Undiagnosed neurological symptoms/anxiety

[saray7997]

I am a 31 y/o , stay-at-home mom (former elem. teacher) of 2 boys(ages 5 and 2). I am athletic 5'9" & 137 lbs. A little over a year ago (March? of last year), I noticed symptoms: 1. monthly, week-long sore throat and stiff neck (lasting 6 mos.) 2.terrible constant vertigo 3. fatigued jaw and cheek muscles 4. transient tingling in face, arms, hands 5. general fatigue, tired limbs 6. tingling moved to left side 7. tingling moved to right side 8. tired muscles at base of left thumb, tired left arm 9. tired left leg/foot 10. feeling of slow-moving left fingers and leg 11. the feeling of more-than-normal slowness of finger movements in extreme cold
Current symptoms: 1. sometimes spams/tiny twitches in left calf and bottom of foot at rest 2. cramp/tightness in left calf after strenuous exercise 3. tired cheeks, tired left hand and leg 5. tiredness in abs 4. occasional vertiginous/fatigue spells    
Personal history: I am type-A, high anxiety personality. 4 years ago, I lost my 24 year old brother to kidney cancer. I lost my dad 2 months ago to MSA. I have anxiety due to their deaths and also due to my symptoms.
Recent med. history: 1. Neur. visit in Dec. 2. EMG of my left arm and leg normal, slightly dim. reflex in my left leg associated with an L5 hern. disc and laminectomy in 2001. 3. MRI of brain and spine w/ contrast in Dec. normal (2 mm fat or protein spot found not touching any of the brain-insignificant and non-worrisome according to my neur.). 4. norm. physical exam with neur. 5. battery of blood work, all normal.  
In Dec., the neur. released me. Saw family dr. this week. Phys./neur. exam was normal. Dr recommended another MRI of the brain and spine, a visit to another neur.  Prescribed lexapro and counseling.
Questions:  Could symptoms be caused by anxiety?  Should I have MRI again now? Is it worth it to see another neur. now if my family dr's basic neur. exam was normal? Should I just try the lexapro and counseling and wait a while?  Am aware of ALS, MS, lyme.

[hava]

These breathing techniques - pranayam will help you control the anxiety and the other symptoms. Do anulom vilom for one week, and then do kapalbhati as well.You will notice the benefit gradually. You will be exercising the body's software.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day. Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Dear Friend,
Many thanks for the post. Your last statement made me a bit worried (that you are aware of ALS/MS). The reason being , i don't want people to think of these conditions in the begining.
No doubt, anxiety is a main reason for all the big problems.....because you have seen few bad events happening in the family, which makes you feel vunerable to the present situation. This may or may not be at the sub-conscious level too.
Seeing a new neuro means that you are planing for a second opinion. There is no harm in seeking this opinion. It may help you to eliminate the doubts.
However since you have already underwent laminectomy in the past, MRI would be helpful...as we can know the present status of your back and the disc (if they are compressing the nerve roots).
So do take a second opinion and if the doctor asks for a scan, quickly opt for the same.
I hope i was able to clear your doubts. Still if some question/doubts are unanswered, please discus further.
Regards