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What Causes Pain That Radiates From Thigh And Foot?
Question: Approximately 3 months ago, I had a primary herpes outbreak which included blisters on my penis, numbness in the anal/genital area, and numbness on the sole of my left foot. The numbness and blisters have gone, but I now have other symptoms.
Specifically, I get an electric pulse that runs from the middle of my thigh to my foot when bending my neck and back. Bending the neck only produces very little sensation. I feel nothing in my neck, back, or buttocks. Also, I'm experiencing twitches in my arms, legs, and feet. These new symptoms seemed to appear a few days after being treated for gonorrhea which included azithromycin and an intramuscular shot of ceftriaxone. Ultimately, I'm very worried that I have MS, ALS, or some other kind of nerve disorder. Would this be the case?
Specifically, I get an electric pulse that runs from the middle of my thigh to my foot when bending my neck and back. Bending the neck only produces very little sensation. I feel nothing in my neck, back, or buttocks. Also, I'm experiencing twitches in my arms, legs, and feet. These new symptoms seemed to appear a few days after being treated for gonorrhea which included azithromycin and an intramuscular shot of ceftriaxone. Ultimately, I'm very worried that I have MS, ALS, or some other kind of nerve disorder. Would this be the case?
Brief Answer:
MS and ALS very unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Recurent schiatica or nerve pain has been associated with herpesviruses infection, and herpesvirus neuropathy is a well documented condition.
About muscle twitching, this condition could be related to herpesvirus infection too.
There are conditions such benign fasciculations syndrome that herpesvirus infection is known as a trigger.
Other possibilities of muscle twitching are side effects of antibiotics use and low levels of vitamin B12. Did you used other antibiotics ( fluorquinolones ) besides Azithromycin and Ceftriaxone, recently?
MS and ALS present with other symptoms besides muscles twitching, such vision problems, difficulty walking, swallowing, weakness in your legs, arms, speech problems, muscle cramps.
To conclude, most likely yours is a neurological condition caused by herpesvirus infection and antibiotics use.
A symptoms treatment possibility is the use of Amytriptiline.
Since it is a prescription drug you should discuss with your Doctor about its use.
Hope this helps. I remain at your disposal for further questions and clarifications.
Take care.
MS and ALS very unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Recurent schiatica or nerve pain has been associated with herpesviruses infection, and herpesvirus neuropathy is a well documented condition.
About muscle twitching, this condition could be related to herpesvirus infection too.
There are conditions such benign fasciculations syndrome that herpesvirus infection is known as a trigger.
Other possibilities of muscle twitching are side effects of antibiotics use and low levels of vitamin B12. Did you used other antibiotics ( fluorquinolones ) besides Azithromycin and Ceftriaxone, recently?
MS and ALS present with other symptoms besides muscles twitching, such vision problems, difficulty walking, swallowing, weakness in your legs, arms, speech problems, muscle cramps.
To conclude, most likely yours is a neurological condition caused by herpesvirus infection and antibiotics use.
A symptoms treatment possibility is the use of Amytriptiline.
Since it is a prescription drug you should discuss with your Doctor about its use.
Hope this helps. I remain at your disposal for further questions and clarifications.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you for replying, doctor. I do feel weak at times, but I think this may be related to anxiety. What is the weakness like?
Brief Answer:
Anxiety related weakness differs from neurologic weakness.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Weakness related to neurologic conditions follows a distribution pattern, in other words, some group muscles are affected more.
General weakness (the one related to anxiety, anemia, systemic conditions) is felt in entire group muscles and is accompanied by other symptoms such increased breathing and pulse rate, pallor etc.
Hope I've been understandable. Best regards.
Anxiety related weakness differs from neurologic weakness.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Weakness related to neurologic conditions follows a distribution pattern, in other words, some group muscles are affected more.
General weakness (the one related to anxiety, anemia, systemic conditions) is felt in entire group muscles and is accompanied by other symptoms such increased breathing and pulse rate, pallor etc.
Hope I've been understandable. Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Thank you for responding. Given my symptoms, do you think I should be evaluated by a neurologist?
Brief Answer:
Neurological evaluation could be of help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Since there are neurologic symptoms, in my opinion a Neurologist evaluation physically could be of help in understanding better your condition.
Take care.
Neurological evaluation could be of help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Since there are neurologic symptoms, in my opinion a Neurologist evaluation physically could be of help in understanding better your condition.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you again for responding. Would you happen to know how long it takes for the other symptoms of ALS to present after muscle twitching begins. I know that each case is different, so perhaps you could provide an average timeframe.
Brief Answer:
New symptoms should appear in few months.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
The most common early symptom of ALS is muscle weakness.
Most people diagnosed with ALS are between 40 and 60 years old.
ALS is a progressive disease, in other words, new symptoms appear with time and old ones worsen.
It is difficult to give exact time for symptoms progression, usually ALS is diagnosed between 9 and 12 months after onset of symptoms, so, let's say new symptoms should appear in about 5-6 months.
Hope this helps. Best regards.
New symptoms should appear in few months.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
The most common early symptom of ALS is muscle weakness.
Most people diagnosed with ALS are between 40 and 60 years old.
ALS is a progressive disease, in other words, new symptoms appear with time and old ones worsen.
It is difficult to give exact time for symptoms progression, usually ALS is diagnosed between 9 and 12 months after onset of symptoms, so, let's say new symptoms should appear in about 5-6 months.
Hope this helps. Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Hi Doctor,
I recently had an x-ray taken of my lumbar area, and it came back negative for any signs of pinched nerve. Given this and the fact that I'm experiencing muscle twitches and jerks as well as the sensation in my leg, what could possibly be going on. I'm so worried about ALS that I haven't been able to eat much or sleep much.
I recently had an x-ray taken of my lumbar area, and it came back negative for any signs of pinched nerve. Given this and the fact that I'm experiencing muscle twitches and jerks as well as the sensation in my leg, what could possibly be going on. I'm so worried about ALS that I haven't been able to eat much or sleep much.
Brief Answer:
X-rays is not the proper test about pinched nerve.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
X-rays is not the selected imaging study about diagnosis of pinched nerve, MRI or at least lumbar CT scan is needed for this purpose.
Another simple and cheap study that gives sufficient information about pinched nerves and muscles twitching is a neuromuscular conduction study or EMG.
As I mentioned before, points against ALS in your case are: your age, you had a previous condition that may explain your symptoms, absence of muscle weakness and no other ALS symptoms yet besides muscles twitching.
However discuss with a Neurologist about your problems and having proper tests done in order to have a correct diagnosis.
Hope I helped you. Best regards.
X-rays is not the proper test about pinched nerve.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
X-rays is not the selected imaging study about diagnosis of pinched nerve, MRI or at least lumbar CT scan is needed for this purpose.
Another simple and cheap study that gives sufficient information about pinched nerves and muscles twitching is a neuromuscular conduction study or EMG.
As I mentioned before, points against ALS in your case are: your age, you had a previous condition that may explain your symptoms, absence of muscle weakness and no other ALS symptoms yet besides muscles twitching.
However discuss with a Neurologist about your problems and having proper tests done in order to have a correct diagnosis.
Hope I helped you. Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
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