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Heel numbness causing fears of all kinds and probable anxiety ongoing

sTeaLth

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I came back from a long trip for work last week and had a numb heel the day after I returned. I had sat more than usual while flying and driving as well as in the office I was working. I usually stand at home. I also had some late night game sessions in the hotel room on a crappy chair and had severe lower back pain from that chair after sitting in it, slouched, for several hours on end. I THINK I pinched my sciatic nerve and caused the issue from this trip. The timing lines up. I went to a Chiro physical therapist who agreed that is what it sounded like. I have now tried a week of stretches they gave me and it MIGHT be slightly improving...? I am not sure because it definitely remains.
My big concern is now Diabetes of some kind. I have been feeling kind of light headed and possibly due to the stress of all of this... I am starting to feel tingles in hands, feet, and on my affected leg. I haven't been getting enough sleep or eating super great either, which could definitely be contributing. I run a lot though so I wouldn't think that something like this would happen when I am regularly getting exercise. I also feel like I have slimmed down in the belly region and haven’t changed eating habits much. I am running but that doesn’t usually make me change much physically. No really big weight changes, just physically thinner it seems.
I am not sure what to do. I am trying not to panic or let my mind wonder into the unknown that I can't control and is probably fake anyway.
I think this heel thing triggered some subtle anxiety issues. My arms and legs have felt tingly and heavy the last couple of days. I have felt clumsy and my tongue has seemed heavy. Making me lose confidence in not stumbling over words or dropping things. So of course I hyper focus on those things and they seem much worse. I’m sure it’s anxiety but my mind is trying to convince me that this along with the heel numbness is a brain tumor, spine tumor, or ALS. I haven’t been in a place like this in a long time. It has been hard to eat much lately which of course adds to the weakness, fatigue, and other problems. This kind of caught me off guard.

Any level headed thinking is welcome. Thanks.
 

mollyfin

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Pinched nerves can be incredibly persistent. I have numb patches where the feeling just...never returned. But I have something like eight herniated discs, I think in your case it's likely to go away eventually.
 

sTeaLth

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Pinched nerves can be incredibly persistent. I have numb patches where the feeling just...never returned. But I have something like eight herniated discs, I think in your case it's likely to go away eventually.
Thank you for your response! This helps a lot. Most of the anxiety has gone. The numbness persists. I’m working with a physical therapist to get it taken care of.

Love this community. You guys rock!
 

E.B

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So much of what you described sounds like culprit of anxiety. I always tell everyone how my biggest symptom with extreme anxiety or panic is feeling like I can't walk....so in turn I keep walking and walking...but all that stuff sounds 100 percent anxiety!

And also yes the other does sound very nerve related as well
 

Fraser

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Awwww yeah! Numb heel crew!
Lion's mane. 2,000mg a day to start, then 1,000mg a day if and when the numbness lessens. One of these bad boys for stretching:


Also, healing (heeling?) this is something that will take place over months, not a week.
 

sTeaLth

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Awwww yeah! Numb heel crew!
Lion's mane. 2,000mg a day to start, then 1,000mg a day if and when the numbness lessens. One of these bad boys for stretching:


Also, healing (heeling?) this is something that will take place over months, not a week.
You are a saint. Thanks for the advice. I will get some of that asap. It seems to be lessening daily but so very slowly. I appreciate y’all.
 

sTeaLth

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Even with all I know, the anxiety continues to pester me and try to tell me this is WAY worse and definitely deadly. The first day I noticed it was on 9-1 and I didn't even see a chiro until almost a week later. I saw my physical therapists one week ago and he told me to give it a few weeks at least, probably more like a month before returning. Do my stretches, etc.

Of course, it hasn't even been long enough for a pinched nerve to heal up, but my mind tries to tell me it isn't healing because it is something sinister. I am also under severe stress with work and family and I think that is pushing me into anxiety more along with the physical stuff.

Someone who has been through this... how long do pinched nerve issues take to heal up? I am taking Lion's Mane twice a day and stretching as much as I can... it just seems to be SLOWLY improving or staying the same. Just tired of it persisting.

Thanks for listening. I needed to vent to get my stress out there and stop internalizing everything. I appreciate you guys.
 

Fraser

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Don't over do the stretching either. How old are you? As you get older, **** doesn't work as well anymore. That's just how it is. I get numbness in my left heel from time to time. I'm 43.
 

sTeaLth

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I’m 37. How long does your numbness take to subside when you do get it?
 

Fraser

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I’m 37. How long does your numbness take to subside when you do get it?
The time I got it really bad was maybe 6ish or so months. Many months of it being completely numb. Now when I get it intermittently, it might take a couple months of excercises to get it good again, but it is never 100%. My left foot is just a little ****** now.
 
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