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What Causes Leg To Curl Downwards?

Posted on Sat, 19 Apr 2014

Question: I am a 27 year old male, 5' 10" and 190 lbs, and when I walk, run, bike, or use a stair climber, the toes on my right foot (and sometimes also the left) start to curl downwards after a few minutes of doing the activity. A podiatrist told me to take supplements, which didn't help, a neurologist did some sort of electric stimulation test on my spine and the results didn't show anything abnormal, a muscle specialist said that nothing was wrong with me. A physical medicine specialist ordered an x-ray and MRI of my back (lumbar) and while the x-ray said that there was nothing abnormal, the MRI said that I had a protruding disc or something that was causing irritation and he said that the disk was causing the problem and that I needed to do physical therapy, consisting of electrical stimulation of my lower back, ultra sound massage, and a roller machine. I don't want to do physical therapy for the rest of my life, and I want a permanent solution. I went to a back surgeon and he said that there was nothing wrong with my back and that I should ask my psychiatrist if the psychotropic medicine that I take is effecting my feet, and he said that it isn't. I want a permanent solution to this problem. What do I do?

Answered by Dr. Veera Raghava Rao Buddha. (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: May not be any thing serious. Detailed Answer: Hi Welcome to Health care magic forum. You have seen almost all the specialties concerned. Physiotherapy specialist diagnosed as a bulging disc, the back surgeon denied any problem in the back. At the age of 27 years most probable cause could be the deficiency of the calcium, or the electrolytes. The back specialist suggested the it might be due to the side effects of the drugs you are using. As lamotrigene has the side effects of 1) muscle rigidity, 2)tremors,3) autonomic dysregulation. Saphris--Has very stiff muscles,twitching or uncontrollable movements of arms, or legs as a side effect. Adderal---inability to move the arms, legs,joint or muscle pain as side effects. though not seen from the beginning,may be seen when there is deficiency. I usually prescribe to my patient with such symptoms neurotrophic injections for 10 consecutive days, and then periodically, calcium, and vitamin D supplements and muscle relaxant analgesics. You can have deficiency condition confirmed by testing the serum calcium, and electrolytes estimated. Avoid taking potato, other tubers, tomato,egg, chicken, and sea foods till you get complete relief. wishing for a quick and complete recovery. Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Veera Raghava Rao Buddha. (10 hours later)

OK, I forgot to mention that the neurologist told me that he thought the problem was an electrolyte deficiency and advised me to drink sports beverages like Gatorade while exercising. I tried that, and it didn't help. He ordered blood tests for some chemicals (one of them carnitine, I think) and they were all normal. I also didn't mention that the curling (or cramps, as the physical medicine specialist called them) started years ago, probably at least 4, and before I was on either Lamotrigine and Saphris. How could the cramps be due to these drugs if they started before I began taking them? If taking the neurotrophic injections does resolve the problem, would I have to take them again in the future and how often? How long would I have to take the analgesics and supplements? Also, when I saw the back surgeon and asked him if back surgery would resolve the problem, I really think that he brushed me off when he told me that it wouldn't. I want a second opinion: Do you think that back surgery would fix it? I really, really want a permeant solution to this problem and not have to do physical therapy for the rest of my life and/or spend an arm and a leg and an inordinate amount of time fixing it. I appreciate any help that you can give me. Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Veera Raghava Rao Buddha. (15 hours later)

Brief Answer: Stop thinking about it. Detailed Answer: Hi, Mr XXXXXXX kandil,Welcome here again. The back surgeon is not confirmed of the opinion of bulging disc hence he is not preferring for surgery.So there is no point in having surgery. Most probably it is deficiency symptom, but you are not willing to accept. Probably you are not absorbing the electrolytes, try to have an infusion of the electrolytes,to confirm the diagnosis. In my answer i have mentioned to take neurotrophic injections for 10 days and then periodically means once in a weak, then fortnightly, and then monthly once. Calcium tablets and vitamin D are also can be tapered like this,and can have occasional pills. It may take time for recovery, and can have estimation of electrolytes for diagnosis. Take more of banana to supplement with the natural calcium, and have citrus fruits for natural electrolytes. Don't worry about the thing ,if you go on thinking you may have to get psychiatric treatment. Leave every thing on your doctors and try to keep calm and stop thinking of the problem for at least few days, to have complete recovery. Wishing that you will find your own recovery. Thank you.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E