Temporary paralysis of legs

[PenguinsRabbits]

Today I couldn't move my legs for about 5 mins then managed to stand briefly albeit not straight then had another 5 mins when I couldn't move legs. Rest of body was fine - could move arms. Had lower back pain esp. around spine area but nothing that painful. Managed to get in bath then after bath could move legs normally again and felt normal. Noticed several patches of blue skin on legs with no obvious cause. No injury etc. Felt a bit dizzy when happened but often feel dizzy. From what I remember had feeling in my legs just couldn't stand, was nothing like fainting though.

Due to see neurologist at end of October so will mention it then but does anyone know what this could be? Thanks.

I have no idea but if I couldn't move my legs, even briefly, I'd be going to A&E. By ambulance if necessary.

No-one on here can diagnose you, and any altered sensation needs checking out as a matter of urgency. It could be any number of things. Get yourself down to A&E or at the very least, GP out of hours.

There's more to this. What is the neurology appointment for?

Thanks very much. Will call 111 tomorrow and see what they say, hopefully can see someone tomorrow.

In May I had a funny turn where I couldn't speak for about 10 minutes, couldn't move. Called 111 who called ambulance, did a few checks, said didn't think life threatening so stayed home. A week later still getting strange symptoms especially in left arm and neck and loss of feelings in fingers. Bloods and CT normal but scheduled non-urgent brain MRI. Initially said psychological. Then brain MRI came back no tumour or stroke but and they changed to they suspected I had had mini-strokes and was high risk for stroke. Failed quite a few neurology tests and they got weakness down right side. Quite surprised by that diagnosis as I can get symptoms on both sides of body and had some symptoms for 2 years.

Husband thinks its fine to leave as I'm OK now but think its best to get checked. Been having chest pain the past month but had heart checked in A&E and ECG was fine, bloods fine, x-ray fine. Might be a peri-menopause thing, seems to come on with any exercise or heat. Balance has been poor for about 2 years. Some of it maybe psychological but its weird, am not thinking about anything when it comes on and can strike in middle of night and wake me up. Also sometimes when I stand my legs just go. Come back after 5 mins or so. First thing that happened was sudden bladder incontinence with no obvious cause. Initially was getting flu-like symptoms for about 9 months, that went with long-term antibiotics. I wondered if it was Lyme as I had a strange insect bite which matched one of the Lyme rashes about 2 years but blood test was negative. Ankles have been getting swollen recently but doctor said that's fine as go down by themselves. Normal BMI, normal blood pressure.

The neurology appointment is as brain MRI was abnormal and they think vascular problems.

The leg weakness and bladder incontinence sound a bit like cauda equina syndrome, caused by pressure on the nerves from the spine. It's an emergency, requiring a visit to A&E to avoid long-term damage.

penguins - I say this with respect but I'm not sure that asking on MN regarding your health issues is the best idea anymore.

You've endured a very long examination into potential cancer which thankfully turned out to be fine, and you've had episodes of numbness/not being able to talk, paralysis of legs, heart beating out of your chest. Thankfully your recent x-ray for heart gave the all clear and your MRI has given you the ok regarding anything major like a tumour, full stroke or MS but thankfully you've been booked into neurology to follow up on the scattered white matter - and I do hope this too comes back with no further concerns.

Given your history I would be tempted to book a full MOT type check up or consider whether you, understandably, given your serious cancer scare, have some form of health anxiety. I know from my own experience that having a major health issue (or experiencing a close loved one having one) can fundamentally throw one into a health spin as it were - where symptoms feel absolutely real.

I wish you well.

The MRI they have said shows I have had mini-strokes with high risk of full-stroke according to A&E doctor. I am hoping that is wrong though as that prognosis isn't great, if what I had in May was a mini-stroke there's a 40% chance of full-stroke in a year. It's what MRI report says too though, well vascular or migraine and never had a migraine. They've now sent a letter through to GP to say I'm high risk for stroke. I don't think its the right diagnosis though but maybe I just need to accept it.

I am an anxious person but don't think I have health anxiety. It was my doctor who insisted on the cancer tests which were due to bleeding from bladder, bowel and vagina, I turned down a brain and spine MRI a year ago and have turned down other tests. Having said that I think some symptoms maybe anxiety but its really hard to know which to get checked and which to leave and was 50-50 on posting this or calling 111 but it doesn't feel like anxiety when I am having these symptoms and my skin is quite blue in places on legs and hands.

I changed doctor a year ago but old one thought it was lots of unrelated physical health conditions happening together, I tested positive for lots of infections last year, utis and pelvic, private doctor for work thought MS and that I needed a brain and spine MRI, obviously just had brain which came back abnormal. White matter hyperintensities is a flag for MS so would be interested as to why they have ruled it out esp with matching symptoms and no spine MRI but they may have good reason. It could be I am anxious about the stroke risk and getting physical symptoms, it doesn't feel like that - I normally can tell if I am anxious and would be first to admit it if I thought it was that. I hope its anxiety and its possible for this, maybe am just not aware but its very strange as I couldn't stand up straight either. I don't think its a life threatening thing - it maybe I've hurt my spine or neck somehow though as I've no medical knowledge its hard to know. Wouldn't be amazed if tests show nothing. It is hard though as if its anxiety its best not to ask or call 111 and hospital will be annoyed with me.

@PenguinsRabbits
I've seen a few of your threads now and I really do feel for you. After having a serious health event last year I've had so many investigations for different things. Weekly doctors trips, monthly a&e trips, it's so tiring. I hope you get some more information about your mri when you've seen the neurologist.
It is so hard to tell physical symptoms from aniexty symptoms, have you asked a doctor about propranolol? I take it daily for physical anxiety symptoms and it really does help.

Op, please speak to someone today and get yourself checked over. This all doesn’t sound right to me and you need to remember you only get one body, you’re the only one who knows when somethings not right and you need to fight your own corner. Don’t feel bad about putting the hospital out, I’m sure given your symptoms if you asked any nurse or doctor they’d tell you to get checked asap! People turn up at hospital for far less so please don’t worry about that.
Hope you get sorted x

Just one comment on your result for Lyme disease, I've read that these tests reliability is low, giving either false negative or false positive, so I wouldn't totally rule it out as a possibility.

Whatever it is, you've been through a lot and hope you get some answers very soon.

Sounds like it could be Cauda Equina, a medical emergency. Get seen TODAY!

Thanks very much - just called 111 and they said they can't consider the leg symptoms as they happened yesterday but they did note the unexplained bruising and an OOH doctor will call me back which is good. She did note the legs.

I certainly am not going to doctors every week, in last year I've been to A&E twice, one MRI of brain which came back abnormal, no GP or OOH visits. First time have called 111.

My former GP was of opinion everything had physical causes just unrelated, bleeding and infections had physical causes and had an operation and antibiotics which have stopped the infections. It's just whether there's a link and whether all neurological symptoms are physical or some are anxiety and doctors have said either is possible. I want them to be as certain as they can which is right of those. Atm they've said all they are certain of is that I'm high stroke risk. They think I've had multiple TIAs (mini-strokes) but they aren't 100% on that.

Beta blockers if they are allowed may help - my Dad has been on those since 18 for blood pressure or similar though my blood pressure isn't high at all. But if its anxiety could help. I don't respond to anti-depressants but am keen to try a medicine, its just which one. I don't think its cauda equina as first bladder symptoms were two years ago but OOH should be able to say and refer on if they are worried about that. I do suspect Lyme result is wrong as that explains everything apart from initial bladder symptoms. That's why private doctor work made me see said MS instead of Lyme.

Op have you ever heard of transverse myelitis?

It’s worth checking it out as your symptoms tally with the way it was recently described to me ‘all of a sudden my legs stopped working... long term got left with an inability to control bowels and bladder’.

It can come on rapidly or in fits and starts or slowly, due to a swelling on the spine causing pressure on the spinal cord. Needs emergency treatment with steroids to reduce long term problems.

I’m probably not explaining it very well but enough matching symptoms from what you have said to make it worth asking the doctors to explain why it isn’t that to you, so they don’t ignore it on the basis of it being quite rare.

Thanks not heard of that and it does sound similar.

Just finally got call back from 111 - he doesn't think I need to go to A&E as its both legs and OK now and thinks it'll be a similar cause to what happened in May. He asked about family history of MS and said OK to wait for neurology appointment. He did suggest getting blood tests for vascular issues at doctors next week though would imagine those are the same tests I've had recently which came back normal assuming its cholesterol and calcium. The hospital has sent GPs two letter anyway of tests they want so can do them altogether hopefully.

Why did you turn down the spine MRI?

Transverse Myelitis as wibble suggests could be worth looking into. I had it explained slightly differently as like MS in terms of damage but it is not in multiple episodes. It can come on quickly too.

@AlunWynsKnee I was told that it was related to MS and MS patients can suffer from it but also it's a thing in itself too. The myelitis bit of the name comes from damage to the myelin sheath covering of the nerve - and where the damage on the spine is can affect the severity of the symptoms and the type of symptoms. I really don't know a lot about it - just was told about it last week and the symptoms seemed to fit, including the fact that the symptoms - losing your ability to use your legs - are pretty major but can come and go. Didn't want to put too much info in and be wrong or put something in to stop the OP from investigating it!

OP - from what I understand- an MRI of the brain and spine can be very important in getting it diagnosed or ruled out - it's a different thing from a stroke or TIA - so really worth checking out and maybe seeing if you can get re-referred to have the MRI of your spine done...

Thanks very much - will see if I can get them to do MRI of spine. The doctor yesterday thinks the events will be linked and remembered I had one before at hospital and one nurse watching said it was a seizure. I didn't think it was at the time so they never looked into that but may ask about that as I often get things happening which look like the absence seizures. Someone will talk to me and say they keep losing me and I only remember bits of conversation and feel like I'm going in and out of consciousness and I get quite confused. When I get it really badly get hallunications/blurred vision but that's generally when got a temperature. Always come back. I've been told my leg moves by itself at times, I have never noticed this, well once. I have strange thing sometimes were my body goes all floppy I collapse but can get up straight away. Anyway will ask neurologist.