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What Causes Numbness At Tips Of Toes And Weak Arms And Legs?
Question: Hi,
I am a 25 year old female who began feeling some mild numbness discomfort at the tips of both right and left toes about 2 weeks ago. Yesterday, I began feeling weakness in both arms and legs, along with a slight numbness (very mild) in the palms of both hands. It was worse on the right side though. This began at around 9pm last night. Today, the symptoms are mostly gone except for some very mild weakness in the legs, and the toe numbness still remains. I went to a doctor who did blood work, and everything was normal. I am still waiting for results on thyroid and vitamin B12 though. CBC was normal. What could this possibly be? Could this possibly be MS?
I am a 25 year old female who began feeling some mild numbness discomfort at the tips of both right and left toes about 2 weeks ago. Yesterday, I began feeling weakness in both arms and legs, along with a slight numbness (very mild) in the palms of both hands. It was worse on the right side though. This began at around 9pm last night. Today, the symptoms are mostly gone except for some very mild weakness in the legs, and the toe numbness still remains. I went to a doctor who did blood work, and everything was normal. I am still waiting for results on thyroid and vitamin B12 though. CBC was normal. What could this possibly be? Could this possibly be MS?
Brief Answer:
There is a slight risk of this being due to MS.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted your symptoms. These are more suggestive of a peripheral nerve disease, which is not common in multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, there is involvement of central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
So, your current symptoms are most likely related to vitamin B12 deficiency or a mild viral infection.
If there is a recurrence of similar or different symptoms, only then, we should consider a diagnosis of MS.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
There is a slight risk of this being due to MS.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted your symptoms. These are more suggestive of a peripheral nerve disease, which is not common in multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, there is involvement of central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
So, your current symptoms are most likely related to vitamin B12 deficiency or a mild viral infection.
If there is a recurrence of similar or different symptoms, only then, we should consider a diagnosis of MS.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi,
Why wouldnt these symptoms be suggestive of MS, and would else could cause them? Also, would MS manifest in the same way these symptoms did? For example, appearing on both sides, in both arms and legs, coming for about 9 or 10 hours then slowly disappating, preceded by some toe numbness? Today there is still some mild numbness in the right hand and some leg weakness, but overall it has resolved quite abit from yesterday. The toe numbness on both feet however is still there and hasnt changed for several weeks, I am not sure if it is related or not.
Why wouldnt these symptoms be suggestive of MS, and would else could cause them? Also, would MS manifest in the same way these symptoms did? For example, appearing on both sides, in both arms and legs, coming for about 9 or 10 hours then slowly disappating, preceded by some toe numbness? Today there is still some mild numbness in the right hand and some leg weakness, but overall it has resolved quite abit from yesterday. The toe numbness on both feet however is still there and hasnt changed for several weeks, I am not sure if it is related or not.
Brief Answer:
B12 deficiency and viral infections could cause.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
These symptoms are very unusual in MS. In MS, typically, the symptoms occur on one side of body, and last for more than 24 hours.
Symptoms may involve all four limbs (arms and legs) but if affects the entire limbs, and not only the tips.
As I mentioned earlier, these symptoms would be more common in vitamin B12 deficiency and viral infections.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
B12 deficiency and viral infections could cause.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
These symptoms are very unusual in MS. In MS, typically, the symptoms occur on one side of body, and last for more than 24 hours.
Symptoms may involve all four limbs (arms and legs) but if affects the entire limbs, and not only the tips.
As I mentioned earlier, these symptoms would be more common in vitamin B12 deficiency and viral infections.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you,
As I'd mentioned earlier both arms and legs (the entire limbs) were affected by a sense of weakness, that has now dissapated for the most part, and the discomfort came on both sides at roughly the same time. this would still be unlikely for MS? Would you recommend I try and obtain any specific tests at this point?
As I'd mentioned earlier both arms and legs (the entire limbs) were affected by a sense of weakness, that has now dissapated for the most part, and the discomfort came on both sides at roughly the same time. this would still be unlikely for MS? Would you recommend I try and obtain any specific tests at this point?
Brief Answer:
MRI may be done.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
If your symptoms lasted more than 24 hours, it would be better to get an MRI of brain and spinal cord done.
This would make 100% sure whether this episode was due to MS or not.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
MRI may be done.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
If your symptoms lasted more than 24 hours, it would be better to get an MRI of brain and spinal cord done.
This would make 100% sure whether this episode was due to MS or not.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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