
What Causes Pain And Numbness In Muscles?

Question: I am a 53 year old female. I am in good health overall, with a history of GERD, and anxiety. My anxiety focuses on health concerns -- ie, I get extremely anxious over a symptom and obsess compulsively (OCD). For the past 3 1/2 weeks, I have had some minor pain in my right forearm (sometimes my elbow hurts on the inside edge, or when I'm using my mouse at work. Then, last week, I developed an odd feeling in 2 toes on my right foot - they feel sort of numb, like there's a thread around them. I have seen my GP and she is very thorough - she spent 30 minutes with me, and said that there's nothing in my symptoms that reflect a major problem - but I still continue to obsess. I have all sorts of fears about arthritis and other things. She felt my syptoms were not indicative of anything serious. I can't tell if there is really something to follow up on, or if this is OCD making my mind run crazy. Your thoughts?
Brief Answer:
May be due to neuropathy or nerve compression
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query.
Your physical symptoms like pain or numbness has no relation with OCP. Pain in elbow may be due to internal injury or muscular pain. Odd feeling in two toes may be due to some neuropathy or nerve compression. You should consult a neurologist and get nerve conduction done.
There is nothing serious about your symptoms, so nothing to worry about them. Just relax.
In case, you have more query, you can ask.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


Thank you. I guess what I am obsessing about is that this might be the onset of something serious like Rheumatoid arthritis. My doctor looked at my joints and observed no redness or swelling, and it really doesn't hurt when I bend my toes. She said she felt my OCD (and google, which put a lot of this into my mind) are leading me to conclusions that aren't substantiated, medically. Could that be true? Is that reasonable?
Brief Answer:
Better to get investigation done
Detailed Answer:
HI
I am not saying, you have any arthritis. Numbness may be due to nerve compression or neuropathy. There is no harm in consulting neurologist to rule out any underline problem.
Before making any diagnosis, first we rule out ant underline physical problem. Same is in your case. It may be part of underline anxiety disorder, but it would be too early to take it part of anxiety disorder. First get investigation done and if investigation come normal, then we can say, it could be part of anxiety disorder.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


Okay, I think I understand. It sounds like you agree with the doctor that I saw. The pain I am experiencing is most likely nerve or minor muscle pain, and not typical of arthritis, and if it gets worse, I could follow up with a neurologist, but it is not something that I should be worrying about obsessively. Right?
Brief Answer:
Yes, you are right.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Yes, you are right. Just stay relax. you can take consultation of a neurologist.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

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