms but I do wonder if there is something amiss with your back. Probably something that be managed quite easily. Why not have a chat with your GP again. You will need a specialist referral for the MRI otherwise it will cost a fortune.

Mary