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What Causes Persistent Numbness In Right Foot, Left Leg And Knees?
Question: Male age 59; In April, numbness started in my right foot. then numbness worked its way over to the left leg, up to the knees, then equally moved up to just under my breasts as of to date. mussels are a little week, but still walking. This numbness includes the gowning area. (not comfortable at all) however bowels seem to be fine, urination is slowing.
I did have lower back surgery in Nov. of 2015, however resent MRI shows no sign of compression. what do you think?
Current doc is referring me to a neurologist. Could you please let me know what the (possible)problems could be.
I did have lower back surgery in Nov. of 2015, however resent MRI shows no sign of compression. what do you think?
Current doc is referring me to a neurologist. Could you please let me know what the (possible)problems could be.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
It is a good thing that you are being sent your neurologist, actually I think you should've seen a neurologist from the moment symptoms involved both limbs.
As to what could it be, the possibility of compression usually is excluded by MRI, but I wonder what type of MRI did you have, if only of the lumbar spine it doesn't exclude a compression higher up, which is where the location should be since you mentioned symptoms to have reached your breast.
If MRI has been of the whole spine, then it should be looked in the direction of damage to nerve roots and peripheral nerves. Causes can be multiple. Among the most common possibilities to be considered are chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and peripheral polyneuropathy.
The neurological exam should give some indication, by testing motor strength, sensation modalities which are affected (altered sensitivity to touch, pain, temperature, vibration, proprioception), changes in the reflexes etc which would indicate whether there is a need for MRI in higher levels (if changes reflect spinal compression) or to search for a peripheral involvement. If peripheral a test called nerve conduction studies and electromyography is the next probable step. Afterwards there are many other tests which could be indicated to confirm the diagnosis and search for the cause (peripheral neuropathies can have many many causes), such as lumbar puncture and blood tests, but which ones will depend on the hypothesis raised by the initial exams.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
It is a good thing that you are being sent your neurologist, actually I think you should've seen a neurologist from the moment symptoms involved both limbs.
As to what could it be, the possibility of compression usually is excluded by MRI, but I wonder what type of MRI did you have, if only of the lumbar spine it doesn't exclude a compression higher up, which is where the location should be since you mentioned symptoms to have reached your breast.
If MRI has been of the whole spine, then it should be looked in the direction of damage to nerve roots and peripheral nerves. Causes can be multiple. Among the most common possibilities to be considered are chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and peripheral polyneuropathy.
The neurological exam should give some indication, by testing motor strength, sensation modalities which are affected (altered sensitivity to touch, pain, temperature, vibration, proprioception), changes in the reflexes etc which would indicate whether there is a need for MRI in higher levels (if changes reflect spinal compression) or to search for a peripheral involvement. If peripheral a test called nerve conduction studies and electromyography is the next probable step. Afterwards there are many other tests which could be indicated to confirm the diagnosis and search for the cause (peripheral neuropathies can have many many causes), such as lumbar puncture and blood tests, but which ones will depend on the hypothesis raised by the initial exams.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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