Aa
A related discussion, Foot pain,lightheadedness and knees giving way was started.
Hi,
I'm so glad I'm not the only one with this trouble. Almost 2 years ago I was hit in the head with a 2 foot by 3 foot mirror and went through a number of test and therepy, during this time I started getting hand tremors then it went to my legs and some times my tongue, my hands, fingers, feet legs, lips are numb at times my neurologist told me I was having panic attacks but I never have that fight or flee feeling, I just can't move, my white blood count is slightly high. He has put me on zoloft once a day and zanax if I feel stressed out and I take mirapex at night. Just wish someone could tell me what is wrong with me. He restarted all the test over again, MRI with dye on friday another MRI on Monday with no dye, EEG and VEP to be done along with more blood test. I have been to other doctors one said it sounded like seizures but with the white blood count level high he was thinking lupus, went to a rheumatologist and he said it's not lupus and sent me back to the neurologist. This has so changed my life, I have missed days off from work, either because I was too dizzy to even stand to get dressed or I had no feeling below my knees and couldn't walk and being tired OMG, I can sleep 12 hours and still feel like I haven't slept all night. I have also have had a sleep apnea test done which came back normal. I really in my heart of hearts do not believe these are panic attacks, I have a sister who has them and they are no way similar to what happens to me. I do have to say the zoloft has help me emotionally though, even if the other symptoms are there it does help deal with them I guess.
Jadey
I'm so glad I'm not the only one with this trouble. Almost 2 years ago I was hit in the head with a 2 foot by 3 foot mirror and went through a number of test and therepy, during this time I started getting hand tremors then it went to my legs and some times my tongue, my hands, fingers, feet legs, lips are numb at times my neurologist told me I was having panic attacks but I never have that fight or flee feeling, I just can't move, my white blood count is slightly high. He has put me on zoloft once a day and zanax if I feel stressed out and I take mirapex at night. Just wish someone could tell me what is wrong with me. He restarted all the test over again, MRI with dye on friday another MRI on Monday with no dye, EEG and VEP to be done along with more blood test. I have been to other doctors one said it sounded like seizures but with the white blood count level high he was thinking lupus, went to a rheumatologist and he said it's not lupus and sent me back to the neurologist. This has so changed my life, I have missed days off from work, either because I was too dizzy to even stand to get dressed or I had no feeling below my knees and couldn't walk and being tired OMG, I can sleep 12 hours and still feel like I haven't slept all night. I have also have had a sleep apnea test done which came back normal. I really in my heart of hearts do not believe these are panic attacks, I have a sister who has them and they are no way similar to what happens to me. I do have to say the zoloft has help me emotionally though, even if the other symptoms are there it does help deal with them I guess.
Jadey
I am astonished as I read your list of signs and symptoms!!!! You have described so many sensory items like so many children have that are diagnosed with autism. It is amazing to me as I read it!!! You know the incidence of autism is about 1 in 166 children now. That is scarey. There are many theories about this and I have come to believe that since many of these children improve with chelation ( some even lose the diagnosis of autism with treatment) that the cause lies in the toxicity. Have you all ever studied autism and its cause and treatment? You sound like you could be helped by it. It involves dietary changes to avoid allergens, gut healing protocol, nutritional supplements, chelation and whatever else each individual may need. You are correct when you discuss the allergies in your past and past events. I believe you are on the right track. If you get time, look into it. Just as autism is being treated and even cured, it is highly likely that you could benefit from the research being done there.
thanks for your comment spring 02, have you ever had the fle shot, i did three years ago and it is two weeks later that the symptoms started but the doctors are saying the flu shot had nothing to do with it? but i was thinking about mercury in the flu shot.
Hi there:
Sorry to hear about your health condition and I can certainly relate to your frustrations. I think it is also very disheartening to see yourself being affected like this and not knowing why, or what your future will hold. Yesterday when I was trying to get out of the passenger side of my daughter's car, I had to start rocking myself in order to get moving. My left side almost feels useless at times, because of the weakness and pain. Today, when I was shopping, I could not carry or hold the bigger items, and I am so CLUMSY. I really miss my husband when he is not around to help me.
I think there are far too many people like ourselves that have just fallen through the cracks. We don't have ALS, MS or any diagnosis, so we don't receive any treatment and after a while the doctors just give up on you. Nobody likes to admit that they are failures, but I think doctors would rather avoid patients that they cannot treat or find out the reason for their symptoms. The doctors should not blame themselves for not finding the cause but I think underneath that they feel helpless too. That leaves their patients in a dilemma as they are left on their own. Also, so many people attribute anxiety, stress or conclude that the person just has nothing and "it is all in their head" type of scenario. They seem to think that some people pretend they are sick to get out of work or they just want pity. Believe me most people don't want to hear about your sickness or how you feel. It makes them feel uncomfortable and after awhile they start to avoid you as well. I just say I am fine when anybody asks me how I am doing.
I believe each person has to be proactive about their own health and to try to make the most of it. Eat healthy, get exercise, read, and do as much as you can according to your abilities. Today I intended to go to the gym but the sole of my foot is too sore to do that, so I chose instead to go on my computer. You have to make choices each day and somedays you are limited as to what activities you will do.
I would be interested in your medical background to see if there may be a common variable here somewhere. I even went to a psychic once for a reading. He couldn't read me (the second one that couldn't by the way) and he as the previous fellow did, even gave me my money back. He wanted to know what extreme happenings were going on in my life and I filled him in on my condition to date. His response was that he didn't think that it was MS etc. but he SENSED environmental. So, that may turn out to be something like that in the long run, but as for today, it is pain, tingling and numbness on my agenda.
Bye for now, stay positive and don't give up hope. Please write to me personally if you wish at ***@****
Take care,
The Canadian
Sorry to hear about your health condition and I can certainly relate to your frustrations. I think it is also very disheartening to see yourself being affected like this and not knowing why, or what your future will hold. Yesterday when I was trying to get out of the passenger side of my daughter's car, I had to start rocking myself in order to get moving. My left side almost feels useless at times, because of the weakness and pain. Today, when I was shopping, I could not carry or hold the bigger items, and I am so CLUMSY. I really miss my husband when he is not around to help me.
I think there are far too many people like ourselves that have just fallen through the cracks. We don't have ALS, MS or any diagnosis, so we don't receive any treatment and after a while the doctors just give up on you. Nobody likes to admit that they are failures, but I think doctors would rather avoid patients that they cannot treat or find out the reason for their symptoms. The doctors should not blame themselves for not finding the cause but I think underneath that they feel helpless too. That leaves their patients in a dilemma as they are left on their own. Also, so many people attribute anxiety, stress or conclude that the person just has nothing and "it is all in their head" type of scenario. They seem to think that some people pretend they are sick to get out of work or they just want pity. Believe me most people don't want to hear about your sickness or how you feel. It makes them feel uncomfortable and after awhile they start to avoid you as well. I just say I am fine when anybody asks me how I am doing.
I believe each person has to be proactive about their own health and to try to make the most of it. Eat healthy, get exercise, read, and do as much as you can according to your abilities. Today I intended to go to the gym but the sole of my foot is too sore to do that, so I chose instead to go on my computer. You have to make choices each day and somedays you are limited as to what activities you will do.
I would be interested in your medical background to see if there may be a common variable here somewhere. I even went to a psychic once for a reading. He couldn't read me (the second one that couldn't by the way) and he as the previous fellow did, even gave me my money back. He wanted to know what extreme happenings were going on in my life and I filled him in on my condition to date. His response was that he didn't think that it was MS etc. but he SENSED environmental. So, that may turn out to be something like that in the long run, but as for today, it is pain, tingling and numbness on my agenda.
Bye for now, stay positive and don't give up hope. Please write to me personally if you wish at ***@****
Take care,
The Canadian
ALS is not the only thing that can cause upper and lower motor neuron findings in the same area - other textbook causes are Friedrich's ataxia, B12 deficiency, combination of a stroke and peripheral neuropathy, or combination of a spinal compression eg by a disc and a peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes related comlications.
A nationally respected ALS center should be able to give you an unbiased assessment. For example, at the Cleveland Clinic ALS Center (run by Dr. Erik Pioro, an internationally respected ALS specialist), we see a lot of "is it ALS?", and have a lot of experience in differentiating ALS from other 'mimics of ALS'
Good luck
A nationally respected ALS center should be able to give you an unbiased assessment. For example, at the Cleveland Clinic ALS Center (run by Dr. Erik Pioro, an internationally respected ALS specialist), we see a lot of "is it ALS?", and have a lot of experience in differentiating ALS from other 'mimics of ALS'
Good luck
Hello - I have the exact same symptoms as you. I have found many people with my symptoms but you are the only one that also experiences the tingly tongue and lips. My symptoms subsided for almost a year and I was thrilled now they came back a couple of weeks ago and I am so dissapointed, tingling, numbness, dizziness, nausia. From all the dizziness is the hardest to handle I find. I had MRI's, blood tests, evoked potentials, EEG's, catscans, x-rays, muscle and electricity conducting testing etc etc and everything is normal. I am going crazy and would love some answers as I am sure you are.
Hi there:
Your symptoms and mine sound almost identical. I am also 58, female and right handed. My problems started in the summer of 2001, with painful cramping in my left foot and leg. By the end of the fall my foot had "mild foot drop" and I couldn't put my weight on it anymore. After three MRI's EMG's and an EEG, nothing has shown up in the clinical testing, although my neuro suspects a lesion on my upper motor neuron. All they can tell me is that I am being investigated for a possible neurological disorder. I am no longer able to work as the symptoms became progressive involving my three extremities, hands, fingers, and left foot and leg. To date, my right foot and leg are only periodically affected. However, my left sided symptoms started with shooting pains in the sole of my foot and that is what is also happening with my right foot and leg, so I suspect it will eventually progress to that side.
I have numbness in my hands and fingers, shooting pains that come out of nowhere and leave you gasping for breath. I told my husband that it feels akin to labour pains and you try to ride them out. I also have been left with left sided weakness and I don't have the same strength or flexibility on the left side. Most of the time I can't feel the toes on my left foot. I also have tingling in my tongue and lips and my foot or leg twitches or jumps. The pain is worse at night as the foot and leg becomes tighter and the pain turns from burning, whereas in the day it is mostly cold and numb. My reflexes are hyper and my central nervous system is very sensitive to any bright lights, fast moving objects, high pitched screams and busy little children. That means my whole quality of life is affected and I have to lead a controlled environment.
I try to do as much physical activity as possible and go to the pool for my exercises three times a week. I have recently started working in the gym and I can do stationary exercises and ride the bike, but can't even look at the treadmill as it makes me dizzy.
Do you happen to have a history of allergies? When I look back at my life I see where I must have been having slight attacks that left me limping and usually involved my feet. My ANA was slightly elevatate in my blood test, but other then that I am perfectly healthy. Whatever happened to me has left me with an awkward gait and I have problems with my balance and coordination and SOMETIMES my speeh is affected. I either stutter and repeat the first word about five times, or else I can't get the words out at all and that happens at home when I am talking to the cat.
I don't suffer from anxiety, depression or have relationship or financial problems. I, like many hundreds more, am trying to work this out and cope the best way I can. Not having a label to explain why you are like this, is probably the most difficult to deal with. With no diagnosis, you can't get any treatment and as time goes by, you get stiffer and sorer but you can't give up hope. I find these forums are very helpful in putting people in contact and just knowing there are many more people in similar situations helps. You don't feel so alone and misunderstood.
So, keep up your search and I would recommend starting a diary of your symptoms and recording any new change. At first I was so dizzy I thought I was going out of my mind. The sound from the fridge and the furnace going on would set off these internal vibrations and I would feel so unbalanced. Any sudden noise can actually make me fall down, so I have to be very careful of my walking. At least that sympton has stabilized and I seldom get feelings like that anymore. I had to cover my eyes going around corners and down hills when all this first started. I think at first my husband thought I was loony when all these weird things were happening to me.
Also, did you happen to have chicken pox, cold sores, neuralgia like pains, Bell's Palsey, any rashes or unexplained pains in your past. When I look back now, I see there times when I had bouts of unexplained pain, but nothing severe enough to disable me or to seek a doctor. When you have leg cramping and you are going through menopause, you just suspect it is all part of "the change." However, my allergies and weak immune system and a viral infection back in the summer of 2001, may have triggured this unknown neurological symptoms. Every thing else has been ruled out, Lyme, low B12, although Pernicios Anemia runs in my family as well as MS, but not my immediate family. I take B 12 orally and also by injection, just to be on the safe side.
Ask lots of questions and exhaust all possibilites and inquire into your own family medical background. I don't think I have ALS as I think my symptoms would progress much quicker and I would most likely be dead by now.
Pain is a symptom that something is not right, so even though it can't be identified doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Pain also changes who you are and what you can or can't do anymore. There are also forums out there that help you deal with chronic pain and it doesn't hurt to take a look.
Best wishes with your health problems and please post if you find the cause. My brother also had foot drop but his was from a work related injury that caused a bulging disk in his spine, which affected his peroneal nerve. So, your case may hopefully be something simple and you will be able to receive treatment and get back to normal again.
Good luck and God Bless,
The Canuck
Your symptoms and mine sound almost identical. I am also 58, female and right handed. My problems started in the summer of 2001, with painful cramping in my left foot and leg. By the end of the fall my foot had "mild foot drop" and I couldn't put my weight on it anymore. After three MRI's EMG's and an EEG, nothing has shown up in the clinical testing, although my neuro suspects a lesion on my upper motor neuron. All they can tell me is that I am being investigated for a possible neurological disorder. I am no longer able to work as the symptoms became progressive involving my three extremities, hands, fingers, and left foot and leg. To date, my right foot and leg are only periodically affected. However, my left sided symptoms started with shooting pains in the sole of my foot and that is what is also happening with my right foot and leg, so I suspect it will eventually progress to that side.
I have numbness in my hands and fingers, shooting pains that come out of nowhere and leave you gasping for breath. I told my husband that it feels akin to labour pains and you try to ride them out. I also have been left with left sided weakness and I don't have the same strength or flexibility on the left side. Most of the time I can't feel the toes on my left foot. I also have tingling in my tongue and lips and my foot or leg twitches or jumps. The pain is worse at night as the foot and leg becomes tighter and the pain turns from burning, whereas in the day it is mostly cold and numb. My reflexes are hyper and my central nervous system is very sensitive to any bright lights, fast moving objects, high pitched screams and busy little children. That means my whole quality of life is affected and I have to lead a controlled environment.
I try to do as much physical activity as possible and go to the pool for my exercises three times a week. I have recently started working in the gym and I can do stationary exercises and ride the bike, but can't even look at the treadmill as it makes me dizzy.
Do you happen to have a history of allergies? When I look back at my life I see where I must have been having slight attacks that left me limping and usually involved my feet. My ANA was slightly elevatate in my blood test, but other then that I am perfectly healthy. Whatever happened to me has left me with an awkward gait and I have problems with my balance and coordination and SOMETIMES my speeh is affected. I either stutter and repeat the first word about five times, or else I can't get the words out at all and that happens at home when I am talking to the cat.
I don't suffer from anxiety, depression or have relationship or financial problems. I, like many hundreds more, am trying to work this out and cope the best way I can. Not having a label to explain why you are like this, is probably the most difficult to deal with. With no diagnosis, you can't get any treatment and as time goes by, you get stiffer and sorer but you can't give up hope. I find these forums are very helpful in putting people in contact and just knowing there are many more people in similar situations helps. You don't feel so alone and misunderstood.
So, keep up your search and I would recommend starting a diary of your symptoms and recording any new change. At first I was so dizzy I thought I was going out of my mind. The sound from the fridge and the furnace going on would set off these internal vibrations and I would feel so unbalanced. Any sudden noise can actually make me fall down, so I have to be very careful of my walking. At least that sympton has stabilized and I seldom get feelings like that anymore. I had to cover my eyes going around corners and down hills when all this first started. I think at first my husband thought I was loony when all these weird things were happening to me.
Also, did you happen to have chicken pox, cold sores, neuralgia like pains, Bell's Palsey, any rashes or unexplained pains in your past. When I look back now, I see there times when I had bouts of unexplained pain, but nothing severe enough to disable me or to seek a doctor. When you have leg cramping and you are going through menopause, you just suspect it is all part of "the change." However, my allergies and weak immune system and a viral infection back in the summer of 2001, may have triggured this unknown neurological symptoms. Every thing else has been ruled out, Lyme, low B12, although Pernicios Anemia runs in my family as well as MS, but not my immediate family. I take B 12 orally and also by injection, just to be on the safe side.
Ask lots of questions and exhaust all possibilites and inquire into your own family medical background. I don't think I have ALS as I think my symptoms would progress much quicker and I would most likely be dead by now.
Pain is a symptom that something is not right, so even though it can't be identified doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Pain also changes who you are and what you can or can't do anymore. There are also forums out there that help you deal with chronic pain and it doesn't hurt to take a look.
Best wishes with your health problems and please post if you find the cause. My brother also had foot drop but his was from a work related injury that caused a bulging disk in his spine, which affected his peroneal nerve. So, your case may hopefully be something simple and you will be able to receive treatment and get back to normal again.
Good luck and God Bless,
The Canuck
You are reading content posted in the Neurology Forum
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
