Aching and twitching legs, anxiety the cause?
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hey everyone, new to the forums because im seeking some reassurance. Nearly a year ago today I had a panic attack due to chest pain, thought i was having a heart attack. A few months down the line the chest pain has gone and ive been suffering with aching and twitching legs. When I wake up in the morning my calves ache and I get funny feelings in my shin. I have had some numbness but it comes and goes so I know it isn't caused by some other stuff you see on google. Has anyone else suffered from this, I'm currently on Citalopram and never had any issues with Anxiety. Now I worry constantly about my symptoms being caused by a disease or something.
0 likes, 7 replies
Stiffers
Posted
I meant to say I never had issues with anxiety prior to the chest pain. It seems to be anxiety with my health
Grounded Stiffers
Posted
I get the twitching in my legs and I also am on citalopram, I think its just a side effect. I figure if I have to deal with these small side effects so be it, as long as I'm feeling okay mentally now. 😃
MrFrisky Stiffers
Posted
I had the same thing two months ago - chest crushing feeling, went to A&E, said it wasn't a heart attack (other tests confirmed). Since then I've had a few panic attacks. Ever since then I've had numb/tingly lower legs, particularly calves, but also in shins. Very occasionally it goes off, but has been there most of the time, since the incident. At times it just feels like calf tightness. I've had two doctors check my legs, checking pulse in ankles and toes, but both said there's no sign of PAD and they don't think it's neurological. One thinks it's anxiety. I'm having full bloods and a few other tests next week. I also am constantly worried that it's something serious. I am also on Citalopram, but have had previous anxiety.
Are your symptoms there most of the time, or do they come and go?
Stiffers MrFrisky
Posted
Thank you for the reply. My symptoms have been pretty constant, sometimes if I occupy myself I don't notice them as much but they soon return. I did have a few months where the leg twitches completely disappeared but recently have come back with a lot of aches. I guess I feel less alone knowing you're in a very similar situation to what I was in and you have similar symptoms too. I try to tell myself its all anxiety causing it but sometimes I feel as if im not even worrying, symptoms appear while im in a good place
MrFrisky Stiffers
Posted
My leg symptoms (whilst mostly constant) also appear and can get worse even when I'm not consciously anxious. It's the same for panic attacks. Assuming it is anxiety (other doctor suggested it might be Vitamin B12 deficiency - awaiting test results) it isn't really surprising it happens apparently randomly. Many people have anxiety attacks even when they are not aware of being anxious, and in a good place. One person in the anxiety group I've started going to says physical symptoms can happen to her when she's just watching tv, and once when at a concert, singing along!
Have you had any tests at the doctors? If not you can do some yourself. See if you can feel a pulse in the middle of your big toe. If you can (try a few positions), the chances are there's no blockages anywhere in your leg, or it wouldn't get that far. DVT can also be ruled out if it is chronic and not sudden and excruciatingly painful in one calf. The doctor said neurological conditions were unlikely if the numbness or tingling is not constant in one place. Also, if you can feel your touch on the area affected, it isn't what a doctor called a 'true numbness' - apparently you can't feel anything if it is neurologically numb.
Stiffers
Posted
Wow thank you, in that post alone you have told me more than the doctors. My pain and ache has been constant but I can feel the touch everywhere so I guess thats good. I will be asking for blood tests when I'm next at the doctors, it took months last time for any doctor to test my Vitamin D which turned out to be very low (levels have been sorted now).
All these symptoms are annoying but im hopeful it isnt caused by anything too serious as the pain isn't severe and it comes and goes. The only one persistent symptom I have had is vision disturbances, my vision feels like im drunk or can only focus on one thing at a time, have you ever experienced this?
MrFrisky Stiffers
Posted
I haven't had vision disturbance, but I've read that it's not uncommon with anxiety. I occasionally get an aura (like a split screen effect in my vision). I think they call that a silent migraine, with no pain, but haven't had one recently.
I think it's a good idea to get some full bloods if you can, to rule things out and maybe reassure you. I've got a health check (paid for) on monday, so let's see what they say.
I do find that if I'm concentrating on something else I don't always notice the symptoms, so hoping it's nothing serious. We always think the worst.