Symptoms-need direction please

[LB422]

I am a 44 year old female and have had some symptoms develop in the last four or five months that neither my endocrinologist nor my neurologist can diagnose.  I am  so frustrated since these symptoms can be debilitating, I am extremely worried about my family and how I will take care of them if this gets any worse.  If I can get on the right track to getting a diagnosis...then hopefully, I can get some sort of treatment to relieve these awful symptoms.  Here they are:  my muscles contract in my legs so much that I can not walk alot of times.  Usually rising from a sitting position my legs are always very stiff.  Walking "down" stairs will lock them up and I usually fall.  Extreme cold can cause my leg muscles to stiffen so much where I can not move.  Any sudden surprise, standing still for long periods,  or walking into a room of people can also them stiffen them up.    Fear - like a car coming towards me wile walking-will lock them up in a minute and I can not move to get out of the way.  If they lock up, sometimes it will throw me back and I fall.  There is no control over them once it starts to happen.  Lately, I have had days where I can't walk at all, only holding onto furniture.  I am desperate if anyone knows what this could be and what kind of doctor I should see...I would appreciate it very much!

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

I'm sorry to hear that the diagnosis is still not arrived at.  Some conditions are really very hard to explain and diagnose.  From what you are describing, another angle that can be looked at is the vascular area.  If blood supply to a muscle group is inadequate (due o blockage with plaques due to increased cholesterol levels or genetic predisposition), then it could result in cramping, pain and easy fatigability of that muscle.  Also if blood return is impeded (by incompetent vein valves) then muscles can likewise be easily fatigued and result in cramps and immobility.  I suggest you discuss this with your doctors and I hope you and your doctors get to the bottom of this soon.  

Regards and God bless...

[LB422]

Thanks so much for getting back with me.  That is definitely an angle none of the doctors have mentioned.  Can you get myotonia symptoms from it also?  Besides not being able to walk when it's at its worst, the myotonia is unbearable.  I can't walk around people or traffic and I can only walk on a flat surface.  Crazy I know.