Any information or insight is GREATLY appreciated

[StefanieM]

My husband wakes up in a state of partial paralysis (in the worst episodes he can't stand) with speech imparement that usually lasts 3 to 4 days, with decreasing paralysis over this time.  His speech returns after the partial paralysis is nearly gone.  He doesn't complain of numbness, he just can't seem to make his muscles work during these episodes (sometimes more pronounced in the lower body, but usually the whole body).  These episodes ALWAYS begin upon him waking.  One time he only took a nap and woke up in an episode.  

These episodes started out about 10 months ago once every 4 to 6 weeks and have progressed to 1 or 2 episodes a week, being in an episode more than not.  When he comes out of an episode completely he is able to exercise and do everything normally but right now those days are few and far between.  

We have an appointment at Shands Hospital with a neurologist next week but I am trying to gather as much information I can to help the doctor(s) make the correct diagnosis.

I have found nothing online that matches his symptoms, the closest I could come was sleep related epilepsy but he does not have convulsions.  When he is sleeping before the onset of an episode he is very still.  And what I've read about post-epileptic paralysis, this paralysis lasts for a much shorter period of time.

I will be extremely grateful to anyone who may have some information.

Stefanie

[lmljmw]

Last November I had simalar symptoms. I had a massage at work and that night I woke up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water. As I was going back to my room my left leg stared to convulse to the point that I could not stand.
The next day I went to the urgent care. My blood pressure was very high, but the doctor didn't know wha the symtoms ment. The next day I went to my doctor and he dismissed these symoms. Over the next few day's I kept having these episodes, but now with a twist. My leg would go limp after the tremors and I could not move it at all. I could feel the leg I just couldn't move it. It was as though my brain wasn't sending the signal to move.
I then went back to urgent care and as I was talking to the doctor it happened in front of him. He was baffled. He called the nuroligst (SP) and he told the doctor to admit me to the hospital. When he came to my room he did some minor tests, like who is the president, and motor test like that.. He then said "I know what you have." He said this is a seizure, and what you have is called "Todds Paralysis." What happens is you will get the tremors, jerking and uncontrolled movements in a part of the body, and then the brain won't send the signal to that part of the body to move. It can last from a few mins. to a couple of days. There are no long term side effecs and it is not dangerous. He put me on Keppra and I have not had an episode since. It can be very scary and your doctor wouldn't know what this is unless he has seen it before because it is rare. I hope this helps, you can ask your doctor about this.
Laura

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Thanks for keeping me posted. Maybe the focus should be Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA).
In your second post I read that he was symptom free after a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) for 4 years. Maybe that is the link to diagnosis--spinal tap curing the symptoms. Maybe there is increased tension or pressure in brain causing the symptoms that was relieved by the spinal tap.
Please keep me posted about the results at Shands. All the best!
Meanwhile if you need any other information, please let me know.

[StefanieM]

Thank you so much for your reply.  I'll be checking the links you provided for more information.

I neglected to mention that many neurological disorders have been ruled out - MS, ALS, and others I'm not aware of, because this happened to him before we were married.  He exhibited the same symptoms about 6 years ago and it lasted for about 2-1/2 years.  He saw many neurologists at hospitals in Orlando, and from what I understand the focus of most of the tests were for seizures, but the tests (EEGs I believe) didn't reveal any evidence of seizures, possibly because they didn't catch him going into an episode.  He also had more than one MRI and I'm sure other tests I'm not aware of.  

The doctors in Orlando finally suggested Shands.  Shands performed more invasive and extensive tests (I know they did a spinal tap), but again nothing that gave the doctors a diagnosis.  After all the tests at Shands, the only thing they wanted to do was to put him on Prednisone.  He did not take the medication (any medication for that matter) and shortly recovered.  He was completely free of these symptoms for almost 4 years.

Certainly this time the doctors will find out what is going on.  I am praying.

Again thank you for the info.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Thanks for the post. I am really sorry to hear about your husband. I am glad he will be seeing a neurologist soon and appreciate your effort to gain information.

The symptoms do not classically fit post-epileptic paralysis, but one cannot rule it out completely. Another possibility is Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA), where the neurological symptoms disappear within an hour to 24 hrs. Please refer http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tia/tia.htm

The symptoms could also be due to tumors in the brain, nerve entrapment, motor neuron disease, blockage to an artery of the brain etc. http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/symptoms/paralysis_symptoms/causes.htm  This link gives about 290 causes of partial paralysis.

Please let me know what your doctors say. All the best for your visit to your neurologist! If you need more help, please feel free to contact. I’ll be happy to answer your queries.