Leg and feet numbness and tingling

[denibrig]

My sister is currently going through  tingling in her feet that has now reached her groin.  She has been in the hospital for 1 week 3 MRI's and a spinal tap and her nerve function tests are all normal.  They are discharging her on physical therapy. Any thoughts or similar problems - HELP

[denibrig]

She just got the results of one of the test from the MRI - they told her she has 8 bands instead of the normal 4 bands and that this could be MS.  They did a three day treatment of Prednazone (?) IV therapy but she is going to get a second opinion as soon as the spinal headache clears ( 2 weeks running) and she is able to ride a distance.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Transverse myelitis symptoms do present in a particular nerve distribution. If your sister has TM, it would be in the lumbosacral region.

There are some other features that need to be observed to rule out Transverse Myelitis. Since it is a demyelinating process of the gray and white matter of the cord, she will have mixed picture of upper as well as lower motor neuronal loss.

I think the MRI should be able to make things clear. Please keep me posted.

Regards

[denibrig]

Yes - she has had both but not recently

[FREON]

DOES SHE HAVE ANY ROOT CANALS OR MERCURY FILLINGS

[denibrig]

She has had no change - in fact she is now having some cramping in her legs. They did the MRI's in three sessions, 1st was the complete spine , 2nd the head and third the neck.  She is also experiencing the "spinal headache" which has been since last Wednesday.  She has a prime care visit tomorrow - what about transverse myelitis?

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hi.

I hope your sister is improving now. We could have thought of inflammatory neuropathy in view of the respiratory viral infection. But the CSF would not come back normal. And the nerve conduction study would have shown the neuropathy.

Was an MRI of the lower back done?

Regards

[denibrig]

sorry - the newrve study was only done on her right leg and arm !!!!

[denibrig]

Yes the nerve study was done in both legs twice.  No tingling in the hands.  She did have a respitory virus about a week before the feet started going numb.  All of her blood work - MRI's - spinal tap showed nothing

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Was the nerve conduction study done in both the lower limbs ? Some neuropathy may be missed if it is not done on appropriate nerves.

Has anemia been ruled out ? And does she get tingling on her hands as well ?

Did she have any fever before this started ?

Regards