Pain and panic attacks

Tiatruffle49

Hi I'm new here I'm a 49 year old woman who has stenosis of thd spine and spondylolisthesis osteoporosis and already had one op and has got to have another I have no nerve reflex in my right leg and not a lot of feeling... I'm suffering with fibromyalgia and bad depression anxiety and panic attacks and some days cos the pain is so bad the panic attacks are there I don't even move out of my bed ..anyone else feel like that??

Ami2301

Hi @Tiatruffle49 welcome to the community!

Sorry to hear what you've been going through. You're not alone as many members of the community suffer with the same conditions as yourself and I'm sure they will be more than happy to get in contact with you to offer support.

Please let us know if there is anything that we can help you with!

Tiatruffle49

Thanku... Yes having a physiotherapist who thinks everything is in my head and says my knee xrays are fine and I don't have arthritis but mydr told me I had as well as all my bk problems. 

Pippa_Alumni

Hi @Tiatruffle49, and a warm welcome to the community! Great to have you here.

Thanks for sharing this with us, and I'm so sorry to hear about your pain and mental health issues. It must be really tough to deal with them both at the same time. I wonder if there's anything your GP can do to support you, have you spoken to them about these issues?

Sam_Alumni

Hi @Tiatruffle49

I am sorry you are having a tough time with panic attacks, MIND has some great resources on Panic Attacks that might be useful?

What helps to manage panic attacks?
Panic attacks can be frightening, but there are things you can do to help yourself cope. It could help to keep print these tips out and keep them somewhere easy to find.
During a panic attack:

• Focus on your breathing. It can help to concentrate on breathing slowly in and out while counting to five.

• Stamp on the spot. Some people find this helps control their breathing.

• Focus on your senses. For example, taste mint-flavoured sweets or gum, or touch or cuddle something soft.

• Try grounding techniques. Grounding techniques can help you feel more in control. They're especially useful if you experience dissociation during panic attacks. (See our page on self-care for dissociative disorders for more information on grounding techniques.)

After a panic attack:

• Think about self-care. It's important to pay attention to what your body needs after you've had a panic attack. For example, you might need to rest somewhere quietly, or eat or drink something.

• Tell someone you trust. If you feel able to, it could help to let someone know you've had a panic attack. It could be particularly helpful to mention how they might notice if you're having another one, and how you'd like them to help you.

(See our pages on self-care for anxiety and treatments for anxiety for more information on what could help.)
Read Hannah's blog about how she's coped with panic attacks and social anxiety.