[Guest]

In 1995 I started to experience pain around my ribcage just beneath the skin, felt like ants biting me and horrible muscle spasms around that area. I also had pain in the nook of my shoulders and burning in a small place in both hips. I also had prickling in my hands and feet. I then began to have bouts of tachycardia everytime I would stand up and was then hospitalized. Many tests run and no answers. All the symptoms remained and then in 1997 I awoke with an incredibily high heartrate and this burning (not flushing) all over my skin head to toe. Again hospital and again nothing! I began to have skipped heartbeats and more of what my doctor thought were these panic attacks although he said he did not understand the burning without flushing. I also went to see a neurologist since the skin (about the size of a quarter) was now permanty numb to the touch on my abdomen. My muscles began to twitch in my calves and now do so ALL over my body. I now have stinging, burning, prickling in all quadrants of my body that stays all day. I continue to twitch and have spasms in my muscles, nerve pain, dizziness weak feelings etc. My neurologist says that after all of the tests that I have had she just does not believe that this is caused by a primary neurological problem, or metabolic. She thinks it is anxiety and since I have moments of paralysis, some sort of conversion disorder. She is the third neuro I have seen. I believe, however, that since my symptoms have been stable (meaning they have not changed, just worsened and spread) that they have missed something. Since I presented with a swollen cevical node in the beginning and a drooping eyelid and now have mild cerebral atrophy I believe that it may be some sort of chronic infectious etiology that will soon permanantly paralyze me soon. Please tell me if a person can have stable and progressive symptoms and it be the mind at work instead of an organic problem??? Thank you for considering my lengthy question.

[Guest]

Basically, if you have seen three neurologists, I really couldn't add much.

I would say that anxiety can do many things, but I would not be prepared to say that it could cause cerebral atrophy. At this point, I might try anti anxiety medications as you are anxious about what is going on.
[quote] In 1995 I started to experience pain around my ribcage just beneath the skin, felt like ants biting me and horrible muscle spasms around that area. I also had pain in the nook of my shoulders and burning in a small place in both hips... [/quote]

[Guest]

Could you please clarify your response that since I have seen three neurologists you can not add much? I am not sure if that is sarcastic or sincere? Other than the cerebral atrophy, which the doc says may be of no relevance anyway, can these other things be caused by the mind? I do not expect you to tell me that mine is that for sure, I just would like your opinion on if it COULD be. Thank you very much for your time.
[quote] Basically, if you have seen three neurologists, I really couldn't add much.

I would say that anxiety can do many things, but I would not be prepared to say that it could cause cerebral atrophy... [/quote]