Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Progressive painless limp
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
Progressive painless limp
by trishpm, Jun 23, 2005 12:00AM
I am a 58-year old woman with a painless progressive limp and weakness, left leg, and some numbness in my middle toes. I have scoliosis, 28 degree curve to the side, with mild left side impingement at L4/5, and Tarlov cysts, according to an MRI. The orthopedic spine specialist specialist thinks the scoliosis is not bad enough to treat. I am concerned the the limp is getting worse; I am having trouble climbing stairs and have fallen a couple of times recently for no identifiable reason--tripped over my own feet. The limp became apparent to casual acquaintances about a year ago; my mother-in-law insits I had it a year before that, but I was not aware of it then. I have always been very active, and enjoyed walking but in the last few months I cannot keep up with companions, and have begun to fain weight, I think due to inactivity. I do water exercises daily, but the progression continues. Would a neurologist or neurosurgeon be able to help me, or should I wait another six months as the ortho doc advised? I am afraid that I will be much worse in six months.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
Any focal neurological abnormality should be evaluated as soon as possible by a neurologist. I would advise that you seek a consulatation sooner rather than later. While there are non-neurological causes of a limp in one leg (ie muskuloskeletal), if actual muscle weakness is present this may mean the nerves to that leg have a problem
there are several possibilities and you would need to be evaluated based on your neurological examination - I cannot tell from your history whether this could be from the brain or from the spinal cord or a peripheral nerve. If a peripheral nerve problem is suspected by the exam, an EMG and nerve conduction studies should be done to look for pinched nerves or nerve degeneration/damage. If a brain disorder is suspected then a brain MRI scan would be needed.
Good luck
there are several possibilities and you would need to be evaluated based on your neurological examination - I cannot tell from your history whether this could be from the brain or from the spinal cord or a peripheral nerve. If a peripheral nerve problem is suspected by the exam, an EMG and nerve conduction studies should be done to look for pinched nerves or nerve degeneration/damage. If a brain disorder is suspected then a brain MRI scan would be needed.
Good luck
The pain went away after a few days, but the limp and inability to walk on my right heel remained. It got so I didn't notice the limp, but I was always aware of not being able to walk from heel to toe on my right leg (after the pruning incident).
My question to you is, Have you had an MRI and/or EMG test?
My EMG test showed active degeneration changes in the left leg, which the neurologist said, in his opinion, would regenerate.
My right leg still gets weak after I have walked on it a while; also, I still limp. I hope you will get lots of "second opinions" to find out what is happening - or what is causing your limp. Good luck!