What's happening with my mom?

[tellybee]

My mother is 55 and since Jan she has had weird things happen to her.  She lost function in her hand and she said it is going up her arm.  She cannot use it to pick up or open door handles she can't even make a three with her fingers.  She has been to neurologist who sent her to a hand specialist who sent her to a arthritis doctor.  It does not hurt.  No muscle pain.  The arthritis doctor said that it is definetly neuro.  The labs show no autoimmune diseases.  He also told her its in her leg it weak all on the right side.  She has had MRI's diffrent kinds, CAT scans they cannot find anything.  All these doctors have no idea.  They keep sending her to diffrent doctors.  I told her they really need to concentrate on your spine because the brain scans are all normal.  So what else could it be?  This is very scary.

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Weakness on one side of the body, involving the arm and leg, could be due to a problem of the brain, of which there are many possibilities, such as tumor and stroke. As you mention, a problem in the cervical spine (the upper part of the spine, around the neck area) can also lead to one-sided weakness. In cases of one-sided weakness, MRI of the brain should be done with and without contrast (dye) before a brain problem is definitively excluded. MRI of the cervical spine should also be considered depending on the history and examination. Some disorders, such as dystonia, can lead to dysfunction of the arm and leg without any abnormalities being found on MRI.

If a problem of the central nervous system (brain and spine) can not be found based on physical examination and testing, another possibility is a problem with the peripheral nervous system. This most often affects both sides of the body, and is distal to proximal (feet and hands before upper arms and legs), though exceptions can occur. Peripheral nervous system problems are suspected based on specific examination findings and history, and can be tested for using a study called EMG/NCS which tests how nerves transmit and how muscles respond.

Continued follow-up with your neurologist is recommended.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[allmymarbles]

One of my daughters had severe problems with her nervous system that were never diagnosed. I told tthe doctors (and there were lots) I thought her problem had to do with a minor accident but was pooh poohed. I finally took her to a very famous chiropractor who located problems in her neck and hip. He explained that the minor dislocations were pressing on her nerves. In less than three weeks she was well on her way to recovery. She had been a semi-invalid from ages 8 to 12.

So try a chiropractor, but make sure he is a good one.