Husband in his 40s almost can't walk and we don't know why

[CeciliaMars]

My husband is in his late 40s and is almost unable to walk the dog anymore, can barely put his own socks on and is going to have to give up his manual job. He has pain in his back, hips and legs, but it's not the pain so much that's the problem as the weakness and the feeling that he's dragging one side of his body. He also feels 'out of line' so that he over-compensates on one side of his body as the other is weak.
He has had an MRI, scans on his back and hips - and nothing has explained these problems. He has seen so many osteopaths, chiropractors, physios etc, and although they can temporarily relieve some of his discomfort, there is no answer as to why this is happening. Husband is increasingly depressed about this and is talking about needing a wheelchair in later life.
He ran lots of marathons in his younger years, and I wonder whether he's just done damage that is deteriorating over time, but it's frustrating that this is affecting so much of our lives without any real explanation. Has anyone got any advice or been in a similar situation? Thanks so much for reading.

A friend who has long covid has this. They can’t seem to find a reason though.

Has he seen a neurologist or had any nerve conduction tests?

Keep up with the chiropractor and physio is the only advice I can give.

Seconding neuro referral for nerve conduction tests.

Pay 200 for a private consultant appointment.

Pay for a private doctor for a second opinion. Sometimes things are missed. When did this start?

If the consultant finds something your dh can then have it treated on the NHS.

One side of the body feeling weak sounds like a mini stroke has been missed?

I second and third to see a neurologist for advice.

Ask GP if he can test for auto immune conditions and then referral to rheumatologist if any odd results in the blood tests. These can be crippling.
Also as above referral to neurologist.

Absolutely see a private neurologist ASAP

I would return to the gp and ask them to look at autoimmune diseases, it's an age things can start.

Has he had x-rays standing up? I had trouble for years, nothing major showed up until I had x-rays standing up.

Has he had a CT head? Or MRI? I'm wondering if the pain is secondary to the weakness.

I would also second (third?) a rheumatologist. I have arthritis and feel a lot like how your husband is feeling at the moment; it's attacking my tendons rather than joints at the moment on one side of my body so I feel very much like I'm dragging myself around

Has he had a lumber puncture / nerve conduction test/ MRI head ?

Please refer to a neurologist

I thought this too. Does he have high blood pressure? Sometimes a vascular stroke can do this.

I would ask for referral to neurologist.
Do his symptoms come and go or are they at same level all the time?

Has he been checked for guillain barre syndrome?

I was going to suggest this - that's how it started for DP.

I would presume they've ruled out Parkinson's. Although I don't think his are the usual symptoms.

@Swannning same for a friend. It was missed for a few months as well.

Has he had blood tests? I was very unwell, shooting pains in my bones, joint pain, could hardly move my hands because of pain, felt like there was a heavy weight on my chest stopping me breathing, felt weak and exhausted and depressed, panic attacks and anxiety.

It was a severe vitamin D deficiency. Six weeks of supplements and I was loads better.

I’m another who thinks he should see a neurologist. If nothing else, it might rule out some of the more scary possibilities.

As people have mentioned, a referral to neurology might be needed. Have you ever heard of functional neurological disorder? Maybe research it to see if the symptoms match.