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What Causes TMJ Tension, Indigestion, Bloating, Foggy Head, Palpitations, Dizziness And Anxiety?
Question: Hi male 32 with neck, back, jaw (TMJ) tension, rib condiltys. Also indigestion, gas, bloating, foggy head, palpitations, dizziness/unbalance, anxiety, off and on burning sensation right toe. I had a CT scan on head which was negative, ECG, stress test, echo negative. Doctors can't give me a clear diagnosis.
Brief Answer:
Generalized anxiety disorder.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
It is a good thing that you have done all those exams making it possible to exclude dangerous brain or heart conditions, you should feel reassured about the fact that you have nothing dangerous.
In terms of the diagnosis the diagnosis in my opinion is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It is very common for anxiety to be related to other symptoms like those you describe like palpitations, foggy head, dizziness, muscle tension and aching etc, in fact most of those symptoms are among the diagnostic criteria for GAD. Intestinal symptoms are common as well, in fact anxiety is commonly associated with irritable bowel syndrome.
Management can be through medication and/or psychotherapy, best results are achieved through a combination of both. Most used medication for anxiety disorders are antidepressants like tricyclics (amitriptyline) or SSRI (citalopram) group.
As for whether other tests are necessary, you seem to have done necessary ones. The only test I would like to recommend (if not already done), is blood tests for thyroid function as high thyroid function is a common cause of anxiety. However in most cases of anxiety tests result normal, no identifiable cause can be found, it is thought to be due to imbalance of neurotransmitter activity in the brain.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Generalized anxiety disorder.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
It is a good thing that you have done all those exams making it possible to exclude dangerous brain or heart conditions, you should feel reassured about the fact that you have nothing dangerous.
In terms of the diagnosis the diagnosis in my opinion is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It is very common for anxiety to be related to other symptoms like those you describe like palpitations, foggy head, dizziness, muscle tension and aching etc, in fact most of those symptoms are among the diagnostic criteria for GAD. Intestinal symptoms are common as well, in fact anxiety is commonly associated with irritable bowel syndrome.
Management can be through medication and/or psychotherapy, best results are achieved through a combination of both. Most used medication for anxiety disorders are antidepressants like tricyclics (amitriptyline) or SSRI (citalopram) group.
As for whether other tests are necessary, you seem to have done necessary ones. The only test I would like to recommend (if not already done), is blood tests for thyroid function as high thyroid function is a common cause of anxiety. However in most cases of anxiety tests result normal, no identifiable cause can be found, it is thought to be due to imbalance of neurotransmitter activity in the brain.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thanks for the thorough response. My mother as fibromyalgia and i know it's uncommon for men to get it but would i seem to have a lot of the male symptoms related to fibro. should I concerned of this or do you feel if I deal with anxiety the physical symptoms will be mitigated?
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As you said fibromyalgia in male patients is rare, female to male ratio is 7-9:1. But it is a possibility and it is true that symptoms do overlap a lot.
In order to diagnose fibromyalgia though, the criteria include pain on palpation of some predetermined specific trigger points, since you seem to have been seen several times from doctors judging from the many tests you have had, perhaps these trigger points have been examined.
However fibromyalgia is not a well known disorder in terms of mechanisms and origins, like anxiety they both are thought to be due to neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain, may be different manifestations of such neurotransmitter alterations.
So I do not see them as such different possibilities. In fact both include psychotherapy and medication combination in their management and when it comes to medication most drugs used for fibromyalgia are actually medications used for anxiety (antidepressants and benzodiazepines certainly, even anticonvulsants are used for anxiety at times).
I hope to have been of help.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As you said fibromyalgia in male patients is rare, female to male ratio is 7-9:1. But it is a possibility and it is true that symptoms do overlap a lot.
In order to diagnose fibromyalgia though, the criteria include pain on palpation of some predetermined specific trigger points, since you seem to have been seen several times from doctors judging from the many tests you have had, perhaps these trigger points have been examined.
However fibromyalgia is not a well known disorder in terms of mechanisms and origins, like anxiety they both are thought to be due to neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain, may be different manifestations of such neurotransmitter alterations.
So I do not see them as such different possibilities. In fact both include psychotherapy and medication combination in their management and when it comes to medication most drugs used for fibromyalgia are actually medications used for anxiety (antidepressants and benzodiazepines certainly, even anticonvulsants are used for anxiety at times).
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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