My mother had a few episodes starting 2 weeks ago where she fell a few times. She had an MRI and they saw a 7mm aneurysm and evidence of a TIA. She also has Spinal Stenosis, Osteoporosis, Scoliosis. She was told a year ago to expect her legs to start going numb. Last Friday, the night before my wedding reception, she was taken to the ER with complaints that her legs were going numb. This happened in bed and there was no fall. After extensive tests including an MRI, no medical reason was found for the numbness and instead anxiety was the reason given for the numbness. Has anyone ever seen this before? I just cant understand how this can be. Are they say she was feigning the numbness or that the anxiety actually caused the numbness? They are being very elusive when explaining this to me, and I am left with a lot of confusion. Thanks.
When I was 22 my first child was born. I was very sheltered by my mother and had no experience in life because she made all my decisions until I got married at age 19. I worked a 40 hr. work week plus taking care of my son, the house, yard, pretty much everything because my husband wouldn't help. I started having tingling in my hands, forearms, feet, and calves. It never went numb but felt like it was going to. I went from my PCP to my OBS/GNY no one could give me an answer. It got so bad one night I have my husband take me to er. The dr. on call asked me many questions including if I was getting help at home with a new baby. Because I had no experience, I said yes. He offered to give me valium which I refused because of fears of becoming addicted due to family history. Later I realized it was indeed stress. So yes anxiety can cause this but since your mother has been diagnosed with a condition that will progress into these symptoms, see her dr. that diagnosed it.
Did the doctor suggest anything for anxiety? What kind of doctor is she seeing at this time?
2nd opinion from geriatric specialist good idea as well.
Anxiety can cause all kinds of physical symptoms. And if anxiety is the cause, an anti-anxiety pill is the appropriate response. But based on my experience I would never accept that diagnosis for a physical symptoms without a second opinion. And ER is a pretty stressful and expensive way to get a second opinion!