Arm pains

[whatisthis]

Hi

Merry Christmas

This is a long story and I am posting this today as I am so desperate to get better.

It started back in 2007 when finishing my degree when I noticed I had a ache in my upper left arm. It didn't leave after 4 days so i began to panic. I have a long history of panic over health issues over the years including chest pains and groin which turned out to be nothing. I have also been a fairly anxious person which I thought was normal.

Anyway after the ache persisted I began googling.... to my despair I read of life long injuries including RSI and then other diseases to do with the nervous system. I totally freaked out and became very anxious and depressed over 2 months. The aches actually spread into my hands and the areas I read about. Doctor did blood work and physical with no loss of strength or reflexes. I was put on paroxetine and improved pretty quickly with the pains eventually subsiding over time.

About a year later I was totally symptomless but a bit fat from the meds so I came off them. 2 months later after losing a job and being under alot of pressure the pains came back and I once again freaked out and became depressed. Back on the paroxetine I went and 3 weeks later I got a job and woke up to realise all my pains had gone again.

Over this year I have been brilliant apart from 2 weeks when switching work, getting a very good job, new flat an enjoying time with my partner. I felt untouchable and came off the meds in august.

End of October after a few moves at work and some competition near by I began experiencing the pains again. Depression sunk in and I began taking St johns wort in desperation which I felt was a bit of a joke. My GP gave me some paroxetine while i failed to tell her I had been taling St Johns for 2 weeks.

I took the paroxetine and experienced the worst interaction in my life. I didn't sleep for a week or eat. I was extremly agitated and sweating alot. I went to A&E and they couldn't do anything. I admitted myself due to know feeling I could be safe by myself. They switched me to citolopram 4 days after the paroxetine. I calmed down in the hospital but was still aching more than ever.

I had more blood work and have been examined by about 10 doctors in the last month with them all coming to the conclusion that its caused by anxiety and depression. The physio says I have no sign of RSI and its all due to tension in my neck (which is very tense) giving me sensations in my arms. I asked about all the diseases i found online and they say I have non of the symptoms.

I am now weaning off citolopram to go back to paroxetine as I am extremly anxious all the time like I have never experienced before. I have been on citolopram for 6 weeks now with no improvement, just increased anxiety. I have to take clonazpam to calm down for now. I find it hard to sleep, eat and cannot relax. I constantly cry and feel hopeless that this is going to continue. I have lost 2 stone (was over weight to begin with). I constanly worry about losing my job and my partner. I am now living with my mum temporary for my own safety due to suicidal thoughts. My life is a mess at the moment and I fear losing it all.

I constantly worry about my arms even though I can do anything with them. Nothing physical increases the aches, burning but it tortures me daily upsetting me alot. I am an artist and my arms/hands are my treasured pocession. I feel like a zombie. My original trigger the pc sends me into a panic.

My family are now supporting me and booked me into a private appointment with a neurologist to rule out any problems.

I guess my question is can anxiety cause all this? Constant arm/hand aches which increase in intensity with socialising and panic. I cant help but think I have something internally wrong. The doctors say that history of it dissapearing with AntiD and no lack of strength/reflex proves that it is anxiety. Also that it moves around constantly and is not located to a joint or tendon. It switches arms nearly everyday, it drives me mad! When I had my last physical the its all dissapeared instantly but came back after 10mins!

I have had the worse 6 weeks of my life. The panic I feel is unbelievable, never had anything like it before and I feel it must be the citolopram. My partner cannot speak to me as I am so hysterical saying my life is over and I want to die.

Any advice welcome as I am so scared right now and cannot get out of bed.

Thanks

[Tomimo]

It sounds really rough so sending lots of hugs.

I can sympathise. I've suffered with anxiety for years on and off. This week my joints and muscles have been so painful all over and, like you, I'm totally covinced that I've got something really serious and the fear is horrible.

I hope they get to the bottom of it soon x c

[kahi35]

hey do you get dizzy?

[whatisthis]

No dizzyness or sensory problems.

[KK77]

Anxiety can cause many things. The problem is once a sensitive nervous system goes into overdrive all sorts of symptoms can result. It's like the cases of hysteria where a person would lose all control over a part of their body due to extreme trauma/stress. Doctors were at a loss to explain why this happened. The body just dealt with the overload by shutting down. But another symptom is chronic pain.

Your main concern seems to be having a serious disease. I would say that your symptoms are due to traumatic experiences caused by anxiety and panic. If you focus on treating your anxiety/mental state and getting better I'm sure that your physical symptoms will also improve (and perhaps even disappear).

[whatisthis]

Anxiety can cause many things. The problem is once a sensitive nervous system goes into overdrive all sorts of symptoms can result. It's like the cases of hysteria where a person would lose all control over a part of their body due to extreme trauma/stress. Doctors were at a loss to explain why this happened. The body just dealt with the overload by shutting down. But another symptom is chronic pain.

Your main concern seems to be having a serious disease. I would say that your symptoms are due to traumatic experiences caused by anxiety and panic. If you focus on treating your anxiety/mental state and getting better I'm sure that your physical symptoms will also improve (and perhaps even disappear).

My anxiety has subsided a fair bit in the last few days. Its either coming off the citolopram which I felt me worse or the daily drop in center for people in crisis at the hospital. I am still fearing the worst though unfortunately even though the doctors are continually telling me anxiety. The constant discomfort drives me nuts and is stopping me from working. I have connected the very intense burning sensations with my anxiety though. I type this and I am fine thinking about it!

I am still going to see a Neurologist next week just to rule things out before I begin anxiety recovery.

I still fear RSI even though my physio thinks I am mad. I have no loss of movement or strength. Damn sensations.

[moore]

I find your fear of RSI interesting, because, it feels like your fear is disproportionate to me. I do suffer from mild to moderate RSI a lot, as a consequence of 10+ years of working in an office with terrible posture. To me it's just an inconvenience that comes and goes, and is healed by ibuprofen, rest or ergonomic correction.

Don't believe the hype about long term chronic pain and illness associated with RSI and such things. I'm not sure what you've read but it sounds to me like your anxiety is presenting you with worse symptoms than the disease you fear! I hope that makes sense.

[whatisthis]

I find your fear of RSI interesting, because, it feels like your fear is disproportionate to me. I do suffer from mild to moderate RSI a lot, as a consequence of 10+ years of working in an office with terrible posture. To me it's just an inconvenience that comes and goes, and is healed by ibuprofen, rest or ergonomic correction.

Don't believe the hype about long term chronic pain and illness associated with RSI and such things. I'm not sure what you've read but it sounds to me like your anxiety is presenting you with worse symptoms than the disease you fear! I hope that makes sense.


Moore your so right, I just do not know why I got this stuck in my damn head. The doctors, physio and chiro say I have no sign of rsi or diseases but my anxiety about it has made me so tense that I am locked in a vicious circle. The Neurologist I saw on monday looked at me like a mad man as I listed off all my worries. He said simply tension in my back. I actually felt worse, I wanted a problem to fix!

But I do have a problem and its my mind which is scary as I have to fix that!

I am now off all meds and feel about 80% better. The citalopram nearly drove me to do something silly with the constant agitation and worrying. I have not had that panic since taking the last dose a week and a half ago.

Now I need to work on my automatic and obcessive thoughts about symptoms. I have been checked out by 10 doctors, 5 physicals, neuro, physio and a chiro. Every one of them has said anxiety or tension. A total ban from googling has gone into place.

I have started to notice that I am having brief moments of becoming distracted and that my symptoms dissapear. I am the one who brings them back as soon as I begin to worry.

I am making pretty good progress though as the burning, tingling and painful aches have gone. I now just notice the tension I am holding, while its uncomfortable for now I am constantly having to overide my negative thoughts about it harming me or not going away. Accepting and letting it go in its on time!

Will report back soon.

Chris

[alicegreen]

I had this for 3 years before I could accept that it was anxiety. There was a constant background ache, sometimes numbness/tingling and I would also get feelings of a more extreme ache that would kind of wash over me, down both arms.

I remember diagnosing myself with pretty much everything and I also underwent lots and lots of tests, even had an operation to remove my gall bladder as they thought some small stones seen on a scan were the cause. It was only when I was in a better place emotionally that I actually considered it could be anxiety then it got better and eventually disappeared. I only get it occasionally now when very stressed and I no longer fret like I used to.

What helped me in the early days was joining a gym and doing some daily strenuous exercise as it kind of proved that I was actually fit and well.

[whatisthis]

Hi Alice

You more or less described exactly the same situation I have. I am more or less convinced its anxiety now. Back on the anti depressants and I am having large amounts of time without the ache.

The gym does help and convinces me there is nothing sinister. Lifting weights and playing badminton makes it go away! It will usually come on like you said, stressed or when I focus on it. It just very uncomfortable and annoying!

Slowly changing my attitude towards it!