Weak ankles
 

Sorry to be posting again.

NPNP here
New
Peripheral
Neuropathy
Person

Tried to search this question. Could not find answer.

Hmmmm......
I have been having on/off problems with both of my ankles; not at the same time.

Walking; at times they seem to ALMOST give out.
Pain occurs; ankles seem to twist; causes loss of balance;

IS this another symptom of PN?


I walk with a cane, and sometimes forearm crutches or walker, due to muscle weakness and balance issues with myastenia gravis, aka MG. MG affects PROXIMAL muscles. I know MUCH about MG, diagnosed in 2000; anyone who has questions please feel free to ask me.

Using the walking assist devices, when my ankles have gone out - I am sure has kept me from tumbling to the ground.

:rolleyes:

Having issues with peripheral muscles (PN) is striking a major chord with me. Whole new bag of issues, pain, odd feelings, symptoms, etc.

Knowledge is power.
That is why I am here.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Please refresh my memory....

Were you or are you taking statins? (for cholesterol)

Did you take any fluoroquinolone antibiotics in the past, recent past or recently?

What drugs are you on exactly? There are lists of drugs that are known to cause PN.

The ankle is wrapped in tendons...should these become damaged from certain antibiotics, then the ankle will loosen.

Have you had a good podiatrist check out your feet and ankles for any other pathology besides the MG? Sometimes a good orthotic can do wonders. (this happened for my son).

Have not seen a podiatrist



October 2013 Severe Reaction to flu shot; sent me to ER, with acute myasthenia gravis exacerbation. No flu shot in Fall of 2014.

I see some things to comment on. Thanks for the details.

1) Nexium--- these drugs used long term every day, lower the acid in the stomach which then affects the absorption of many nutrients. B12, folate, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and some trace minerals like copper ...all require acid for absorption.

So you can get your B12 measured now, and Vit D (which helps calcium absorption) to see if you are low in either or both. Your B12 should be 400pg/ml at least.
You can rub in a good magnesium lotion to your ankles and see if that helps too. Morton Epsom Lotion is very inexpensive and available at WalMart, Walgreens, and online at Amazon. Just a little bit goes a long way to restoring magnesium to your muscles and tendons.

2) it is difficult to estimate how much damage you have from Zocor... if you did not take CoQ-10 with it, the damage could be substantial. There is new evidence that cells actually die from statins. This is called apoptosis...
This link mentions a book out now...which is also on YouTube.
http://www.zoeharcombe.com/2013/10/h...ell-at-a-time/
Statins have also been recently shown to demyelinate nerves, and this causes neuropathy and brain damage. They block a certain growth factor that heals and repairs axonal damage.

3) I think you should see a good podiatrist who may give you useful braces for your ankles, or orthotics to help stablize you.

4) long term use of steroids (including nasal sprays) can affect adrenal functions. They lower many nutrients including potassium and magnesium, Vit D, calcium, some B vitamins and over time your body feels these deficiencies and cannot perform properly.
This is a list of some of the nutrients affected by steroids, based on PubMed papers over the years:
http://www.chiro.org/nutrition/ABSTR...steroids.shtml
(This website uses as a reference the same book I have by Pelton and Ross.)

So I do see that you have some areas to explore and implement yourself. Sometimes making small changes in lifestyle can accomplish alot (and most doctors don't suggest them at all--many doctors don't even know what drugs really do the body.)

Thanks so much Mrs. D.

I appreciate your time and concern.

I am working on changing a few things in my life, possible med changes or elimination, diet, adding vitamins and the lotions, etc. and will make an appt. to see podiatrist.

Feels a bit overwhelming, but the alternative (not being proactive and living with these symptoms and potential further health consequences) - feels horrible.

My neuro and internal med docs both held "Poker Faces" when I told them of my symptoms and the pain, and when the internal med doc said PN. I know they see patients who are much worse off than I am, especially my neuro.

I see them too!

But still, this is the only body and life I have......

Thanks again.

I have afo's that help tremendously with foot drop. They are through Hanger, a company that specializes in this stuff. The brand is Ossur. They are made of a very light carbon material. The way they are made, makes it so you have some "spring" back in your step. They also had braces for ankle instability.
In most cases you will need a rx from your doctor. For insurance purposes, they are considered "durable medical equipment" .
They are very light, can be worn inside of normal looking shoes--no need for special shoes. They have made a world of difference for me.