walking problem

[em99]

It all started 1 yaer ago when i had really bad cramps in my calf muscles. I felt as if my muscles where tight all the time, then i would feel like i had ran miles in both my calf and thigh muscles. I have shooting pain in both my legs, tingling sentations, and muscle spams, aching and numbness in my feet but when i feel them they are not numb to touch. But my main concern is my walking. When i walk the only way i can describe it is: when i walk and put weight on my leg it snaps back at the knee, like i have no spring for it to relax back.
I have had a mri scan of my lower back and NCS and EMG test but the mri scan no results back as yet and the NCS and EMG showed nothing.
Its very worrying and distressing as i am off work because of the difficulty walking,
Does anyone have any answers or had any of the walking symptoms?
PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!

[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 and review your testing, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

There are several potential causes to your leg symptoms and walking difficulties. In general, the problem could be in the spinal column or spinal cord, the nerves, the muscles, or much less likely the brain. On the other hand, it could also be non-neurologic, such as arthritic/musculo-skeletal, but I will limit my discussion to neurologic causes.

If the legs feel stiff and "snap back", one possibility is that there is muscle stiffness called spasticity. This is a physical examination finding that your doctor would have been able to assess while examining you. If that is the case, possibilities include a problem in the spinal cord (may different possibilities including but not limited to narrowing of the spinal column, what is called spinal stenosis, demyelination, tumors, vascular malformations) etc. However, if an MRI of the entire spine (including neck, thoracic area, and lower back area) did not show any abnormalities, this becomes much less likely. Other possibilities include vitamin defiencies (vitamin B12, copper, vitamin E), and certain metabolic/genetic disorders.

If there is not spasticity on examination, the problem could be in the muscles and nerves, but if the EMG/NCS was defnitively normal, this becomes less likely.

Finally, if it is a gait unsteadiness, and there is not spasticity, but rather specific neurologic physical examination findings, the problem walking could be coming from a part of the brain called the cerebellum or basal ganglia; there are several potential causes for this, for example termed cerebellar ataxia, or even parkinson's disease (pleas understand I am not trying to imply I think you have parkinson's, only that these are some potential causes for walking troubles).

Again, non-neurologic causes to your leg discomfort and walking troubles are also a possibility. Continued followup 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.

[ren503]

Yes !!  I am dealing with the exact same symptoms.  I also, have been off of work due to this odd condition.  My MRI came back clean for brain and back.  With me, it's as though my brain isn't talking to my foot.  I cannot flex my right foot at all.  I started by having discomfort for about 2 weeks on the bottom of my foot.  Then one day I woke up and couldn't flex my foot at all. When I walk my knee and hip "give out."   Ironically, I have very little pain only major discomfort and instability. If I press hard on my right calf I can feel a spot that hurts.  I too am so frustrated.  Please let me know if you find out anything.  I will find out Monday about an xray that I had on Friday.

[LuckyStar92561]

I've got a the same problem sorta with pain from the back of my knee to my heels. In the mornings when I wake in bed my legs ache, cramp and my heels feel like pins and needles in them. Walking to the bathroom feels like my heels are gonna snap like a rubber band and my calfs ache like a tooth ache. I think this is nerve re-lated because after walking downstairs which is a chore and making myself walk it lets up until evening and starts all over again...If I sleep with them prooped up I wake up with them normal until my feet hit the floor and once again the same thing acures..If I run my hand across the top of my foot I feel a nerve there that stings like a fork you put in a cavatity..  I've been to the Chiropractor and he just says I don't like what your telling me...Talk about that scaring the hee-bee jesus out of ya it did. MAYBE you can let me know...I also have Lypoma's everywhere. could there be a block somewhere the surgeon says not but, I can feel them in my calfs.. Thanks Doc