What is it - leg pain, numbness, can't walk - depression?

[dendav]

Hi,

My 57-year old mother has been in the hospital/rehab for 16 days.   She has RA, fibromyalgia and spinal stenosis (which was just diagnosed about a month ago).  She went in by ambulance in severe pain from the buttocks down, pins & needles, numbness and unable to walk (she wet herself that night too).  Initially, they thought she had a herinated disc and did an MRI which did not show that.  They let days go by before doing a EMG which was fine, but the technician said it can take awhile to show any damage.  Then they did a contrast MRI which they said was fine.  They don't think it's any of the conditions she has that I mentioned above.   They said she has a little of all that, but not enough to cause these symptoms?? They moved her to a rehab center because nothing was life threatening.  Since there they have been doing pt but she is not able to walk - she says she has no balance and feels like she'll fall any which way.  They had her on 40mg pregnosone and she felt some improvement - now they've reduced it and she feels pain again and has trouble lifting her legs onto the bed.  At the rehab center, they're telling me there could be a pyschological element - she has had low level depression for years.  They're saying she may have to go home...she can not walk.  Could depression cause this or is it not well diagnosed spinal stenosis?  She's scheduled for a cervical MRI in 12 days - I think it should be sooner.  Any help would be appreciated.

[Bmarnold1]

My mom is going through the exact same thing! What did it end up being?

[txsilver]

I am you are having to go through this with your mom.  I wish I could provide some insight, but since I can't, I am responding to give this post a bump back to the top.  
I commend you for your research online.  The draw back to investigating things online is you can end up scaring yourself unnecessarily so don't get too worked up by anything you read.  
I would like to suggest that you see what can be done to move up the MRI appt.  Asking the facility directly can result in at least being called if there is a cancelation.  Sometimes throwing a fit helps, sometimes it doesn't.
Hang in there and let us know what you find out.