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Continued Problems with Numbness in my Feet and Legs
by sissy2109, Mar 03, 2008 11:03PM
Hi there! I want to start off by thanking anyone that is willing to offer any help/advice about my questions/issues.
Okay. So, about a year ago now I began experiencing numbness in my feet and legs. The numbness began, at that time, with both feet and worked its way up my legs. The "problem" leg was always the right leg. Eventually, I also started experiencing some mild difficulty gripping with my hands - I still had a grip, but I didn't feel like I did. It's an odd feeling - almost tingly. At the same time, I had enlarged lymph-nodes throughout my body so the doctors were very concerned about it being something potentially dangerous.
At that time, I got various blood-tests, and MRI and CT Scan, some kind of brain-wave measurement test, some nerve tests - all kinds of things. I went to a Naturopath, was put on medicine for fibro-myalgia (sp?), sent to an acupuncturist and various other specialists. Nothing was ever determined to be wrong - the Doctors couldn't figure it out. Ultimately, they attributed it to stress and told me that I needed to limit the amount of stress in my life. I was devastated - it's an aweful feeling when you're essentially told that what's plagueing you is something that they can't figure out.
After a few months, the symptoms went away. Every now and then, my right foot would get numb and feel cold if I sat in one place too long but it never lasted. Now, in the past two weeks, the issue has made itself more apparent again. This time, it is primarily my left foot. It begins with a cold numbness, escalates to the inability to move my foot (even when I am trying really hard and can feel my muscles trying to get my foot to move) and the numbness travels up to my knee. I am then left with a weakness in my knee and a foot that really causes me to be a bit uncoordinated (it's almost like I have to drag my foot along).
I am a healthy 24 year old, I'm within the healthy BMI range, I am active, social and generally don't have health concerns. I do have a history of getting really ill when I actually do come down with something (it takes me two weeks to get better from anything like the flu, Strep, or other things that most people can kick in one) but I am rarely sick. I've never had any traumatic injuries but I was in a car accident a little over a year ago that left me having to go to massage therapy to get my neck and back to stop hurting. It only took three months of massage therapy to take care of that, though.
I am very concerned because the outward appearance that this creates is one that makes co-workers, my Professors at school, and my family worry. It also threatens my career because my appearance when I am suffering from this - and my inability to explain it - does not promote confidence in my capabilities. It's not something I can keep to myself and that makes it much more difficult to deal with. I want to address it as soon as possible, I just don't want to go from specialist to specialist, test to test again only to have the outcome be the same (that really is heart-breaking).
I'm at a complete loss and feel utterly helpless. I would appreciate any feedback that anyone can give me about where I might look in terms of finding the answers I need to remedy this problem - or at least manage it. Thank you so very much!!
Okay. So, about a year ago now I began experiencing numbness in my feet and legs. The numbness began, at that time, with both feet and worked its way up my legs. The "problem" leg was always the right leg. Eventually, I also started experiencing some mild difficulty gripping with my hands - I still had a grip, but I didn't feel like I did. It's an odd feeling - almost tingly. At the same time, I had enlarged lymph-nodes throughout my body so the doctors were very concerned about it being something potentially dangerous.
At that time, I got various blood-tests, and MRI and CT Scan, some kind of brain-wave measurement test, some nerve tests - all kinds of things. I went to a Naturopath, was put on medicine for fibro-myalgia (sp?), sent to an acupuncturist and various other specialists. Nothing was ever determined to be wrong - the Doctors couldn't figure it out. Ultimately, they attributed it to stress and told me that I needed to limit the amount of stress in my life. I was devastated - it's an aweful feeling when you're essentially told that what's plagueing you is something that they can't figure out.
After a few months, the symptoms went away. Every now and then, my right foot would get numb and feel cold if I sat in one place too long but it never lasted. Now, in the past two weeks, the issue has made itself more apparent again. This time, it is primarily my left foot. It begins with a cold numbness, escalates to the inability to move my foot (even when I am trying really hard and can feel my muscles trying to get my foot to move) and the numbness travels up to my knee. I am then left with a weakness in my knee and a foot that really causes me to be a bit uncoordinated (it's almost like I have to drag my foot along).
I am a healthy 24 year old, I'm within the healthy BMI range, I am active, social and generally don't have health concerns. I do have a history of getting really ill when I actually do come down with something (it takes me two weeks to get better from anything like the flu, Strep, or other things that most people can kick in one) but I am rarely sick. I've never had any traumatic injuries but I was in a car accident a little over a year ago that left me having to go to massage therapy to get my neck and back to stop hurting. It only took three months of massage therapy to take care of that, though.
I am very concerned because the outward appearance that this creates is one that makes co-workers, my Professors at school, and my family worry. It also threatens my career because my appearance when I am suffering from this - and my inability to explain it - does not promote confidence in my capabilities. It's not something I can keep to myself and that makes it much more difficult to deal with. I want to address it as soon as possible, I just don't want to go from specialist to specialist, test to test again only to have the outcome be the same (that really is heart-breaking).
I'm at a complete loss and feel utterly helpless. I would appreciate any feedback that anyone can give me about where I might look in terms of finding the answers I need to remedy this problem - or at least manage it. Thank you so very much!!
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I have been having weakness and I guess numbness too on the right side of my body for the past 2 years. It is the entire right side and once in a great while the left side also. It travels from my leg, to my side and then to my arm. I am very scared. I admit that I am a bit of a hyperchondriac but I know that this is diiferent. No one seems to be able to help and it keeps me up at night thinking of what it might be. Please someone help me!
I have been experiencing identical issues as sissy2109. Which although you havent been able to get an answer, I'm almost relieved to see that someone else is having the same issues who is my age (I'm 23). I have mostly tried orthopedics in the past (they have done CTs of back, MRIs, nerve tests on left leg) and have realized that it is time to try other specialists to find the reason.
my symptoms:
numb feet (for about 1 year)
Starts at feet, works its way up the legs
bad leg is the left leg, feels like I'm dragging a dead weight around
general weakness in both legs
Inability to move toes
I have noticed it is much worse when its cold/ rainy outside.
I am have always been a very active healthy person (besides allergies but almost everyone has some of those) I have not been able to find any answers but am off to a muscular neurologist at the beginning of August since I've had my fill of orthopedics. I will definitely post if I find anything out that may help everyone.