Do I go to a&e or wait for GP tomorrow?

[TryingTheBestICan]

I went to my GP with what felt like nerve irritation in my arm/back this week. She's booked me in to see a physio. She's asked me to come back if it gets worse. Last night I woke up with an odd weak sensation in my leg on the same side. I'm scared and tearful as whilst I thought I had just slept funny and went back to sleep, it's is still there this morning. Weak and a tiny bit tingly. I am convinced there is something sinister going on. My gut feeling is screaming at me. Wwyd today?

111 would be able to give you the proper advice rather than on here - ring them and hope it all goes well

Any health worries on a weekend that you're not sure can wait for a GP - phone 111, it's literally what it's there for and they may direct to OOH GP rather than waiting in A&E

Agree, call 111 and see what they say. They might offer an ooh gp appointment or send you straight to a&e if they think it's serious.

How is the leg weak ? Can you explain ? Sounds like a nerve issue to me, so would agree with the others that you should ring 111.

I can't even explain the sensation. It's not numb. Have you ever had a really heavy weight session and your legs feel like jelly after with that weird weak sensation? It feels a bit like that but not as severe.

111 will just tell you to go to A&E anyway so I'd head straight there.

@TryingTheBestICan can you move it as normal ?

They are always cautious. They will hear limb weakness and their stroke radars will be pinging (I'm 99.99% sure it's not!). Will give them a call anyway in case they have an ooo appt.

Yes, but if I lay on my back and put both in the air the right one shakes

They won't- in my area anyway they might give an appointment with out of hours GP so you would end up not having to sit waiting for hours in A&E. Also the OOH GP is in a clinic next to A&E so can get referred straight there if GP thinks it's necessary

Does your GP not have an “out of hours” surgery? I would phone them and ask the receptionist to request a GP phone you back so at least you can speak to a human.

If you don’t know the number phone your GP’s usual number and an answerphone message will tell you how to contact out of hours GPs.

@TryingTheBestICan sounds like a nerve issue that's spread, especially if it's in the same side as your previous issue. But of course, ring 111, to make sure it isn't a stroke, but doesn't sound like it.

It could be a trapped nerve or an underlying issue with your nerves.

I don't think a trapped nerve would usually cause arm and leg weakness, my cheek feels odd also. I'm trying not to speculate. Just on hold to 111. I have a horrible sense of dread. I've been having panic attacks too. Just gate this horrid gut feeling.

You've done the right thing by calling 111, follow your instincts 💐

Seeking medical advice is the best thing, well done xx

if you even for a second question it could be serious, I wouldn’t take any risk and go to a&e. If it’s fine, there’s no harm done but if it’s serious at least you get to be seen asap. Sometimes medical conditions NEED to be treated as soon as possible - so please don’t risk it. I wish you all the best op x

I get this with migraines - a hemiplegic migraine. But it’s usually fairly short lived

Sounds like a trapped nerve. You probably need a physio. All the GP will do is say to rest it.

Trapped nerves do cause numbness, weakness, tingling etc but I think it would be unusual to have both arm and leg symptoms as that would be different nerves at the same time. Not impossible but seems strange.

Call 111 as they can direct you to the right place, also avoid triage potentially

Definitely get it checked out to rule out anything serious.

Any swelling or pain? The heavy weak feeling sounds similar to how I felt when I had a dvt - do you have any risk factors for blood clots?

It might well be nothing, but I think there's some more serious things that need to be ruled out.

Definitely call 111 and get this checked out, but try not to let the anxiety overwhelm you. It could even be the anxiety causing the symptoms - I’m not usually big on dismissing people’s symptoms as anxiety and it should only be done when other causes have been ruled out, but one of my big anxiety symptoms is numbness / tingling / weakness on my left side. This article might help, there are a lot of stroke “mimics” and FND is well explained here, it’s not just being hysterical and you deserve support with it but sometimes it helps me to know that there are lots of potential reasons for something and not all of them are a brain tumour, stroke, spinal tumour etc! Hope it turns out ok for you OP. www.stroke.org.uk/stroke/symptoms/mimics

111 cut off but have just spoken to my parent who is a GP and they've said go to GP tomorrow and ask for a neurological exam (he's abroad in case anyone is asking why I didn't hear from him sooner. He has no signal for days at a time as he's visiting a rural area!).

Something functional definitely crossed my mind. Thanks.

A sense of dread or impending doom is actually a symptom of a heart attack. Also heart attacks often present differently in women than men, maybe get it checked out ASAP and take some aspirin just in case