gait disorder

[Kerry2]

I am a 41-year-old female, 5 ft. 6., 140 pounds.  Last year, I started hesitating when I went downstairs--it didn't bother me at the time, for I figured I was just favoring a "trick" knee.  But in January I began to limp on the flats, favoring my right leg.  My gp said I walked like a person who had one leg shorter than the other...I would kind of swing the right leg in circles as I walked, and sometimes if I was walking at any distance I would trip over my right foot (I don't know whether this is "foot drop").  She said the reflexes of my right leg were slightly off, and sent me to a neurologist.  The neurologist ordered a brain MRI, but said before I left her office that if it came back normal that I should see a knee specialist.  It came back fine, I cheered and went to the knee doctor--but both he and his colleague swore that they had NEVER seen a limp like mine associated with a knee problem.  They did, however, find a nasty loose body and arthritis and operated for that last week.  But I was bounced back to the neurologist, who wants me to go in for a spinal MRI next to "rule out demylenating disease" (which I thought she'd already done).

Right now I'm worrying myself to death that I have MS or ALS.  Yet there are no other symptoms besides the limp and foot drop.  Sometimes my hands tingle very slightly, but only after I've been at the computer or reading in one position for a while.  My balance has always been poor (what worried the gp was that I find it difficult to rise from a crouch).  What do you think?

Thanks!

Kerry2

[ozlady]

I am a stroke victim and have a similar gait problem to yourself, my right leg doesn't bend up properly so it has to be swung in a circle or the foot will not clear the ground.  I have had some small success (but, unfortunately not ongoing because, as a stroke victim, I am not capable of walking properly, and therefore reinforcing the improvement) with doing calf stretches on the offending leg.  You may want to see a physio about this, because done wrongly it can also cause damage to the ligaments behind the knee.

[Kerry2]

P.S.  The limp is not particularly painful, nor do I feel like I've lost much strength in the leg.  It's just like my leg doesn't want to operate properly--and I felt a bit like my knee was "screwed on wrong."  I did find myself beginning to use my right hand to help my leg along from the gas pedal to the brake when I drove.

Is there a particular gait pattern associated with MS or ALS?  What else might cause a gait disturbance such as I've described?

Thanks again!

Kerry2

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

The history you have provided does not point to MS or ALS as the definite diagnosis. I would agree that a MRI of the spine should be performed to look for structural abnormalities. Without evaluating you I cannot determine if it is a problem in the spine, nerves to the leg, or muscles in the leg. I would wait for the MRI and then re-discuss this with your doctor. Good luck