Hello,
I am 45 and the mother of 5. Around 3 years ago, I was lifting weights and was lifting weights that were too heavy for me (they were around 250 lbs.). Anyway, I hurt my knees and started going to my family doctor. He said that I had patellofemoral syndrome and just prescribed some naproxen. Well, for several years I kept going back and each time, I told him that my knees and quads were stiff. He referred me to an orthopedic doctor and in 2005, I had a MRI of my knees and it came back fine. My family doctor recently referred me to the orthopedic doctor again and he again ordered a MRI of my knees, but at the same time, he told me that the way I was walking, I needed to see an neurologist and referred me to one. She ordered a thoracic spine MRI which came back fine and now has ordered a cervical spine MRI which I have yet to do (am waiting on the referral). She said that my problem with balance and walking does not lie in my knees but rather with my nerves. She has me on Baclofen 10 mg. 1 tablet three times a day but said that after the MRI, she may try Botox and that should help me. Meanwhile, my orthopedic doctor said that the MRI of my knees showed that both my kneecaps were wearing out and I am in physical therapy for them. After the physical therapy, he said the next step will be braces then surgery to shave off some bone on my knees. I still think my problem is with my knees but the neurologist thinks otherwise. I walk with stiff legs and she said that I have spastic paraplegia. Just want some answers.

Hi, Mzrozhou! Welcome to NeuroTalk!

Gosh, that sounds uncomfortable. I have no idea where to recommend that you begin looking. We do have a search engine that will help you locate discussions that include some of your specific terms. It's up in the blue toolbar. I sure hope you'll find some answers soon.

I noticed one thing missing in what you've written--have you also had an MRI of the lumbrosacral spine? Given your weightlifting history, that would seem a logical place to investigate.

Weightlifting can, if not done properly and carefully, lead to problems in any part of the spine. I have a right side C6/C7 radiculopathy secondary to a weightlifting injury that involved a tear of the trapezius and rhomboids and a straightenin gof the cervical vertebrae--the neurological symptoms in my right hand began a few hour after the muscle injury.

With balance issues, it's often hard to tell if the effects are from muscular imbalance or from neurological compromise--you might also consider having nerve conduction studies done.

In any case, check out our Spinal Disorders forum:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

--good expertise over there.

HI Mz and Welcome~ Glad you joined us.

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. You will find a great number of caring, supporting members here willing to help each other as they can. Sounds like you are uncomfortable as AMN. I sure hope you will get relief soon. Keep us informed.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

I am new to NeuroTalk. In June 2011 I was building a wire gate on the ranch I work on. I have built them many times, but on this ocassion a wire came free and a hedge gate post cracked me in the head. Stubborn me didn't go to the ER even though I drove to the other side of town before realizing where I was. After a few days I seemed to get my mind back to normal, I would have pressure in my head in the evenings and when visiting a bigbox store I would check my blood pressure and it would be thru the roof. Thinking this is my only problem I head to the DR. to get it addressed. Once the blood pressure comes down the rest of my symptoms explode. Granted this is now months after the head injury. Now I have went to one neurologist who just doesn't seem to want to do anything, nothing but take my money for months. Now workers comp is envolved and their neurologist thinks I need to take Aleve or Acetomenophen. This is after not examining me. I have always hated Doctors now I know why. they take and take your money but when something is wrong they just turn a blind eye to you. The first neurologist diagnosed me with TBI and the last one with chronic postconcussion syndrome. I just want to get better.

Does anyone know what I am talking about when I say I can feel it coming on. I don't really get a headache but usually a burning sensation in the spot where the post hit me. Then as it progresses I loose my concentration and my balance. I don't really notice it so much but other people I work with say that I start moving really slow. Some times it gets bad enough where I cann't talk and other times I cant come up with what I want to say and my speech is slow. I have tried to conve what is happening to the dr.s.

Has anyone else had this? Will it eventually go away?