muscle weakness, nubness and tingling

[kacey31]

I am a 32 year-old active and healthy mother of three. However, a month ago I noticed my right quad had lost its usual tone, in spite of consistent exercise. I decided to lie on the floor and do some leg lifts to strengthen it and was shocked to find I could not raise my right leg off the ground, no matter how hard I tried. I tried side lifts too and nothing. My quad had completely atrophied and stopped working.
An orthopedic surgeon referrred me to a physical therapist thinking it was just a result of runner's knee, but the therapist said my muscle weakness was far to severe to be that. Plus, I began having varying bouts of tingling all down my right leg and into my foot. I was then referred to a neurologist, who ordered an MRI to check for MS or a slipped disc. Both were negative.
My neurologist now wants to do further studies, including an EMG which I hear can be quite painful. The thing is, my ability to raise my leg has returned, although the tingling and numbness still exist, and my right quad still measures 2 inches smaller than my left. I am in no pain, just a little annoyed that this weird stuff is going on and everyone's making such a big deal about it. Should I be worried? Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

[kacey31]

Interesting that I have a baby too, although a little older than yours. My neurologist said sometimes having an epidural during childbirth can set things off but in my case it's been 18 months. My gut tells me its nerve compression from lugging my heavy baby everywhere and all the stuff that goes with him, but maybe thats all too simple. Thanks for replying. I hope you get better and can rest.

[xoxoxoxo]

Hi there.  I just read your post.  I've been going through the almost exact thing as you...thought it might be helpful to compare notes.  I'm 39...just had a baby 5 months ago.  Everything was fine except for the usual tiredness.  Then I started experiencing some pins and needles...twitching, and some blurry vision.  I also ended up having some muscle spasms and so forth.  Needless to say, like you...I was very emotional about the prospect of ms or something else.  I had severe panic after I realized that my quads looked scrawny, kind of.  They have always been muscular and though I lost about 40 lbs after the pregnancy...I am still about 25 lbs overweight.  I just looked kind of bony...which I've never thought before.  But my quads were the thing that just didn't look right.  Then I experienced body numbness, which I still have.  My quads and arms and breasts and stomach...numb.  This sent me into a horrible panic attack, while I was driving with my little baby...horrible.  I ended up in the ER...with a head scan...negative...bloodwork, negative-so it was time to see a neurologist and try to get some answers.  I had an MRI of the spine-negative...the neuro exam-perfect...I had the nerve conduction test-perfect (Do get this done...not painful at all even though it sounds gross...this will rule out ALS-at least that was what my dr said) That was fine...All my bloodwork has come back perfect with the exception of high normal calcium level.  Like you, I'm stumped.  I have a brain MRI next week.  After that...I think they might want to do a nerve biopsy...We will get to the bottom of this....My neuro doesn't think it's MS due to the great neuro exam...and clear MRI...he said that he used to think people like us were "crazy" until he met other people...and he himself had some neuropathy he couldn't explain.  He said it could be a low level auto immune response that might go away on its own.  I know this is hard to get through...especially being a mother, I know.  But I'm just staying close to God and doing those things I can control, like eating right...being a good mommy and going to the doctors...and researching and praying.  Keep us updated, would you??
Best,
Sonja

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

I believe I'll have to agree with your doctors wanting to proceed with an EMG test since this can tell your doctors a lot of things.  It is also possible to discuss another test called NCV (nerve conduction velocity) as this would evaluate the condition of the nerves supplying the muscles.

Other possible causes would include micronutrient deficiency (such as vitamin B) and conditions like ALS.  You may also want to discuss these possibilities with your doctors and possible have blood B vitamins levels checked.

For now, have adequate rest as stress can really take a toll on nerve conduction and muscle function.

Regards.