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What Causes Persistent Weakness In Legs In An Elderly Man?
Question: My dad for the last 2 weeks started with his legs feeling weak. His legs just give way underneath him and he falls. I am so worried whats wrong or what could be wrong. Dad has been sent for an xray tomorrow and having other investigations. What could be wrong and will he ever be able to walk again with correct treatment? He is only 67
Brief Answer:
Pls write back with his amitriptyline history and blood glucose readings
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. There can be numerous causes for sudden weakness in the legs, causing them to give way like:
+Nutritional deficiencies
+Muscular dystrophies
+Diabetes
+Fibromyalgia
+Iron deficiency anaemia
+Spinal cord injury
+Malnutrition
+Dehydration
+Side effect of medications
+Guillain-Barre Syndrome
and many others.
But based on the information provided, your father does have diabetes and also worth mentioning are the side effects of amitriptyline like:
+Muscle spasms of extremities
+Muscle weakness
+Jerking of muscles
+Stiffness of muscles
+Trembling of muscles
+Severe muscle stiffness (especially of limbs)
+Problems with muscle coordination
So it comes down to 2 things:
+What has his glucose reading been off late, especially his HbA1c?
+Has his leg issue begun after starting him on amitriptyline or before?
I look forward to hearing from you and I also hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Pls write back with his amitriptyline history and blood glucose readings
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. There can be numerous causes for sudden weakness in the legs, causing them to give way like:
+Nutritional deficiencies
+Muscular dystrophies
+Diabetes
+Fibromyalgia
+Iron deficiency anaemia
+Spinal cord injury
+Malnutrition
+Dehydration
+Side effect of medications
+Guillain-Barre Syndrome
and many others.
But based on the information provided, your father does have diabetes and also worth mentioning are the side effects of amitriptyline like:
+Muscle spasms of extremities
+Muscle weakness
+Jerking of muscles
+Stiffness of muscles
+Trembling of muscles
+Severe muscle stiffness (especially of limbs)
+Problems with muscle coordination
So it comes down to 2 things:
+What has his glucose reading been off late, especially his HbA1c?
+Has his leg issue begun after starting him on amitriptyline or before?
I look forward to hearing from you and I also hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Blood is 6.4
Legs after starting Amitriptyline. If he stops Amitriptyline he gets nerve pain in legs. If he doesnt take Amitriptyline will his legs come back I am so scared. Thank you for your help
Dad is go worse each day goes by. Should we stop them until we get to see GP
Dad originally was on amitriptyline but he got overdosed on them long story. It caused shingles but dad stopped tablets then when he started getting pain legs doctor restarted them. I have my suspicions it is the tablet. I hope it is irreversible if he stops them. But what can dad have for leg pain
Legs after starting Amitriptyline. If he stops Amitriptyline he gets nerve pain in legs. If he doesnt take Amitriptyline will his legs come back I am so scared. Thank you for your help
Dad is go worse each day goes by. Should we stop them until we get to see GP
Dad originally was on amitriptyline but he got overdosed on them long story. It caused shingles but dad stopped tablets then when he started getting pain legs doctor restarted them. I have my suspicions it is the tablet. I hope it is irreversible if he stops them. But what can dad have for leg pain
Brief Answer:
Seems like the amitriptyline is the most likely cause
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.
The most likely cause does seem to be amitriptyline and so you need not stop pain management medications, just revisit your doctor and find a safe and more suitable substitute to it.
If he stops them he will really struggle with the pain, so although I would prefer it if he would stop, I think he may have to stay on them until he gets to his GP. But what you can also do is start him on another pain management medication and discontinue the amitriptyline to see if that helps him.
Choose any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (e.g. nimesulide, ibuprofen, diclofenac, etc.).
I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Seems like the amitriptyline is the most likely cause
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.
The most likely cause does seem to be amitriptyline and so you need not stop pain management medications, just revisit your doctor and find a safe and more suitable substitute to it.
If he stops them he will really struggle with the pain, so although I would prefer it if he would stop, I think he may have to stay on them until he gets to his GP. But what you can also do is start him on another pain management medication and discontinue the amitriptyline to see if that helps him.
Choose any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (e.g. nimesulide, ibuprofen, diclofenac, etc.).
I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Will his legs come back to normal once treatment sorted
Brief Answer:
It should be irreversible once the medication is discontinued
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.
Yes it should sir/ma'am. Soon after discontinuation of the medication, and the medication is out of his system his legs should return back to his pre-amitriptyline state, which is normal.
I hope you find my response helpful. Please do not hesitate to write back to me anytime, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
It should be irreversible once the medication is discontinued
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.
Yes it should sir/ma'am. Soon after discontinuation of the medication, and the medication is out of his system his legs should return back to his pre-amitriptyline state, which is normal.
I hope you find my response helpful. Please do not hesitate to write back to me anytime, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much for your help
Brief Answer:
The pleasure was mine entirely
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
You are always welcome, please do not think twice before writing to me again.
Best wishes.
The pleasure was mine entirely
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
You are always welcome, please do not think twice before writing to me again.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
We went to GP yesterday he has stopped Amitriptyline and put Dad on Gabapentin hope this is a better drug.
We went to Diabetes centre who is really pleased with Dad his overall HbA1c is 59 they said range was up to 58 so it being over by 1 they are really not concerned.
Today we see Endocrinologist so hopefully then can help.
I am really worried and keep crying Dad has lost his mobility. How long after stopping Amitriptyline should he get leg use back please?
Dad also had knee xray yesterday awaiting results.
Its Dads left leg that keeps giving way says right is weak but not as bad as left.
There is no history to suggest a stroke etc.
Thanks in advance for your help
We went to Diabetes centre who is really pleased with Dad his overall HbA1c is 59 they said range was up to 58 so it being over by 1 they are really not concerned.
Today we see Endocrinologist so hopefully then can help.
I am really worried and keep crying Dad has lost his mobility. How long after stopping Amitriptyline should he get leg use back please?
Dad also had knee xray yesterday awaiting results.
Its Dads left leg that keeps giving way says right is weak but not as bad as left.
There is no history to suggest a stroke etc.
Thanks in advance for your help
Brief Answer:
Good thing that a stroke has been ruled out
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.
If amitriptyline is the cause for his weakness then he should experience progress within a few days time. But if it is not, then he will feel and remain the same. At that point, we will have to conduct some other tests like nerve conduction testing.
His HbA1c does seem to be good, and I too am happy with the results.
Let me know about the x-ray result so I can also provide my input on the current situation.
Best wishes.
Good thing that a stroke has been ruled out
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.
If amitriptyline is the cause for his weakness then he should experience progress within a few days time. But if it is not, then he will feel and remain the same. At that point, we will have to conduct some other tests like nerve conduction testing.
His HbA1c does seem to be good, and I too am happy with the results.
Let me know about the x-ray result so I can also provide my input on the current situation.
Best wishes.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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