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)
My legs give out on me
Answered by
Joanna Fong, MD - Stroke/NICU, multiple sclerosis, sleep, EEG, General Neurology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland - OH
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
My legs give out on me
by tgb1010, Jun 25, 2007 12:00AM
I am a 29 year old that has always been healthy. I was diagnosed with Graves Disease about 2 years ago but I have been treated and continue to see a doctor every 6 months or so and my levels have always been normal. Recently over the last month I have been getting up and my legs give out on me. This has happened 4 times in the last month. 3 of the times I was sitting and I get up and just fall down. I know the last time it just felt like my legs were asleep. One time, I got out of bed and just collapsed (in the middle of the night) I dont remember my legs feeling tingly. I also get up and kind of black out. I have never completely blacked out but have to stop for 10-30 seconds until things clear back up. What could this be?
Doctor's Answer
by Joanna Fong, MD, Oct 22, 2007 02:02PM
, Oct 22, 2007 02:02PM
To: tgb1010
Hi tgb1010,
Your episodic symptoms can be due to several things:
1) Presyncopal/Syncopal episodes due to orthostatic hypotension
2) Presyncopal/Syncopal episodes due to vasovegal response
3) Presyncopal/Syncopal episodes due to POTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome)
3) Peripheral nerve compression in legs (nocturnal)
Other less likely causes:
1) Multiple scleorsis
2) Stroke or TIA
3) Hypoglycemia
Syncope is a sudden, brief loss of consciousness associated with loss of postural tone from which recovery is spontaneous.
Syncope that occurs with postural change may be related to an abrupt drop in blood pressure. Orthostatic hypotension can result from volume depletion (hemorrhage or dehydration), pregnancy (venous pooling), anemia, and medications that alter vasomotor tone and heart rate such as calcium channel blockers, vasodilators, phenothiazines, and diuretics.
Vasovagal syncope (also known as neurocardiogenic, reflex, or situational syncope, and common fainting) typical clinical features are a precipitating event and a prodrome:
Precipitating events include standing or stress (physical or emotional), although reflex precipitants (such as swallowing, hairgrooming, and micturition) have been reported.
Patients typically describe a prodrome, which may include lightheadedness, dizziness, visual changes (decrease acuity, tunnel vision, or double vision), nausea, pallor, and diaphoresis.
The underlying mechanism for the syncopal episode is an exaggeration of reflex-mediated alterations in vasomotor tone and heart rate normally responsible for maintaining blood pressure.
POTS: Symptomatic falls in blood pressure after standing or eating are a frequent clinical problem, particularly in the elderly. The symptoms are often due to cerebral hypoperfusion and include generalized weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, visual blurring or darkening of the visual fields, and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness. Some patients may have slightly elevated blood pressure. The hallmark of this disorder is an exaggerated heart rate increase in response to postural change. This disorder has been called the postural tachycardia syndrome or POTS.
Hypoglycemia — outside of the insulin-dependent diabetic it is an uncommon cause of syncope.
Stroke, TIA, Multiple Sclerosis - all have present with tingling/numbness sensation and weakness of legs. TIA and multiple sclerosis can have an episodic pattern. Stroke, however, have more persistent symptoms that are not episodic.
If your symptoms fits more of orthostaic hypotension, treatment is fluid hydration. For other causes, it's best to seek recommendations from a neurologist. Neuroimaging studies (e.g. MRI brain) can help to diagnosis other diseases such as stroke, TIA, multiple sclerosis.
Good luck.
THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL MEDICAL EDUCATION PURPOSE ONLY. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR PHYSICIAN FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT OPTIONS OF YOUR SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
Your episodic symptoms can be due to several things:
1) Presyncopal/Syncopal episodes due to orthostatic hypotension
2) Presyncopal/Syncopal episodes due to vasovegal response
3) Presyncopal/Syncopal episodes due to POTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome)
3) Peripheral nerve compression in legs (nocturnal)
Other less likely causes:
1) Multiple scleorsis
2) Stroke or TIA
3) Hypoglycemia
Syncope is a sudden, brief loss of consciousness associated with loss of postural tone from which recovery is spontaneous.
Syncope that occurs with postural change may be related to an abrupt drop in blood pressure. Orthostatic hypotension can result from volume depletion (hemorrhage or dehydration), pregnancy (venous pooling), anemia, and medications that alter vasomotor tone and heart rate such as calcium channel blockers, vasodilators, phenothiazines, and diuretics.
Vasovagal syncope (also known as neurocardiogenic, reflex, or situational syncope, and common fainting) typical clinical features are a precipitating event and a prodrome:
Precipitating events include standing or stress (physical or emotional), although reflex precipitants (such as swallowing, hairgrooming, and micturition) have been reported.
Patients typically describe a prodrome, which may include lightheadedness, dizziness, visual changes (decrease acuity, tunnel vision, or double vision), nausea, pallor, and diaphoresis.
The underlying mechanism for the syncopal episode is an exaggeration of reflex-mediated alterations in vasomotor tone and heart rate normally responsible for maintaining blood pressure.
POTS: Symptomatic falls in blood pressure after standing or eating are a frequent clinical problem, particularly in the elderly. The symptoms are often due to cerebral hypoperfusion and include generalized weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, visual blurring or darkening of the visual fields, and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness. Some patients may have slightly elevated blood pressure. The hallmark of this disorder is an exaggerated heart rate increase in response to postural change. This disorder has been called the postural tachycardia syndrome or POTS.
Hypoglycemia — outside of the insulin-dependent diabetic it is an uncommon cause of syncope.
Stroke, TIA, Multiple Sclerosis - all have present with tingling/numbness sensation and weakness of legs. TIA and multiple sclerosis can have an episodic pattern. Stroke, however, have more persistent symptoms that are not episodic.
If your symptoms fits more of orthostaic hypotension, treatment is fluid hydration. For other causes, it's best to seek recommendations from a neurologist. Neuroimaging studies (e.g. MRI brain) can help to diagnosis other diseases such as stroke, TIA, multiple sclerosis.
Good luck.
THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL MEDICAL EDUCATION PURPOSE ONLY. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR PHYSICIAN FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT OPTIONS OF YOUR SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
I had my legs go numb,had electric shocks, had burning.
had my leg feel like jello and gave out on me.walked with a cane
last year
I later found out it was late stage of neurologic lyme disease.
many dumb Dr.'s misdiagnosed me for YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE get checked through Igenex lab in CA.
or MDL lab in NJ
NOT QUEST...
wake up people this is a serious problem
and doctors are down playing this disease! insurance Companies
don't wanna pay long time meds.
It took IV of Rocephin for 3 months ( it's hard on Gallbladder)
had Clarthmycin & Doxy now Mino, Plaqinal,Mepron switched on
and off for 13 months.I walk much better, I had it BAD!
it takes time.so hang tuff
Lyme Disease is wide spread through out USA and UK
it is more so in the Eastcoast.
please check out Lymedisease.net
all the sites read peoples stories
everyone has different symtoms but same disease.
I have gone misdiagnosed for 8 years.
no rash no bulls eye,I dragged my leg and my brain is foggy,
it hit me after my back fusion surgery
so this was in my body and a trauma set it off.
my eyes had floaters
my ears were TOO sensitive my eyes too.
I cough ALOT
my headaches and joint pains are better and my balance is better
I walk at a faster gate then before.
I still can't run
I walk upstairs slowly but better then before.
kneecaps stll hurt abit still.
My anixety and beating heart is better,
I cry less my moods are better
my groin pain is gone,
I'm not constipated as before (acidilphilus helps everyday)
My memorie and writing is still not great.
the electric shock down my legs & burning in hands are gone.
my ankles are numb and toes too, but lessen up abit
my right side is worse then left but leg numbness isn't like it was.
all because of antibiotics and time.
find a GOOD Infectious disease Dr. even if you must travel.
some come to a Dr. in Hyde Park NY. from UK.
AND A SPINAL TAP does not show up signs of lyme
you can lose your mind,your emotions, your muscles
it can effect your heart,joints,GI tract, eyes, brain
Central nervous system,.ears,sinus,headaches, feel SO Tired
I have had MRI's showing spinal lessions, brain MRI the same though now they don't see them
I had CT scans of chest,eye nerve sensor test showing optic nerve damage. nerve sensor test EMG's of brain and legs