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Merope
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Unhappy Jan 13, 2019 at 10:35 AM
  #1
Please bear with me, this may be a bit long.

I've had episodes of health anxiety in the past, but never quite as bad as I have now. I basically injured my right arm (repetitive strenuous movement) a few weeks ago and it has since felt a little strained and it also takes longer to "wake up" in the morning. Not much pain, though I think I pinched a nerve as I sometimes have minor pins and needles. they never go all the way to pins and needles, just kind of halfway. My wrist also started clicking.

I did my regular leg workout (after a week-long break) and I appear to have also injured my right leg. It doesn't hurt much, but it feels a bit fatigued. I do have some knee pain though. I can walk fine. When staring at it in the mirror, I noticed that the thigh muscle on my right leg is marginally smaller than my left leg.

Naturally, I freaked out and for two weeks I've been trying to convince myself that I don't have a serious neurological condition that leads to muscle atrophy and will kill me or leave me incapacitated. I know I sound ridiculous, but I can't seem to switch off from it, especially since it all seems to be happening on the right side of my body.

I'm planning to book a physio appointment this week and I also have a GP appointment scheduled for later in the week. Until then, if anyone is willing to offer some reassurance then please, please do so, as I feel like I am losing my mind.

Have any of you noticed that one of your leg muscles is somewhat different/marginally bigger than the same muscle in the other leg?

Have you had limb strains that didn't cause much pain but that still felt a little odd?

Thank you!
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Default Jan 13, 2019 at 10:55 AM
  #2
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Originally Posted by Merope View Post
Please bear with me, this may be a bit long.

I've had episodes of health anxiety in the past, but never quite as bad as I have now. I basically injured my right arm (repetitive strenuous movement) a few weeks ago and it has since felt a little strained and it also takes longer to "wake up" in the morning. Not much pain, though I think I pinched a nerve as I sometimes have minor pins and needles. they never go all the way to pins and needles, just kind of halfway. My wrist also started clicking.

I did my regular leg workout (after a week-long break) and I appear to have also injured my right leg. It doesn't hurt much, but it feels a bit fatigued. I do have some knee pain though. I can walk fine. When staring at it in the mirror, I noticed that the thigh muscle on my right leg is marginally smaller than my left leg.

Naturally, I freaked out and for two weeks I've been trying to convince myself that I don't have a serious neurological condition that leads to muscle atrophy and will kill me or leave me incapacitated. I know I sound ridiculous, but I can't seem to switch off from it, especially since it all seems to be happening on the right side of my body.

I'm planning to book a physio appointment this week and I also have a GP appointment scheduled for later in the week. Until then, if anyone is willing to offer some reassurance then please, please do so, as I feel like I am losing my mind.

Have any of you noticed that one of your leg muscles is somewhat different/marginally bigger than the same muscle in the other leg?

Have you had limb strains that didn't cause much pain but that still felt a little odd?

Thank you!
first sorry about you being in pain.

muscle size.... as part of my MS (Multiple Sclerosis) exams my treatment provider measures my muscle mass. they explained to me that when a muscle group is larger or smaller on the right vs left side of the body it means the larger size is being worked out more, getting more exercise,.... like if you lift weights with only the left arm then the left arm muscles will develop more and the right wont build up any more muscle mass and strength. but if you work out both sides then they both get the same amount of exercise so they both will develop evenly. my treatment providers use measuring my muscle mass as a way to tell them which grouping of my muscles need to be worked out during physical therapy.

my suggestion.... anytime you notice your muscles are uneven take time to work out the smaller of the muscles. do some exercises to develop the smaller muscles size and strength.

also most people do have a more dominant side and its normal. to find out what your dominant sides are in your body just pick up a pen (what hand did you use, this will show whether you are left or right handed.) stand up and walk a few steps which leg and food did you lead off with by taking that first step, that will tell you which you are left footed or right footed. cover one eye then the other while looking at something which eye kept that item centered in your vision without moving your head, this will show you which you are right eyed or left eyed....

here where I am they assess which (right or left dominant sides) children are on all these during kindergarten screening. doctors also take note of these things when they are doing their physical exams.
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Default Jan 13, 2019 at 11:07 AM
  #3
I've never experienced this, Merope, but I'm glad you're going to see a doctor soon. Please try not to worry too much - I'm sure everything will be OK. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you
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Default Jan 13, 2019 at 02:14 PM
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I'm sorry about your anxiety, Merope. However I'm sure it's nothing serious. It's pretty normal for people to have slightly different sides of the body. Eg I have quite a large difference between my left and right thigh muscles, too. Quite a few people have one foot larger than the other one, women tend to have a slight difference in breast size, difference in eyesight or can hear better on one ear than another... People aren't ideally symmetrical and having slight differences in our left and right body side is extremely common

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Default Jan 15, 2019 at 02:57 AM
  #5
Thank you all for your replies! After checking several photos from a few years ago, I realised that one thigh has always been slightly bigger than the other. It’s probably just my anatomy. My leg still feels funny though, from the knee down. It doesn’t hurt, I’m just more aware of it, which is weird to say but it’s the best way I can describe it.

As for my arm, I think there’s definitely something wrong with it because it still feels weird. You know when you wake up and your hands feel a bit stiff/weak? My right hand is a lot worse than my left, so I think I trapped a nerve (hopefully nothing more serious).

This episode of health anxiety is literally eating me alive. I have an doctor appointment in a couple of days, but I can’t convince myself that I don’t have a serious neurological condition that will kill me or leave me severely incapacitated. I feel like I am going crazy.
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Default Jan 15, 2019 at 04:10 AM
  #6
I hope your appointment goes well Merope! Keep us updated.

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Default Jan 15, 2019 at 09:25 AM
  #7
Okay, yeah I have experienced thoughts that something is a great deal more problematic than it really is when it comes to my physical health.

I want to point out though that one whole side of your body is going to be bigger than the other. Think of your feet, one shoe is always tighter. Have you ever had pants fit smaller on one thigh or shorts that keep riding up the same leg?

This is perfectly normal and for some the discrepancy is a great deal wider than others. It is normal then to have a thigh for example larger than the other. Women's breasts don't match either. And neither do our faces. There is a difference from one side of the face to the other (I for example have a thicker cheek). Think about it - we all have a profile we prefer a picture to be taken of.

This might then be the real cause for the worry you have. Your doctor can confirm this. Mention it to him as a possibility.

Hopefully this will asuade some of your fears and worry. You will win this 'battle'.
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Default Jan 17, 2019 at 08:29 AM
  #8
So I had my appointment today. GP said my arm feels fatigued/puffy because I over used it and therefore strained it. She also wasn’t concerned about my leg, saying it’s probably strained from not stretching before exercising. Definitely not neurological, though I spent so many weeks worrying about this that I find it a little hard to accept that I’m probably fine. I need to work on this. And I need to stop googling symptoms. Thank you all for the support.
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Default Jan 17, 2019 at 09:27 AM
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I'm glad to hear it's nothing serious! :-)

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Default Jan 17, 2019 at 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Merope View Post
So I had my appointment today. GP said my arm feels fatigued/puffy because I over used it and therefore strained it. She also wasn’t concerned about my leg, saying it’s probably strained from not stretching before exercising. Definitely not neurological, though I spent so many weeks worrying about this that I find it a little hard to accept that I’m probably fine. I need to work on this. And I need to stop googling symptoms. Thank you all for the support.
Hello Merope. Have you tried talking to an experienced therapist about your health anxiety? Seems like it could be helpful to gain professional support and develop coping strategies. Perhaps some help to uncover the roots of the anxiety? Be well
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Default Jan 18, 2019 at 01:21 AM
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Hello Merope. Have you tried talking to an experienced therapist about your health anxiety? Seems like it could be helpful to gain professional support and develop coping strategies. Perhaps some help to uncover the roots of the anxiety? Be well
I am currently in therapy and we started to explore it. My anxiety changes shape like an amoeba, so I think he expected it to become health related at some point. We’ve started working on it so hopefully i’ll calm down soon.
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Default Jan 18, 2019 at 03:30 AM
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You are a hypochondriac...it's perceived in your head that there is something seriously wrong with you when in fact, you did exercise and your body is naturally sore...you are wasting money and benefits by seeing the doctor.
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Default Jan 18, 2019 at 11:57 AM
  #13
I played racquetball with my right arm....last time I played was in the early 1990's. To this day my right arm muscle is larger than my left. I played every day & in competitions with high level players not just once in awhile.

Sometimes some things we do create that.

On another extreme, I blew our my ACL playing racquetball & needed knee reconstruction before it was done arthroscopically. My leg was in a cast for a month after the surgery. When the cast came off my leg had atrophied to skin & bone. Lots of PT for 6 months & I was downhill skiing with a brace but it took years of focused work for that leg to regain the muscle mass it lost. Can't tell the difference now (except for the huge scar).

Dedicated focus on the smaller muscle to develop it is the only way to counter that

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