Hi so sorry to hear your having this problem :( I have had a similar problem for going on two years in my right shoulder. Very intense burning like someone is sticking hot knives in my shoulder and twisting them (actually its more like shoulder blade area/ back underneath my shoulder). You said its down your arm and leg my question is is it a shooting pain? Because I know when I get these pains in my shoulder (one tends to bother me more than the other) the pain and burning is so intense it tends to sort of spreaddown my arm and back. These are just plain Fibro pains. I also experience more of a nerve type pain that could be described as "shooting" down the lower back/hips to legs for which my neurologist ordered MRIs to check for nerve damage and things like sciatica. Was wondering if it was more of these types of pain that you were feeling. If so it might not hurt to see a neurologist if you can to assess for any kind of nerve damage.
Also have you checked in with your doctor about your pending referral to see a rhemo? It may have been demurely insurance which case you will have to follow up and reapply. That may be why you haven't heard back yet? Or he may have simply just forgot! In any case all it takes is a phone call to find out :)
I suffer from anxiety attacks too and I know that sometimes when the pain gets very intense I get very anxious and worked up so its important to try to relax, I know you said your not sleeping and are very stressed out. I understand how hard it is. Do whatever you can to take care of yourself and take time to relax.
Lastly if you get to a point where you just can't take it anymore they may be able to give you something at the ER to give you some relief for a short period of time, but you will have to follow up with your doctor. They may do some tests as well but its hard to say exactly what they would do for you.
Hope you feel better and get some answers soon and don't ever be afraid to post anything here! :)

Sorry, using my phone, meant to say "may have been ~denied by~ insurance in which case you will have to follow up and reapply " stupid automatic correction!

Thanks for answering. I am using a heating pad and it seems to be helping. I get dull type pains most of the time. No shooting ones though. I am gonna call on Monday and see what is going on. I have some xanax. I was thinking of taking a small dose for tonight it will help with my anxiety anyway. I am currently taking .5 of those and I am thinking of taking a half of one to see if that will help me sleep away. I need to figure out if my kids will be ok in the am with out me they are teens but yeah I never really leave them alone. My hubby has dialysis in the morning and won't be home until after 3 pm and he really isn't feeling all that great afterwards. So we will see.

Nerve Pain is not Typically Helped by Heat..Nerves Hate Heat, this is why our Bodys Ache so bad when we have a Virus, they get real Active and Stimulate the Muscles...

My Thought is...with your Stress levels, Your Muscles are Tight, Pressing on Nerves...or Starving them..I would Do WHATEVER I Had to Do to Relieve the Affects of the Stress.

The Last Thing ya wanna do if you have Severe Anxiety Attacks is "Stay in the Moment"...Get OUT of the House...go for a Walk...Focus on Breathing..Get some Good Oxygen to your Body...Alot of us Tend to HOLD our Breath when Anxiety Hits...DON"T Do That !

Do some Very Light Stretches...NOT To The Point where it makes Anything Burn...Just a Good Pull on Tight Muscles..Make SURE To Breath.

One Real Good Stretch is to "Give Your self a Hug"..Wrap Your Arms as Tight around you as You Can...BREATH In Thru Your Nose...Out Completely Thru Your Mouth..Exhaling As Much as You Can...Nice Deep Breath back in All The way to Your Belly Button..Do this for a Good 30 Seconds...

Roll Your Shoulders..Hold Up towards Your Ears...Hold 10 seconds...Push Back as Tho Trying to Touch Your Shoulder Blades to Each other...HOLD..Push Down as If trying to Reach Something without Bending at All...Hold..Roll Forwards as Tho Shoulders are trying to Touch in the Front...HOLD. Do These Several times...Several Times a Day..

Head Rolls...I Only Do Side and Front Rolls...I Never let my head Roll back..start on one side...Slowly roll to the Front...then to the other side...do this several times...Eyes Closed...Breath...Relax.


If You are Like the Majority of Us...When You get Stressed, You Either Shallow Breath, or Hold Your Breath Completely..or You Sit...and Allow the Adrenaline to Wash Thru..Do Not Do This !!

Adrenaline Needs to be Worked OUT of the Body...It sits there...Your Arms/Legs will Feel like lead after awhile..Heavy..Making You More Prone to yet Another Attack..Once You get Your Breathing Regulated...WALK...Get Active...Burn that Adrenaline OUT.

Give Yourself "Breaks" from Your Worries"..You will be More Effective in Handing a Stressful situation If Your Body is Calm.

Only Use Heat for about 15 Minutes at a Time...Localize it with a Heating pad..or Heat Wrap..

Light Stretches, While Deep Breathing...Break from the Stresses...Positive Thoughts...let those Muscles Relax.

Hydrate WELL while Stressed..Stress is Very Hard on the Guts. Get Control of It. Eat Well While going thru Stresses...Stress Depletes Vitamins...lowers the Immune System.

If During High Anxiety Times you get either Diarrhea or Constipation this is a Signal to You that You Really Need to Do Something NOW..If it Happens Alot..Make SURE You Get Your Electrolytes Replaced.

Calm Your Body and You will be Much More Apt to Handle the Stresses you Face.

My psychiatrist actually prescribed me an antihistimine, Vistaril, for my anxiety attacks. They are safe enough to take as many times a day as you feel you need them. I also take two at night and sleep like a baby. Its great because its non narcotic and has a lower chance for addiction. I also take Tramadol for the pain, which is also non narcotic but can still be addictive, so you have to be careful about that. I also use heat which helps as long as the heat is on it, but as soon as I take the heat off it, it hurts again. You could try some stretching exercises, but as the previous post says, only stretch until it begins to hurt, don't stretch further than that. And breathing exercises are good. I wish you luck and hope you get in to see a rumy soon, who will hopefully refer you to a pain specialist. Be well.