Numbness from the waist down

[RickyMalin]

Hello there,

I have been reading over and doing some research on the net to find answers or people with answers who have experienced the same issue that i have at the minute.

I am Male, 27 years old and an active person.

From Wednesday (2nd April 08) i have had a numbness sensation from my waist down to my feet, and this includes all areas..
It started off with a slight pins and needles feeling in my legs, but has gradually began to get worse.
I went to my Doctor last friday the 5th April who examined me and came to the conclusion that i have a trapped nerve. And that was it - he sent me on my way and said give it a few days.
I didn't believe that a trapped nerve could cause so much uncomfort!

I have a history of blood clotting due to a blood disorder which i was diagnosed with some years back ( Factor V Leiden Mutation ) I was prescribed Warfarin which i took for a while until the Doctor said i didnt need to carry on taking them, i havent taken Warfarin for roughly 6 or 7 years now.
My last complaints of anything similar to this would have been about 4 or 5 years ago when i had a slight numbness sensation like i do now, only it wasnt half as bad and only lasted for a day and i didnt go to the dr.

I went to my hospital on Monday of my own accord and after a 3 hour wait and 30 minute of being poked with a pin the Dr was baffled - Doesnt know what's causing this, told me to Monitor myself for a week and if symptoms persist to go see my GP who will refer me to a neurologist.
He did say however should i start to get any pains in my legs or impaired vision of any sort then i should go back to casualty.

I called my Dr the next day and made another Appt, re-examination and he came to the conclusion that it's not a trapped nerve, he took blood samples which i am currently waiting results, he also mentioned that the hospital should have performed an MRI scan ( What is this for?? )

This whole experience is frightening and no one seems to have any answers, i "may" need to be referred to a neurologist if the symptoms dont go away.. even if they do i want to know why they came and how to prevent them in the future!!

If anyone has experienced anything similar and has any answers i would be most grateful.

Many thanks
Ricky

[Ohboy813]

Hello Ricky
I hope this note finds you well I have been reading about my problem going numb from the wast down I am a American and have the S1 L5 nerve damaged it only happens when I walk I have found other problems with me tring to find out what's making my lower half go numb after reading a lot about this I have decided it must be the S1 L5 pinching the nerve I am no doctor but I'm no dummy either hope you get some help as I'm learning about this condition now I am dealing with it myself

[texaswildbabe1]

I HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO ME WHENEVER I STAND IN ONE SPOT TOO LONG OR IN A SEMI- CONFINED PLACE LIKE THE KITCHEN. I DON'T NOTICE THAT IT IS HAPPENING UNTIL I GO TO MOVE MY LEGS. I FEEL NOTHING FROM MY WAIST DOWN. I HAVE TOLD DOCTORS OVER AND OVER, AND THEY IMPLY IT'S ALL IN MY MIND. ONE TIME I WAS STANDING AT THE BATHROOM SINK TOO LONG AND I COULDN'T MOVE MY LEGS. I HAD TO HOLD ON TO SOMETHING ON BOTH SIDES OF ME AND DRAG MYSELF TO A COUCH, WHICH I JUST FELL HALFWAY ON. I HATE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR SO I'M CERTAINLY NOT A HYPOCONDRIAC. BUT THAT'S HOW I'VE BEEN TREATED AND I'VE GOTTEN NO ANSWERS OR HELP.

[kwarendorf]

Hi Rhonda -

Welcome to our little group.I just want to point out that the thread to which you posted is over 4 years old. RickyMalin may still be around but I don't remember seeing that name in the last year.

You may want to post your question/thoughts in a new thread. Just click on the Post New Question on the top of the first page.

Kyle

[Rhonda1965]

I am experiencing the same symptoms, but ive always had really thin blood, no history of blood clots or anything... bout 4 months ago i started experiencing the numbness, now its alot of numbness and pressure is out of this world in my knees...feels like knee caps are gonna pop out any minute. feet feel like im walking on marbles.... at times crushed glass...went to chiropractor last week for first time... said my pelvic is way out of alignment and threw out the rest of my body , causing nerves to be pinched.... im hoping he can fix this .... its so not fun

[santana8]

Well, it's good to know that you have some answers now at least!  We still want you to join us here on the forum, we are like family you know!  Hope everything continues to go well for you in the future.

Your friend
~Santana~

[RickyMalin]

Sorry for not writing back in a while my internet has been off.

Anyway i went for the results and all was clear(ish)
The only explanation i got for the numbness was due to damage to my lower spine and there is nothing really anyone can do about it. Still a bit numb around the waist, not really in the legs any more, get the slightest of back pains every now and again but nothing that a pain killer doesnt fix.
Still not sure if this is the cause but the MRI was taken off the brain, spine and neck? And thats all that was found - Doctor basically said it was somethign typical of a pensioners spine.. nice that i now know i'll have back problems in the future!

Thanks to everyone who kept posting and encouraging me to get this checked out.

I'll be popping in every now and again to say hello and see if there is anyone that i can encourage in the future :)

[santana8]

My fingers are crossed,  I will be looking for your update on the results!!!!!!!!

Friends,
~ Santana~

[RickyMalin]

Going for the results, the consultant has called for me and i made my appt on Wed, fingers crossed!

[jensequitur]

Ricky, they didn't give you a report of any kind with the MRI, did they?  You've just got the films?  

[santana8]

Ok!  Will do, and then I will get back to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~Santana~

[RickyMalin]

Read over the thread, everything is in there and i dont fancy typing it all out again lol
Still no report from the MRI thats been a few weeks now, private healthcare means nothing.

[santana8]

It has been so long I have forgotten exactly what you are waiting for, lol!!!!  NO, I am serious, I did forget, so would you mind refreshing my memory of what is happening with you now?  I have been wondering, but there are so many on here to keep up with, sometimes it is hard to keep up with everyone!

~Santana~

[wonko]

Wow, looking at the dates on this, you have been waiting such a long time!  I hope you and your GP can work out this snag!  I hope symptom-wise you are feeling better and/or getting some treatment.

Good luck!

[RickyMalin]

Still waiting... i have rang and rang several hundred times and keep getting told they will be ready in a couple of days.. i'm gettin fed up waiting!! Even have my own GP on the phone to the clinic everyday asking where the heck the report is!

Thanks everyone for being patient cause im not !! lol
Ricky

[sllowe]

I'm w/Kathy - what did they say RMalin?

Welcome Snowy, feel free to put up a post if you feel comfortable doing so! We're glad to have you!

-SL

[Fluffysmom]

OK, it's June 14; when is your follow-up appt.?  Do you have your MRI reports back yet?  There are a lot of us here waiting to see how you are doing.

So, please let us know when you have the time!  

I'm hoping for good news, clear answers.  

Best of luck,

Kathy

[Snowdrop68]

Been following your story and got a bit hooked so have now 'joined' as I dont want to miss how you get on.

I hope it goes well for you - please keep the updates coming and good luck with the results.

Snowy

[RickyMalin]

Got the MRI Films back today - was having a laugh looking at them although i've no idea what to look for - Just waiting on Appt to go and get the results, will need to ring the Dr on Monday. My Brain is HUGE :D

[RickyMalin]

Yes three scans, i was in the thing for an hour nearly :(

Specialist was superb - im glad i got referred to him, he really seems to know what hes talking about!

I'll keep you all updated.

[sllowe]

Welcome back!

I'm so glad they finally sent you for the MRI.  What was it for Brain, C- and T-spine?  Lumbar too?

How was your specialist? Did you like him? Did he run labs again?

Do tell.....

hang in there,
SL

[santana8]

Hi, I was wondering where you went! I am glad that you are finally getting at least some answers now! keep us updated on the MRI and everything!

Santana

[RickyMalin]

Well, been a month on and at last i got to see a specialist who has ruled out that the disc space narrowing has nothign to do with this at all. He sent me for an MRI yesterday, i'll have to wait on the results which will be about a week.

[RickyMalin]

Update!

Well guys, i don't think this is as bad as we first thought - infact going by what my Dr said and thinks, it's not even close!!

Apparently the Xray i had on my lower spine showed some sort of Disc narrowing, the report said - Disc space narrowing at L5/S1, lumbar vertebrae seem normal.. My Dr thinks this is causing my lower body to go numb although i wondered why the heck is there no back pain then?? UNTIL TONIGHT, i was sitting on my pc chair and after about an hour i started to get a pain in my lower back and bum! How weird? Or is my mind tellign me that now lol!
I have been referred at last to my private health clinic to an osteotherapist i think they are called, first appt is on the 14th May - couple of weeks away however if i didnt go private i would be waiting Months on the National Health!

Hopefully this is what the problem is and i can get it sorted!

speak soon!
Ricky

[santana8]

I know you already know that I too tested positive this week for the Factor V Leiden mutation. As I told you in the PM they said I only had one copy of the gene and only a slight defect. They put me on one 81mg baby asprin a day and that is all. My nephew who also has this is on coumodin and they told him he would be on it for the rest of his life. What is the difference in the treatment for different people?  How do they decide what reatment  you need? My neuro sent for the results from the Hematologist and he still says that he dosen't think that this has anything to do with the 10 white matter lesions that showed up on MRI two years ago. I picked up on something you said above. You said that they told  you if you had any pain in your legs or sudden vision changes to come in right away. I had sudden vision changes two years ago when all of this started. I wonder if this was related to having this blood clotting disorder. And if not how can my neuro be so sure? Does anyone know how he can be so sure about this? This is crazy that these doctors act like they don't have a clue what is going on. When I go back to my Hematologist to get the full explaination of the test results I am going to take along a healthy list of questions to ask him about all of this. I am tired of not getting any anwers and I am about aggravated enough to tell all of my doctors this!  I feel that two years is a little to long to keep someone just waiting and watching for the next possible clue. I mean are they not suposed to be specialist? I don't get it!

Santana