Can anxiety mimic chronic carpal tunnel or muscle weakness/pain?

[Ldubbs]

I have been struggling with anxiety for years and often have symptoms that last and will go away after I full realize they are caused by anxiety. But for the last year and 6 months I have had pains and weakness in my hands and wrist and they have progressively been getting worse and weaker. So much so that when I try to grip things it hurts and when I use my fingers or hand often they are sore and weak and I start to barely be able to use them after using them for short periods of time. I did and in person test with a specialist for carpal tunnel and he said it didnt seem like carpal tunnel at all and I tested negative for rheumatoid arthritis. I have an EMG scheduled in a month, but is it possible that this could be coming from Anxiety and lasting for 18 months straight? I feel the weakness 24/7 and always hurts when I use it. Has anyone else experienced similar weakness and pain?

 

[FinneousRex]

It’s very possible that this could be caused by anxiety. Anxiety can literally cause any symptom you can possibly imagine. Question though, when you go to grab for things do you feel nervous to grab them like are you panicked before you even grab the item and are there times that you don’t feel the pain or is it constant? This is a great way to distinguish anxiety from actual symptoms if you’re panicked going into a situation or you’re nervous or on edge your brain is already assuming that the pain is going to happen which may give you the sensation that it happened even though it didn’t. Definitely go for your EMG and if the neurologists don’t find anything wrong with you along with all of your other doctors then maybe it’s time to see somebody for mental health even if it’s therapy or if you’re interested in getting on medication see a psychiatrist or psych NP/PA