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What Causes Loss Of Motor Control And Tingling Sensation In Legs?
I have been sick since 2006 after what I thought was a bad case of the flu and have had more and more loss of motor control and feeling in my legs and arms, loss of feeling in my hands, muscular seizures in legs arms and now in torso (making is impossible to take full breath) and throat causing loss of breathing and choking. Feelings of electrical shock type pain that runs up and down legs, arms and neck, I have had a bunch of tests done and no one seems to connect the dots on them…just keep getting told that what is wrong with me is I smoke and I am fat. I am 46 yo and weight 322 stand 5’6” smoke a pack to 2 packs a day (and yes I roll my own) blood tests…High Iron, High Ferritin, and high white cell MRI lower back; Multilevel degenerative changes are present with endplate spurring and there is fatty degenerative endplate marrow changes at T12-L1. No significant neuroforaminal narrowing or spinal stenosis is identified and there is small T6-T7 through T9-T10 paracentral disk protrusions. Multilevel lower thoracic circumferential disk bulging and mild facet hypertrophy noted MRI brain; There is mild patchy T2 prolongation in the periventricular and subcortical white matter consistent with small vessel ischemic changes. There is a small developmental venous anomaly incidentally noted in the right occipital lobe. Spine tap; RBC of 770 on 2nd test done 1st test was over 2500 no tramatic tape was reported by drawing physian and was colorless and clear as noted on report. EEG was done…I was told it was normal and yet they will not post it on to web for my review.
Sat, 17 Nov 2018
Hi,
In summary, you are complaining of gradually progressive weakness and decreased sensation since 12 years ago. Also you have some breathing and (may be) swallowing problems. You had lumbosacral and thoracic MRI study which are unremarkable but you did not mention a cervical MRI.
What you mentioned as the muscular seizure is more probably muscular fasciculation (local twitching of the muscles.)
You did not mention if you have done an Electromyograhy and Nerve Conduction Study (EMG & NCS) test or not.
-There are a lot of conditions that could explain your situation:
1- Peripheral nervous system problems
2- Motor Neuron Disorders
3- Myopathies (less likely)
The first and most important test that you have not to mention is an EMG & NCS (see above) to reveal any peripheral nervous system (polyneuropathy) or Motor Neuron disease. This is very important that an expert Physiatrist or neurologist does this test. You should also do some other blood tests such as Vit B12 level as severe B12 deficiency can mimic your symptoms.
Overall, there some of the etiologies for your condition are acquired and some others are genetically inherited. Some of the acquired etiologies have specific treatment and if you do not recognize them as soon as possible, they will induce irreversible damage.
Above all the things that I mentioned, a detailed physical examination can help that unfortunately, I cannot make it for you. Please refer to a Physiatrist or a neurologist and ask them to perform and EMG & NCS test and order a cervical MRI as well as some blood tests including Vit B12, thyroid function test. Also, if you use alcohol, please tell them as alcohol abuse can also damage the peripheral nerves seriously.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Hooman Mahmoudi,
Neurologist
In summary, you are complaining of gradually progressive weakness and decreased sensation since 12 years ago. Also you have some breathing and (may be) swallowing problems. You had lumbosacral and thoracic MRI study which are unremarkable but you did not mention a cervical MRI.
What you mentioned as the muscular seizure is more probably muscular fasciculation (local twitching of the muscles.)
You did not mention if you have done an Electromyograhy and Nerve Conduction Study (EMG & NCS) test or not.
-There are a lot of conditions that could explain your situation:
1- Peripheral nervous system problems
2- Motor Neuron Disorders
3- Myopathies (less likely)
The first and most important test that you have not to mention is an EMG & NCS (see above) to reveal any peripheral nervous system (polyneuropathy) or Motor Neuron disease. This is very important that an expert Physiatrist or neurologist does this test. You should also do some other blood tests such as Vit B12 level as severe B12 deficiency can mimic your symptoms.
Overall, there some of the etiologies for your condition are acquired and some others are genetically inherited. Some of the acquired etiologies have specific treatment and if you do not recognize them as soon as possible, they will induce irreversible damage.
Above all the things that I mentioned, a detailed physical examination can help that unfortunately, I cannot make it for you. Please refer to a Physiatrist or a neurologist and ask them to perform and EMG & NCS test and order a cervical MRI as well as some blood tests including Vit B12, thyroid function test. Also, if you use alcohol, please tell them as alcohol abuse can also damage the peripheral nerves seriously.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Hooman Mahmoudi,
Neurologist
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