I was on HRT for 10 days and after 3 days I developed tingling and numbness on my arms and legs when I wake up. So I decided to stop the HRT 2 days ago. Yesterday and today I started feeling this burning or freezing ( i can't tell) all over my body. Sometimes its on my arms, other times its my shoulders. I feel terrified. Has anyone else experience this. Could this be anxiety related or there is some underlying problem. Please help.
Glor

Anxiety can definitely produce burning skin sensations. Skin can feel like you have a sunburn, even a bad one, but with no redness or other sign of irritation. Just over-stimulated nerve endings from all the stress hormones circulating in your body. Anxiety-induced skin burning tends to move around a lot too, and gets more intense with anxious thoughts. It's all the result of an over-stimulated nervous system. And even if you were suddenly able to become totally calm today for good, the physical symptoms of anxiety would still take some time to go away completely, because your nervous system doesn't just instantaneously revert to normal functioning again.

I get brief episodes of burning sensations when my anxiety is bad, especially in the shoulder and upper arm area.

Marie

I get this sensations alot too throughout my body..didn't feel them ever till I started to get hotflashes back last summer. I describe it as if I put icy hot ( that medicated gel for sore muscles) on different spots on my skin, some places seem to feel it more than others like I get this feeling between my toes alot...I know odd. HUGS Mikki

Thanks ladies for all your support. I feel like I am going out of my mind at times. I've never felt so bad before until this perimenopausal started in mid February. I have always been healthy and happy. I go to the gym everyday and do aerobics, or pilates. Lately I've lost interest in almost everything. I have this doom and gloom feeling all the time. My twins are leaving for college in the fall at the same time and I am really dreading this also.
Glor

I'm 42 and have felt these strange, intense, disturbing (not painful) body surges or intense tingling on the back of my head, across my shoulders and chest, and limbs off and on for about 2 years. Terrified I had MS (ruled out w/MRI). After a process of elimination for catastrophic things, I've about determined that it is a combination of perimentapause and anxiety...but what came first, chicken or the egg??? Who knows, but I told my doctor...who is wonderful and takes me very seriously...that if it something I have to live with, at least give me something that calms me down so I won't think I'm dying. I'm strong, active and healthy otherwise with 3 small children but my sister was too but died at 37 from a spontaneous coronary artery disection. So I can't help but think, "is this what she felt like right before she died?"...something we'll never know. He put me on Lexapro 10mg (but I only take half) and it seems to be working. When I do have the symptoms, usually at night in bed, I just ride it out (30min-1hr) and finally fall asleep.

I finally went to see the neurologist . He did some neurological tests on me and came to the conclusion that all these strange numbness, burning sensations I've been experiencing are some anxiety. He also put me on Lexapro 10mg and wants me to try it for a week. Hope it works.

Hi,
I have had a lot of this lately. Intense burning sensations down my arms especially my left one (typical!).
Sometimes it is very strong. Also woke up the other night with the worst hot flush ever, whole body 'felt' hot & burning down arms stronger than ever.
I agree that it's a combination of hormonal symptoms made worse by anxiety or vice versa. I do know that I've always had anxiety going on so maybe anxiety is the main culprit!
love Marchgirl xx

I have those burning and cold sensations too, some days are worst than other days. Especially my shoulder blades and chest area. And it does seem to travel from one part of the body to the other..... Usually what I do is just take deep breaths and pray and this helps a lot.

I had this for 4-5 months straight last summer - it's HORRIBLE! It feels like a sunburn all over, mine was on my scalp, my lips, my arms & my legs, everywhere really. The worst was on the back of my neck/shoulers & upper arms, scalp was pretty bad too.

It appeared suddenly during the highest, most intense panic/anxiety/stress I've ever endured. I was recently dianosed with pretty severe adrenal fatigue, so my theory is that yes, it stems from an over-abundance of cortisol (stress hormone) which can be caused by both physical stress or mental/emotional stress. In the beginning stage of adrenal fatigue, cortisol is high, which is NOT a comfortable feeling - lots of anxiety. If left untreated, cortisol diminishes (along with DHEA & the sex hormones) & leaves us unable to handle any amount of stress.

Erin