Health Anxiety - Possible Neuropathy or just simple anxiety etc...

[Zeeko]

Hi all.

For a month now I have been having tingling, occasional burning and muscle aches in my feet. I also feel my heart pulse in my foot if I put pressure on it for a while and even temporarily when there is no pressure at all. The symptoms feel like they get worse when I am wearing shoes. They also feel like they are worse when I am sitting down. I can recreate tingling in feet when I put my legs in certain positions (like hamstring stretches, sitting on the toilet seat).

I have foolishly used Google to self-diagnose and I am now terrified on a daily basis that this can be small fibre peripheral neuropathy. To me it seems to match all the symptoms I have and I am constantly worried every day. Its disrupting my daily activities because its a life long condition that only gets worse over time.

Now I will say that the tingling started on my left foot for a month (it then spread to my right foot) and ONLY after my doctor asked me whether I had tingling in my feet which I didnt at the time. So that seems to suggest anxiety right? But I just dont know. AIl the symptoms seem to match peripheral neuropathy!!! I am seeing a neurologist but i have to wait a month and the wait is driving me crazy.

I dont know how I can live with that condition and the effect it would have on my family and my future. I cant stop thinking about it and I know things are worse the more anxious I am.

I will say as well that I can still sleep. I dont get any pain that disrupts my sleep except for the anxiety which has been disrupting my sleep. But i know neuropathy starts off mild and gets worse...

I am just trying to keep myself together until my appointment and needed to get this off my chest.

Thank you for reading.

[michaelaen]

Definitely see your doctor.

[Scotty2013]

Hi Zeeko do you still get this?? Any numbness? 

[Scotty2013]

Anxiety doesn't actually create peripheral neuropathy. While anxiety and stress have been thrown around as possible issues that lead to neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy is about nerve damage, not nerve symptoms, and since anxiety is unlikely to cause nerve damage, it can't technically be peripheral neuropathy.

But anxiety can cause symptoms that resemble this type of disorder. Anxiety very commonly causes tingling, numbness, burning, or movement issues in various areas of the body, and when it does it can be very scary. Those that selfdiagnose often come up with health reasons that cause these symptoms, but they may be caused by anxiety

[River__]

Hi all, I came across this post as I am experiencing symptoms of tingling and pain in my hands (originally feet) for two weeks now. I went to my GP who is looking into it, the GP is very thorough and wants to check everything. I am due to have an MRI in a month to check for any nerve damage and Multiple Sclerosis. In the meantime I have googled lots and am freaking out as I have a slight burning sensation on a patch of skin on my face. I have generalised anxiety symptoms and OCD tendencies so I know my thoughts are heightened right now. Really scared of everything at the moment. I wonder if people have had the same experience? I hope all is well with you Zeeko, it was great to hear your results were all ok.