Muscle Atrophy

[4happygnomes]

Hello, still in limbo...used to be a runner/avid exerciser before the first incident back in May happened which resulted in numerous ongoing symptoms...and as a result, have done little to no exercise up until now.  I'm starting out at a snail's pace on a stationary bike and treadmill, going slow and not for very long, which prior to all this would have been a warm up to a real work out.  This is beyond frustrating and depressing!  But what I have noticed over the past couple of months is that my left leg (which is the problematic leg with all the symptoms) appears to be thinner than my right,  which I assume is a result of muscle atrophy?  Since I haven't "worked out" either leg  equally, wouldn't they both be diminishing at the same rate?  Or, if this is MS and my left side is the side that is being affected, is this considered "normal"?    Anyone else experience something similar?    Thanks!

[4happygnomes]

Thanks for that info, my left leg is smaller enough from the right for my husband to notice when I'm wearing jeans (it's not as filled out on that side as the "good" side) and measurements seem to correlate with that (not a huge difference, but a difference none the less)....my left foot is also thinner in appearance.  And now, I am experiencing the muscle twitches on the left side...right now it has been going on since about 4am....  The Neuro poo pooed my concern about the twitching, but I seriously doubt all these symptoms are not part of the bigger picture of whatever it is I have going on with me.

[aspen2]

I have a similar issue, and it's documented because before my limbo journey started I signed up with myfitnesspal.  Part of the sign up was measurements.  I recorded both sides initially and my right calf was larger (dominant).

After two significant right side weakness events totalling 12 weeks, my right calf looked smaller.  I found my original measurements to confirm it.

PT said disuse atrophy, although I was also sent for EMG because of fasciculations.  No ALS or other mimics there.

So yes, if you've experienced severe weakness it can happen.  It is not significant (couple of cm for me) and others wouldn't notice it (not wasting).

Btw, I also have a cold right side when the weather is cool, or if I hit cold a/c in the summer.  Arm and hand are worse than leg though.  Weird.

[4happygnomes]

Hi, my left leg/foot is always the one that feels cold as well!  I had the nerve conduction test done only on the left and those results were "normal", I kinda wish the neuro would have done both legs as a comparison.  Hindsight!  I too had a lumbar MRI with hopes that it would shed some light on what is going on, that too revealed nothing.  I hope your appointment tomorrow goes well and you are closer to getting answers.  Hard to watch and feel our bodies change and have little to no control over it!  

[cuttersmom]

It's funny that you ask that. I have a significant difference in my legs, right side being weaker and smaller. I know it was never like that. When I do leg presses I will always do more with just my right leg, but that hasn't made a difference. Do you notice the smaller leg being colder than the other? My right leg and foot becomes like ice even with socks on. So uncomfortable!

I finally brought it up to the neuro and he is sending me for a lumbar MRI on wed to see if there is something going on there.

[4happygnomes]

Thank you both for the response!  Perhaps the difference has  always been there and I am just more conscious of what is going on with my body because I'm dealing with so many new symptoms of the unknown!  I am having a nerve conduction test next week, it will be interesting to see if the left leg comes up weaker than the right!  

[supermum_ms]

I'm thinking along the same lines as Kyle......... there are basically only two types of muscle atrophy, disuse and neurogenic, though keep in mind that the most common type of muscle atrophy is from disuse, and muscles on the dominant side, are normally slightly bigger and stronger than the non dominant.

Body builders and strength trainers with larger muscle definition often see this more clearly than other people,  so in general, slightly unequal muscle definition and strength is not necessarily abnormal. Depending on the amount of atrophy, it could be within normal expectations, because it is typical to favour and use your dominant side or when there's been an injury, to favour the uninjured limb and to loose some muscle definition and strength from injury disuse.

If you are really concerned about neurogenic atrophy, it would probably help to take clear measurements and keep notes now that your moving again, so your doctor can see the discrepancy becoming more significantly noticeable over time......

Cheers..........JJ  

[kwarendorf]

Hi 4HG -

MS does not cause the kind of atrophy you describe at the pace you mentioned. 5 months of inactivity will not likely cause noticible atrophy, MS or otherwise. I'm not a doc, but I have gone without exercise for 5 months and was not aware of any muscle wasting.

Regardless of what has changed your "normal", it has changed. To expect to return to the old normal, may lead to frustration. I once walked in Marathons. I can't do that anymore. I can still walk though. So I walk as much as my new normal will allow. Thinking I will walk another marathon would just set me up for failure :-)

Kyle

[Theresalp]

i will be curious to see what responses you get. I have 1 leg (calf) that is bigger than the other also,