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What Causes Back Pain With Dizziness,headaches And Weakness In Legs?

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Posted on Wed, 17 Sep 2014
Twitter Wed, 17 Sep 2014 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 7 Oct 2014 Last reviewed on
Question : Hi I am a father of 4 and attorney with my own private legal practice. I have been suffering for 3 years now with many strange, difficult symptoms that remain unexplained. There are many and some have changed or gone away over the 3 years while others have not. It started with back pain, dizziness, headache, rubbery weakness in legs, change in bowel patterns (fatty poop and pooping more often) and fatigue a few years ago. I went to a Neuro and GI doc at that time and had colonoscopy and MRI of back and brain. No findings after those tests and numerous blood tests. Other symptoms that have come after the initial ones include muscle twitching in different muscles at random times, weight loss without trying, dry mouth, cold hands and feet at times and numbness which goes away if I get up and move around. Weak vision at night and muscle pain in hands arms feet legs. There are many others such as feeling weird or dizzy when going in to large department stores or groceries. All symptoms aren't always there at all times. My muscle strength is good and I even completed the insanity workout at the beginning of this year which is very rigorous. Not many men my age could do it. I am still seeing a neurologist who has ordered another MRI of my back because of pain there. I am wondering if you believe my condition may be linked to the long term use of benzodiazepeds. I was on clonazepam for about 6 years prior to this and am on a smaller dosage of Klonopin now. I am privately terrified that I have some deadly disease. I am hoping that since it has been 3 years and I am not significantly worse that maybe it is not a deadly disease but it is related to these drugs or stress. When I search my symptoms on the internet what comes up the most is either diabetes or stress. My diabetes lab was higher than normal but the Doc said it was not to a diabetic level. Can you asses whether or not all of this might be related to my use of clonazepam? I do not expect you to have all the answers as my own neuro is puzzled as well.just seeking another opinion.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Yes,it can be due to stress or medicines or....

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for using healthcaremagic.

You have narrated symptoms detail very well.From your history I can put following differential diagnosis.

1. Some stress related disorder either anxiety or depression which made you to take clonazepam and you became habitual to that.Symptoms of benzodiazepines addiction and stress intermingled then.

2. You became addicted to clonazepam without any stress factors and all features related to medicines.

3.Hypochondiasis: Person feels(false concern) consistently that he/she has some disease which is difficult to diagnosed(almost all reports are normal) and he/she may become severe ill and no doctor can help.

4.Vitamin B12 & Vitamin D deficiency: either of both of these vitamin deficiency can cause such symptoms.

5.Thyroid hormone disturbance: Hyperthyroid (as you lost weight without efforts) is also one of the possibility.

If feasible send me your all reports or just narrate which have been done and normal.

To help you further I want to know,"Since when, which quantity(dose with timing) are you taking klonopin?, Why clonazepam was started? Is it started by a doctor or on your own?, After reading above differential provide more detail if you feel there is link with some diagnosis.

Waiting for your response,
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (39 hours later)
Doctor, I was wrong about my first medication. It was Loreazepam 1mg per day for at least 5 years but I think more. I was put on it by my GI doc for IBS he said was caused because I was getting too anxious possibly upsetting my stomach. After a while he referred me to Psych doc for the script. I came off 3 plus years ago along with propecia which I had taken for over 10 years to prevent hair loss. I wanted to be med free. I don't know if these drugs are why I am having these crazy symptoms. When I started having trouble Psych put me on Klonopin .5mg per day and for the last few months I have XXXXXXX only taking 1/2 of that. I don't consider myself a high strung person or stressed out, but I know that doesn't mean this is not anxiety related. I definitely do stress over these symptoms and their possible cause. Thank you again for your time.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
your problem is not due to medicines

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for follow up with information.

Lorazepam 1 mg for more than 5 years is not going to cause any symptoms you have suffered, rather it is used to treat the symptoms.

Clonazepam 0.5 mg is also low dose and you are taking half of it.So it is also not going to cuase your symptoms.Same way as lorazepam it is used for such anxiety symptoms.

So your problem is not at all caused by benzodiazepines that is confirmed.

You need detail evaluation by psychiatrist in form of personal, family and past history,mental status examination, substance history,occupational history to search for cuase of your symptoms. After that it can even be treated by counseling & psychotherapy only, medicine may not be needed.

You did not provide details about investigation. I would like to tell that if you did not have Vitamin B12 ,Vitamin D and thyroid evaluation, please go for it.

Hope I have answered your query satisfactorily, but still if any question there ,I will be glad to answer.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (3 hours later)
Thanks. I take daily Vitamin D because it has been tested as low. B12 and thyroid I am unsure. I did have an ultrasound of my thyroid which one year showed nodules and another showed none. But if there are further thyroid tests I did not have them. I do have a brother that suffers from severe depression, but I never have.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
get serum B12 and thyroid profile done

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

It's good you are taking vitamin D. Please also go for Serum B12 level and T3,T4,TSH for thyroid testing.

Family history of depression suggests you might have some psychiatric problem.Visiting a psychiatrist who can spare time for detail evaluation and treat your problem.

Wish you good health.

Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2407 Questions

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What Causes Back Pain With Dizziness,headaches And Weakness In Legs?

Brief Answer: Yes,it can be due to stress or medicines or.... Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for using healthcaremagic. You have narrated symptoms detail very well.From your history I can put following differential diagnosis. 1. Some stress related disorder either anxiety or depression which made you to take clonazepam and you became habitual to that.Symptoms of benzodiazepines addiction and stress intermingled then. 2. You became addicted to clonazepam without any stress factors and all features related to medicines. 3.Hypochondiasis: Person feels(false concern) consistently that he/she has some disease which is difficult to diagnosed(almost all reports are normal) and he/she may become severe ill and no doctor can help. 4.Vitamin B12 & Vitamin D deficiency: either of both of these vitamin deficiency can cause such symptoms. 5.Thyroid hormone disturbance: Hyperthyroid (as you lost weight without efforts) is also one of the possibility. If feasible send me your all reports or just narrate which have been done and normal. To help you further I want to know,"Since when, which quantity(dose with timing) are you taking klonopin?, Why clonazepam was started? Is it started by a doctor or on your own?, After reading above differential provide more detail if you feel there is link with some diagnosis. Waiting for your response, Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki.