Severe anxiety and constant excruciating neuropathy symptoms

[Metamorphik]

Hi, just thought I’d go into what I’m experiencing. I’m 44 and had back to back psychological trauma throughout my youth. My head has constantly hurt since my early teens. Also since my teenage years, I had tingling in my feet, though it didn’t use to be severe. In recent years I noticed paresthesia in my hands and arms more often, and sometimes visual snow. I assumed all of this was from my constant anxiety and stress.

Well, on November 13 I started a new job that was very strenuous and fast paced. I only lasted ten days. I was off on Thanksgiving, and woke up that morning with excruciating sensation, like my hands, feet, and all four limbs were being struck by lightning. Stupidly, I pushed through two more days at that horrendous job before deciding I had to put my health first and quit on November 25.

Ever since, I’ve had unbearable paresthesia and burning. Hands, feet, all four limbs, and it’s been getting more into my groin, parts of my back, in my face and head, and sometimes the visual snow is insane. I’ve been in the emergency room four times. They just say my bloodwork is unremarkable but otherwise… hey, just become rich and see a specialist.

Since I have no insurance and now no income (and I live in the hellhole known as Tennessee where getting insurance or disability is one hundred percent impossible since I don’t have kids), I’ve had a provider at a sliding scale clinic put in a referral to a charity based organization for me to see a neurologist to check for nerve damage, though I’ve been told it could be six months or longer until it’s approved, if it even is approved. I’m almost certain I will be a vegetable or dead by then, from whatever is causing this. If it has to be one of the two, I’d much rather be dead. I can barely sleep. I can’t hike, go to places I loved to go, play a musical instrument, or do anything I enjoyed at all anymore, because of the constant excruciating pain. Just going to the store is enough to wreck me.

So… I realize that anxiety can cause neuropathy-like symptoms. But has anyone experienced this constantly for over a solid MONTH like I have, and found that it was just anxiety and stress? Seems very unlikely but I feel like it just being caused by that is my only hope, because the system here is impossible to navigate for anyone who actually needs help.

 

[Cuchculan]

The thing with anxiety and symptoms is we let them in and the continue as they are. If I can give an example. Let us say, instead of what you are feeling right now, you felt like you were going to throw up, as a feeling. That would be how you were feeling for over a month. Instead you had this other feeling. I am not saying don't get tested for other things. By all means do get tested when you get the chance. But the symptoms of anxiety can be a very strong thing. We can have some smaller symptoms that come and go. And we have one major symptom that never seems to leave us until we get some kind of help. Acid reflux used to be my big symptom for a number of years. No matter what happened, acid reflux would hit me. It was all just my anxiety. Nothing else at all. If the anxiety is bad, the symptoms can be bad too. Always there with you. Is like you pair something up with your anxiety. ' If I feel anxious, this is how I will feel '. I do hope it is just your anxiety. Better of two evils. And you can learn to deal with it, with the right kind of help.

 

[Metamorphik]

Thanks. I also have acid reflux, and managed to get an endoscopy from a charity based organization (the same one I hope to get a referral for a neurologist through) a couple years ago to make sure there was no erosion and no stricures, etc. I definitely plan to get all the testing done, however long it takes. It seems farfetched for the nerve pains to be completely psychosomatic, since they’re constant and so extreme but I’m hoping so much that that’s all it is.

 

[Cuchculan]

At the start of all these things it is best to rule out anything serious. Which is what you are trying to do. Nothing wrong with that at all. Over the years on forums we have had people do this. To be honest one out every few hundred might find something there, other than anxiety. We simply get loads who get tested and find nothing wrong with them at all. Always good to have done. Especially with some things. But the amount of disappointed people we come across. Like they hoped it was something else. I would be hoping it was just anxiety. Is like they feel let down that there is nothing serious wrong with them. That would be a good thing to me. Hope things turn out for the best for you.

 

[PieFan]

Hi @Metamorphik and welcome.

I got an arm injury a few years ago and had chronic pain for a long time afterwards, with nothing showing up as a cause. I assumed it was nerve damage and later I found I had (bad) diabetes. Pins and needles feelings can be circulatory or related to diabetes. I did a lot of walking and got very fit. I've had quite a few health problems since and developed diabetic foot neuropathy which responds well to amitriptyline (which is also an anti-depressant)

A lot of us with anxiety disorder find a holistic self-care regime helps, sleep, whole food diet, exercise, therapy, spiritual practice, creative outlet etc. I don't tolerate alcohol or caffeine very well and I need quite a bit of 'down' time by myself. I spend that time reading, studying, watching movies, painting etc. Too much time thinking ('overthinking') triggers anxiety for me.

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Metamorphik]

Thanks for the responses, and best to you all. I’ve had labwork done several times lately, that makes it seem that diabetes is unlikely, but yesterday I had an A1C test done to be completely sure, along with tests for autoimmune issues, and I’m waiting for the results for all that. My heart itself seems fine but I recently had a health coordinator press on my fingers and say that it looks like I have circulatory issues. Soon after, a provider told me she saw no signs of blood clots. I’m not sure what else I need evaluated to figure out possible circulation issues, but hope to get that done. I do often hyperventilate or hold my breath due to PTSD symptoms, and I also often have trouble breathing well because of allergies and congestion, so that surely doesn’t help. It’s still very important for me to see a neurologist if I ever can. I’m thinking (while trying not to overthink) that maybe it could be fibromyalgia, which is one of the most mysterious conditions in existence but at least not a progressive one. I’ve been seeing a very good chiropractor (a friend who is trying to be his apprentice referred me and I’m getting a very good rate) who of course can only do so much, but his approach is holistic and does seem to help even me out in some ways.