Weird sensation in leg and sometimes arm

[ab1993]

First off, I'll say that during my sophomore year in high school (3 years ago), I had a couple strokes. The first one caused a blind spot that never went away, the second took coordination and dexterity from the right side of my body. The blind spot stayed, the right side of my body 95% recovered. It turned out it was because of a bone spur in my neck cutting off circulation to my brain. The doctors removed it and my problems were over. Then, I had visual symptoms last winter and went to my neurologist to get it checked out. They did tests and figured out I could turn my head too much. I now take 325mg of Aspirin daily as well as St. John's wort for my mental health.

Along with the visual symptoms last year, I began to experience a weird sensation in my right leg. When it got really bad, it started affecting my right arm as well. I should mention that the feeling is strongest at the extremity and goes upward. The feeling is almost the feeling of needing to stretch, but not numbness or tingling.Kind of feels weak, but I can still move everything fine. Towards the spring, it resolved itself. (When I had seen my neurologists about it, they said it was probably anxiety). I worried all the time that it was the start of MS, but my mom also said that it was anxiety.

Recently, a week and a half ago, it started again. I haven't made a big deal of it, but it worries me still. I should also mention that a month and a half ago, I developed tinnitus in my left ear (because of a concert I didn't wear ear plugs to stupidly). During that time, I started to become more anxious, accompanied by the stress brought about by college finals. Ringing started in my right ear (I  assume because of anxiety this time). I get seasonal depression as well, so that didn't help.

I assume it's brought about by anxiety again, but could it be a residual symptom of my second stroke? Like when I get anxious, I start feeling it again? Any thoughts would be appreciated. I don't really feel like bringing it up to my mom and going to the neurologist and having to do all this hospital bullshit when I most likely won't get an actual answer again. Could it just be from being sedentary during the winter?

I should add that when I am busy or being entertained, I don't feel it, (as I type this message, it's getting really bad). When I sit in the car, or watch TV or sit at the computer, it always flares up. When I'm with friends, scuba diving (went last week), or doing anything to keep me busy, I don't feel it.

So, sorry for the long message, but thoughts?

Thanks in advance

[anonandanxious]

Really interesting stuff.  Sorry to hear about your strokes and the lasting effect.

I myself struggle with a "shin splint" like pain in both of my legs.  My pain is similar to yours, in that it's worse when I'm idling at the computer, sitting on the bus, or not entertained.  The more involved I am with what I'm doing the less I notice it.

I have also been told that it's anxiety -- so I'm thinking you and I both need to do our best to accept that diagnosis and move on!  It's hard though -- believe me -- as it's very unnerving!

Good luck -- let's hope we both get over this!

[ab1993]

The sensation isn't pain, but thanks for your input. I also didn't mention in my post that I fear it could be MS. Any chance that it is?

[sixpack]

I'm sorry you had such a tough time with having strokes.  someone as young as you shouldn't have to deal with such things.  I can understand how the experience jumpstarted hypochondria.

BUTTTTTTTTTT

well none of us can tell you if you have MS or give you accurate chances of it.  I mean we are not doctors.  What we folks know about is anxiety and how it affects us.  We can't tell some one if they HAVE a disease or not. what I can tell you is that anxiety does affect the body physically.  I don't limit what it can do.   On the other hand we are all human and sometimes things go on in our bodies that are organic in origin and not mental in origin. 

it may well be your anxious over thinking bringing on all of sensations you are talking about.  Sometimes we don't even feel consciously anxious as most anxiety occurs at the subconscious level. 

What do you do about your anxiety disorder?  what is working?  what is not?  what detrimental habits can you give up in order to get to feeling better---ie googling, self-checking...