New to boards. Left leg and arm weakness
 

My symptoms started with my left leg back in late September. I started feeling slight pain in my upper butt and weakness down my leg. It was unsettling. Went to doc and he told me it was likely Sciatica and sent me on my way. It has recurred on and off since and seems to be worse when I sit for too long. Over the last few weeks I have had the same feeling in my left arm. Just a general weak feeling. I went to a doc on Friday and she said I had an abnormal reflex (babinski) in my left foot and sent me for a Cat Scan to make sure my brain was okay. She said the ct looked normal and said it was probably a pinched nerve. I am getting very anxious because it is not going away and becoming paranoid it is something more serious like a stroke even though the CT she said looked normal. I have also the last 2 days felt an odd feeling in the left side of my face. Not numb or anything just different than the other side. I do have a follow up appointment with my doctor tomorrow. Does this sound like something I need immediate care (hospital) or does it seem I can wait to see my doctor tomorrow. Also anyone with the same symptoms? I am making myself crazy worrying about what could be causing this. Thanks in advance!

Welcome to NeuroTalk Micmash!! :Wave-Hello:

I'm sorry for the symptoms you've been having. I can relate to what you're going through.

It sounds like you need to see a neurologist possibly? It sort of sounds like neurological symptoms? But the doctors should be able to see if it might be by looking at your overall health background?

Let us know what your doctor says at the followup visit. Try not to worry because it might be something minor.

I'm glad you found our forum because it's a good place to share these things. Take care. :hug:

Thanks for the response and the welcome. I am driving my poor husband crazy freaking out about what I might have going on. So i figured maybe I should look for somewhere online I can talk with others with similar symptoms. It is nice to to know there are others out there who understand and can relate.

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/r...nchHello-1.jpg



Hi micmash, and welcome to Neurotalk! This is a great place with lots of caring, friendly, and helpful people.

We're so glad you found us!

I'm not a doctor, and I can't think of any forums to suggest for you. Feel free to have a look around, and jump in wherever you feel comfortable. I do agree with ewizabeth in that if it was me, I would get a referral to a neurologist.

I wish you all the best.

Thanks to both of you for the welcome.

I had an appt with my doc today. She checked my left foot reflex as the other doctor did and confirmed the abnormal responses and has referred me to a Neurologist because all of the weakness and pain is one sided. My appt is Jan 7th. I am nervous and anxious and hoping the symptoms settle a little while I wait. Otherwise I may drive myself and my husband crazy with worry.

I will def take some time over the next few days and familiarize myself with these boards and what is were. Thanks again for responding and welcoming me!

:)

I'd get a good cardiac workup and a B12 level done.

I worked with an Indian woman whose young sister (30's) had similar problems on the left side. It turned out she had a cardiac problem and also causing it all was very low B12 (she was a vegetarian like many people from India are).

Your B12 levels should be 500 or above. In US they still use antiquated lab scales that go down to 200 and if you are down there you are having problems with that low level.

I have a B12 thread on the PN forum since many of us use it for neuropathy. It has all the details:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread85103.html

Not all left sided weakness is neurological.

Thanks for the advice Mrs D. Do you know what time of cardiac issues she had?

I seem to recall a minor valve problem. Like mitral valve prolapse. The real problem was her low B12.

That gal who worked with us, left not long after. So I don't know if her sister had surgery finally. The plan was to wait and monitor it for a year...they said when the B12 is better, she might not need the surgery. But I remember when that emergency call came in... and my tech had to run out..and we had no help that day besides! :rolleyes: So it was doubly memorable for ME!
(both families had immigrated here just a few years before).

If one Googles India and B12 you can find many papers from there about this...in fact more than in US. Their dietary practices because of their faith etc leads them down the low B12 consequences path.

Thanks again. This whole thing just has me stressing probably way more than I need to. The worst part is waiting for your appointment. I am a worrier so it is hard for me not to think about things. Like I said in a previous posts I hope my symptoms will subside enough to get me through these two weeks without panicking and running to the hospital. OY! I will be sure to talk with the neurologist I see in 2 weeks about the things you have suggested.

hi micmash and welcome to the board.
this is a great place for information and support.

it's been 7 yrs now since i was dx'd (diagnosed) with MS. i remember how it felt to make appts, wait for the appt, wait for the test results etc.

however, it doesn't help to get so stressed that it's affection your health or life. it won't change anything because you have to wait anyway.
i would try to take one day at a time. read a book or listen to music.
also, keeping a sx (symptom) journal with the dates and sx's you have may help your dr when you meet with him.

think of Q's and write them down. try to have a family member or friend go with you for support and an extra set of ears.

what i'm trying to say is that if you can gain some control of your fears you will hold onto your personal power. don't give it away to fear.

also, get copies of the CT scan. your neuro may want to see it for himself.
i hope your appt goes well and you get the answers you need.
please con't to post as we are here for you for support.

Thanks Nancy. I have been trying to not let my mind go in circles. It is def hard with so many weird things going on with my body. I think what has be the most freaked out is the abnormal reflex in my foot and the weird sensations on the left side of my face and neck. Do any of you know if an abnormal reflex like that always means a neurological disease of some sort?

Thanks for the suggestion of writing down my symptoms etc. I will def start doing that.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!

micmash

Welcome to Neurotalk

I'm so glad that you are keeping this thread alive and having people talk
to you. This will also be of help to you.

I'm Donna and its hard to know what kind of different things can be neurological. But as the others have said, the best things you can
do are write down any thing that happens.

1. Such as a little tremor. If you have something small happen or it
seems like its small write it down.

2. The things going on in your face and neck are important too. They
could be what are called aura's. This just means they are warnings to
something coming. Which you are figuring out ahead of time.

Keep working through your thoughts.


Not wanting to scare you, but it is possible that these could be small
simple partial seizures. So if you would like more information on this
you can go to the epilepsy foundation and look them up.

I would do this before getting to scared of the word.

Donna

Ok sit down and take stock of YOU!
 

Something has happened. Something you don't like? And it's scary as heck.
That all said? Go get a full GP doc's work up and ask for 2-4 neuro references and also possibly cardiac ones as well. I guarantee you that you will be so THOROUGHLY TESTED that you will feel as if you have been 'processed and then freeze-dried' on occasion!
Do NOT PANIC! Just go and get tested! Eliminate all the possibles and then docs can zero in on the probables. That's what I did when I first got hit w/a severe neuropathy and I knew I couldn't put it off as the way things were progressing? I might not be able to do them later! Glad I did! I can still walk, drive, get around...tho at times w/help? Gotta admit, that IF I'd not acted when I had? I'd be stuck in a wheechair and very crabby about now!
Physical therapies of different sorts can help - for all sorts of issues! They've special therapists for many aspects that mite be just for YOU!
Thing is? You must go thru the medical testing food-processor! There is help out there? But how you use it and take the best of it to USE is up to you!
Aside from being scared silly? :hug::hug::hug:'s and hope! - j

Hi and Welcome to NT

It's good to have you with us. I hope you're finding some helpful things to try.

It's hard not to worry when things are not right and you don't know why. It helps to understand why and you can deal with it better. It takes time to get through all the hoops I guess.

Just hope the B12 works. I swear by it too.

Good morning everyone! Sorry I have not posted in a little while. Got caught up in the business of the holidays. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.

Today is my neuro appointment. What can I expect at this appointment? A lot of questions I would assume? Will he do a pyhsical exam like checking all my reflexes etc? I am always nervous going to the doctor so knowing what to expect would be great. Thanks in advance :)

Wow I have not been on here in some time.

Quick recap of my appts etc. Met with the Neuro back in January, we had a great chat about all my symptoms etc. Did the initial exam and thought everything seemed to be fine. He sent me back to me reg doc with an order for different bloodwork, all of which cam eback normal. I had a normal cat scan. He did to nerve tests on me which came back pretty much normal.

UGH! My doc told me to give it a month and see how my symptoms were so I did and went back to see her this past Monday. Still having on and off weakness in left arm and leg with bad shoulder pain and hip pain. Finally had an MRI of my spine and brain on Tuesday night. They say results are usually in within 24 hours so I am anxiously awaiting a call from my doctors office.

Part of me is scared of a brain tumor, part of me is scared of MS or soemthing along those lines and the other part is scared of no diagnosis at all. :( I am sick with worry.

Hello, great to see you back. Keep us inform about your results. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene :hug: