Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Background: 28 White Male No Allergies No Surgeries Beyond A
Question: Background:
28 white male
No allergies
No surgeries beyond a broken ankle
No history of genetic disorders in the family
Smoke 1 pack a day for 4 years (now I vape).
Smoke marijuana (a lot) however I was clean 4 months after the initial event below.
My symptoms started one night in December when I was hunched over working. It started with a lot of pressure on my nose like a sinus infection only I've never felt anything like this. Very very intense. It only lasted for a moment. My heart started racing and my face and my hands began to get pins and needles. My hands locked shut I had to pry them open and I couldn't speak properly. It was like my tongue was stuck or numb. I called 911 but by the time they got there everything had stopped. The week after my heart kept racing and the pins/needles kept coming back so I went to the hospital and got a CT scan, chest x-ray (lungs) and EKG. All clear.
The symptoms continued and I realized that I could make the pins/needles stop by laying on my stomach with my arms above my head. I continued to have heart palpitations so I went back to the doctor. He thought it was anxiety. I believe he was partially correct because I stopped having attacks however I can't walk anywhere without my heart racing. Taking the stairs makes it feel likes it's going to explode. Sometimes when changing from sitting to standing or vice versa my heart slows down and beats really hard for a few beats then jumps up to above 100. Feels like the wind gets knocked out of me.
I woke up about 2 months ago with this strange pressure on my head. It feels like pressure on my temples or sometimes a pulling sensation on my head like it's being pulled back/down. After the initial incident I got this whenever I would sit in the car but now it's constant. Wearing a hat seems to help elevate some of the "pull". I also get this tightness in my chest that's worst when walking around. It feels like a squeezing but I can still breathe.
Also which may be unrelated I get random sharp pains in my chest, sides and arms that all seem to get better when I crack my back or change position.
All symptoms include:
Fast heart rate when walking. 110-130. Higher if I use the stairs.
Very hard heart beats when changing positions.
Pins/needles in arms, hands and face. Less frequent now. Once a week maybe twice.
Vibrating feeling over entire body can feel it the most in chest. Comes and goes often. Mostly later in the day. (this is not new and has been going on for over a year but I figured it might be connected)
Pressure/pulling on head all the time. Laying down helps. Wearing a hat helps when sitting.
Pressure on face. Comes and goes few times a week but never as strong as the first time. Laying down helps.
Is there a certain specialist that I should see?
28 white male
No allergies
No surgeries beyond a broken ankle
No history of genetic disorders in the family
Smoke 1 pack a day for 4 years (now I vape).
Smoke marijuana (a lot) however I was clean 4 months after the initial event below.
My symptoms started one night in December when I was hunched over working. It started with a lot of pressure on my nose like a sinus infection only I've never felt anything like this. Very very intense. It only lasted for a moment. My heart started racing and my face and my hands began to get pins and needles. My hands locked shut I had to pry them open and I couldn't speak properly. It was like my tongue was stuck or numb. I called 911 but by the time they got there everything had stopped. The week after my heart kept racing and the pins/needles kept coming back so I went to the hospital and got a CT scan, chest x-ray (lungs) and EKG. All clear.
The symptoms continued and I realized that I could make the pins/needles stop by laying on my stomach with my arms above my head. I continued to have heart palpitations so I went back to the doctor. He thought it was anxiety. I believe he was partially correct because I stopped having attacks however I can't walk anywhere without my heart racing. Taking the stairs makes it feel likes it's going to explode. Sometimes when changing from sitting to standing or vice versa my heart slows down and beats really hard for a few beats then jumps up to above 100. Feels like the wind gets knocked out of me.
I woke up about 2 months ago with this strange pressure on my head. It feels like pressure on my temples or sometimes a pulling sensation on my head like it's being pulled back/down. After the initial incident I got this whenever I would sit in the car but now it's constant. Wearing a hat seems to help elevate some of the "pull". I also get this tightness in my chest that's worst when walking around. It feels like a squeezing but I can still breathe.
Also which may be unrelated I get random sharp pains in my chest, sides and arms that all seem to get better when I crack my back or change position.
All symptoms include:
Fast heart rate when walking. 110-130. Higher if I use the stairs.
Very hard heart beats when changing positions.
Pins/needles in arms, hands and face. Less frequent now. Once a week maybe twice.
Vibrating feeling over entire body can feel it the most in chest. Comes and goes often. Mostly later in the day. (this is not new and has been going on for over a year but I figured it might be connected)
Pressure/pulling on head all the time. Laying down helps. Wearing a hat helps when sitting.
Pressure on face. Comes and goes few times a week but never as strong as the first time. Laying down helps.
Is there a certain specialist that I should see?
Forgot 2 important symptoms
Tinnitus that gets worse as the day goes on. Depending the position my head is in I sometimes get this vibrating feeling through my ears up into my head.
Dizziness that doesn't make the room spin but feels like the world is moving. Sort of coming at me. Not bad enough to be debilitating but annoying.
Tinnitus that gets worse as the day goes on. Depending the position my head is in I sometimes get this vibrating feeling through my ears up into my head.
Dizziness that doesn't make the room spin but feels like the world is moving. Sort of coming at me. Not bad enough to be debilitating but annoying.
Brief Answer:
You start with what you have
Detailed Answer:
and go from there.
So, first, this service is not for prescribing, diagnosing, ordering tests etc but for giving general knowledge.
And, that is often quite helpful.
So.... several initial points:
Pins and needles implies nerves.
armS, handS, face and FEET imply the nerve issue is both sides and symmetric and especially at the ends of the limbs. A pinched nerve can't be both sides and multiple sites. Nerves which are affected generally will both have pins and needles, and it will be variable in duration and it will preferentially affect the ends of the limbs because the longest nerves are the most susceptible. Also other signs that do not fit with a nerve pathway but come together but are not continuous.
Panic attacks usually have heart increases in rate and feelings of anxiety. There is usually hyperventilation with typically numbness or pins and needles both in th ends of the limbs and around the mouth.
Lots of other stimulants of the panic parts of the brain trigger them. Changes in the amount of cannabis are quite likely to do this. Elevated thyroid or adrenal hormones can. Thyroid elevation gives continuous symptoms. Adrenal problems are often quite short in duration. There are lab tests for them.
But panic attacks do not have lab results that are abnormal. They are highly treatable with SSRI's mainly. But cognitive behavioral therapy is also helpful.
You start with what you have
Detailed Answer:
and go from there.
So, first, this service is not for prescribing, diagnosing, ordering tests etc but for giving general knowledge.
And, that is often quite helpful.
So.... several initial points:
Pins and needles implies nerves.
armS, handS, face and FEET imply the nerve issue is both sides and symmetric and especially at the ends of the limbs. A pinched nerve can't be both sides and multiple sites. Nerves which are affected generally will both have pins and needles, and it will be variable in duration and it will preferentially affect the ends of the limbs because the longest nerves are the most susceptible. Also other signs that do not fit with a nerve pathway but come together but are not continuous.
Panic attacks usually have heart increases in rate and feelings of anxiety. There is usually hyperventilation with typically numbness or pins and needles both in th ends of the limbs and around the mouth.
Lots of other stimulants of the panic parts of the brain trigger them. Changes in the amount of cannabis are quite likely to do this. Elevated thyroid or adrenal hormones can. Thyroid elevation gives continuous symptoms. Adrenal problems are often quite short in duration. There are lab tests for them.
But panic attacks do not have lab results that are abnormal. They are highly treatable with SSRI's mainly. But cognitive behavioral therapy is also helpful.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
