Babinski sign

[ruth513]

what does a suppressed planter response mean?

[Quixotic1]

Hi, this is a great discussion, but I am going to add a definition that I didn't see above.  

Plantar - the sole of the foot, so downward.  To remember this you can think of "planting" your foot down or "plantar warts'.  Thus, we look for the downward flicker of the great toe during the stimulation of the bottom of the foot.  It may be barely perceptible and it occurs fairly ealry in the test.  After the initial movement downward the toes may then flair out or up and the test is still called normal.  It's the first movement that is critical.

Mary is correct.  People are not allowed to leave this forum once we have bonded to them.  Mob Family Rules, you know.  We will hunt you down and drag you back!

Quix

[twopack]

Thanks for the info RedStar.  I wanted to mention - just in case anyone is trying - you can't test your own Babinski.  It's kind of like being very ticklish but you still can't tickle your own self.  Your brain knows it's you, what you are trying to do and when you are about to start doing it.  Sometimes it's easy to trick ourselves.  Not so with something like reflexes.

You may not have noticed but most of the discussion on this thread occured a year ago already.  Ruth got back to us shortly after posting this to let us know she had been in the hospital and diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome).  That's a disease of the autonomic nervous system (dysautonomia) that causes rapid heart rate and a boatload of other potential symptoms when a person stands up.

We haven't heard from Ruth in the past year. I'm hoping her docs have been able to help her control the symptoms that brought her to this community.  If not, maybe she'll come back and talk with us again.  Either way we like to have people stick around and share their experiences - MS or not.

Mary

[Red_Star]

From emergency medical parametics website - Babinski sign:

In order to test for a Babinski Sign or Babinski Response: firmly rub the lateral aspect of the sole of the foot with a firm (but blunt) instrument, such as the back of a pen. The pen should be rubbed from one end of the sole of the foot over the curve and through to the toes.

This will elicit the following three potential responses:

Extension of the big toe, in which the big toe extends upwards, while the other toes curl outwards. In infants up to the age of 2 this is a normal primitive response and is associated with the under-developed or immature central nervous system. With an Adult however, this is a pathological response, indicating severe damage to the Central Nervous System.

No Response: Indicates damage to the peripheral nervous system, muscles, or tendons within the region.

Flexion: the toes all curve inwards. This is the normal response produced in healthy adults with a fully developed and functional central nervous system.

From the Encyclopedia of Nursing & Allied Health website - Reflex tests:

Abnormal results
Weak or absent response may indicate damage to the nerves outside the spinal cord (peripheral neuropathy), damage to the motor neurons just before or just after they leave the spinal cord (motor neuron disease), or muscle disease. Excessive response may indicate spinal cord damage above the level controlling the hyperactive response. Different responses on the two sides of the body may indicate early onset of progressive disease, or localized nerve damage, as from trauma. An adult or older child who responds to the Babinski with an extended big toe may have a lesion in the spinal cord or cerebral cortex.

[drsdonthelp]

I read your symptoms and I have had some of the same.  My eye symptoms appear to be directly to my Thyroid Eye Disease, but I also believe is masking some of my neuro symptoms of the eyes, I too have had the slurring speech, muscle cramps, and twitches, vibrations, fatigue, memory problems, word searching, cold spot on face and the list goes on.....

During my neuro exam, my knee reflexes were hyper.
My MRI was normal of my head. Apparently so was my spine. So, I have no idea why i have all of these issues,

Please let me know how yours turns out! Good luck with getting your answers,
Pamela

[ruth513]

I would like to talk to him if i had the chance all i have is a letter about nero exam he gave me no answers after the exam just said im sending you for mri and blood tests . i went there because gp referred suspected MS some symptoms   severe ataxia, muscle cramps vision probs numbness, tingling, vibrations in legs like a mobile phone UTI, IBS migrannes, extreme fatigue  memory probs etc

At the moment i have another UTI on second lot of antibiotics as ist did nothing feeling quite ill.have a very strange feeling in head, feels ice cold from deep inside also have a tight pain along bra line in back its creeping its way round  

Nero letter said, finger nose test was impaired both sides,biceps triceps reflexes suppressed, reduced pinprick sensation up to palms,power appeared to be 4/5 in both arms weak in left hand grip.legs ,hip flexion was 3/5 though alot of give way weakness
heel/shin test was impaired bilaterally.knee and ankle reflexes present planters were suppressed reduced pinprick up to the ankles bilaterally and reduced temperature sensation up to the knees bilaterally (makes no sense to me)
he said no point doing balance tests as could see i cant even walk straight  

My kids think im a secret drinker as i walk like im drunk and sometimes even slur my words .oh that reminds me my nero did say one thing avoid stairs and sleep downstairs
lol
thanks for you support

[essdipity]

Hi, Ruth. In general, MS patients have either normal or 'brisk' reflexes, though it would be very odd for someone to have all brisk ones. It can vary quite a bit by location, and everyone is different. You should ask your neuro about your particular situation and what it means.

I'm not sure about getting copies of test results in the UK. In the US, we are entitled to them, though occasionally this can be a difficult process. Depending on circumstances, you might consider just arriving at their door and making an in-person request. I agree that someone must have fouled things up. Generally MRIs are read and reported on right away, though there is always a certain amount of red tape.

Remember, it's the squeaky wheel that gets the oil.

Good luck,
ess

[ruth513]

an afterthought when mri was done the person doing the test asked when my next nero app was i said i dont have one yet he said well this will go straight to him via computer and he will be able to see the results straight away and will contact you ,when i rang secretary ist time after 2 weeks was told to expect to wait 3 weeks for results to come back
doesnt make sense to me its in the same building think someones got it wrong somewhere

[ruth513]

after your comment i thought about it and just rang nero secretary again i was told that she will ring mri dept and chase it up but they do have a bit of a backlog at the mo which is not uncommon so she said

[ruth513]

thanks Heather
I have twice once i was told not back yet i rang again monday as i was really unwell left message but no one has return my call
I want to ring again but dont want to be a pain and no news is good news maybe?

[Heather3418]

I would call your doctor's office and ask for the MRI results.  There is NO reason it should take 3 weeks for results.  The results are usually ready in 48 hours.

[ruth513]

Hi and thank you
does that mean its ok because also have suppressed biceps and triceps reflexes but nero said leg reflexes were normal but have some weakness 3/5.
also been waiting 3 weeks for mri results does it usually take some time

thanks Ruth