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Neurology (Expert Forum)
numb legs
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
numb legs
by MAXNROCKY, Mar 30, 2005 12:00AM
I am a 51yr old male w/hx of L4/5 & L5/S1 radiculopathy. I have had several nerve root injections and one just a few weeks ago for pain. The pain is now @ 0 but I am having daily increasing numbness. At first it was just my right medial calf and foot but now it is also in my left calf. It feels like something pressing against the back of my calf. MRI & CT are negative for disc and stenosis. I am having trouble walking (rt. foot drop) and have also recently noticed that I seem to walk with my toes "grabbing" in my shoes. Recently started with some hand twitching (usually at night or when I am at rest-Index w/Thumb & Little finger). Sorry for the long letter. Getting worried about progression of numbness and have thought about Parkinson's...? Thanks So Much!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Mar 31, 2005 12:00AM
I cannot give you a diagnosis with the limited information available - you should seek consultation with a neurologist to pursue a concrete diagnosis
Parkinsons usually present with tremor one side of the body (usually the hand), and/or stiffness, so this seems unlikely in your case and at your age
I cannot comment on the quality of the MRI and whether there still may be some nerve root comression causing the symptoms. Sometimes the nerves get trapped further away from the spinal cord out of view of the MRI - such as the sciatic nerve getting pinched in the piriformis muscle in the buttock area, or the peroneal nerve getting pinched at the knee.
In your case, an EMG and nerve conduction studies of the right leg is definitely indicated and may provide a diagnosis as you already have weakness in that leg (foot drop)
Alternatively (and the EMG may suggest this), a peripheral neuropathy can cause progressive numbess and the neurologist can do some screening tests for this if your history is suggestive of such
Good luck
Parkinsons usually present with tremor one side of the body (usually the hand), and/or stiffness, so this seems unlikely in your case and at your age
I cannot comment on the quality of the MRI and whether there still may be some nerve root comression causing the symptoms. Sometimes the nerves get trapped further away from the spinal cord out of view of the MRI - such as the sciatic nerve getting pinched in the piriformis muscle in the buttock area, or the peroneal nerve getting pinched at the knee.
In your case, an EMG and nerve conduction studies of the right leg is definitely indicated and may provide a diagnosis as you already have weakness in that leg (foot drop)
Alternatively (and the EMG may suggest this), a peripheral neuropathy can cause progressive numbess and the neurologist can do some screening tests for this if your history is suggestive of such
Good luck
i am taking 40 mg of elavil for it . it seems to have helped i still have problems with my feet after i have been walking on them for about 2 to 3 hours they start to feel like i dont have no bounce in them , there is no pain.. but latley i have been having trouble with my knees hurting when i bend down or walk up stairs or down stairs there is a aching feeling.. could this be some new neuropathy .. am i getting worse i am getting scared i am only 45 years old.
can it ever get any better well it get worse.. is this knee aching is it a sign of neuropathy or something else.. the pain seems to come from my joints knee caps ..
i am taking 40 mg of elavil for it . it seems to have helped i still have problems with my feet after i have been walking on them for about 2 to 3 hours they start to feel like i dont have no bounce in them , there is no pain.. but latley i have been having trouble with my knees hurting when i bend down or walk up stairs or down stairs there is a aching feeling.. could this be some new neuropathy .. am i getting worse i am getting scared i am only 45 years old.
can it ever get any better well it get worse.. is this knee aching is it a sign of neuropathy or something else.. the pain seems to come from my joints knee caps ..