Loss of movement in one leg

[LoveFlowers]

It all started about a week ago, when I was walking the kids to school... one of my legs started getting painful so I had to slow down. By school pick up time, I couldn't bend or lift one of my legs anymore!

I went to the hospital and they did blood tests and a CT scan on my brain. However, the doctor said I had been refused an x-ray of my leg/hip! The hospital said it was 'muscle fatigue' and sent me home (bloods and CT showed no abnormalities). To be honest, I just wanted to get back to my kids and out of the hospital by that point so hoped it would just recover.

I have a follow up appointment tomorrow and although I have gained some more movement in my leg, it's still not right. When I walk it gets progressively harder to move my leg and feels as if it's getting heavier. I can walk at a snail's pace now with reduced movement. It's not really painful, more uncomfortable and achy at times.

Do you think I should push for a scan of my leg/hip/spine? Should I ask for physiotherapy? Could just walking briskly really have caused this in one leg only? Anyone been through something similar?

hello @LoveFlowers

I just came across your post when searching for very similar symptoms myself.
How did the follow-up appointment go? How is your leg feeling now?

I am also experiencing similar things: very achey and stiff right hip especially and then a couple of instances when my right leg just wouldn't work well, both times just couldn't really walk at all without holding onto something. It was quite scary to be honest.

Anyway, just popping on to say that you're not alone and hope things get better!

Hi anewbook,

I hope you get better soon - it is scary and I found it terribly frustrating not to be able to get on with daily life.

The hospital initially found an area in my brain that looked like I'd possibly had a mini stroke (I'm only 40 though and had no other stroke symptoms!). However, after several more scans of my brain and heart, they said this wasn't the cause and the further scans found no abnormalities.

What helped me recover in the end, was a physiotherapy appointment where she basically reset that part of my brain with targeted exercises which, I could carry on at home. The physiotherapist said that sometimes your brain can get into a wrong pattern if you're injured for a while. The exiting report said it was possibly due to a spine/nerve injury (which they didn't check at the time) and if it came back to go straight to the GP. No problems since though🤞.

I think if it does come back I'd ask if it could be due to sciatica. Also was wondering if it was a weird after COVID symptom because I'd also been very suddenly tired, headachy and sniffly a week before.

Have you had any other symptoms? How long have you have you had it?

If I were you though, I'd go to the GP/hospital if you are not getting better because my case might be different to yours. All the best!

@LoveFlowers along with my other LC neuro symptoms a weird heavy leg and occasionally numb foot and pins and needles was one of them. It's tuned down a lot 10 months later but I still get it on and off along with other neuro stuff

@LoveFlowers
That must have been scary to hear the possibility of a mini stroke. Excellent news to hear that wasn’t the case and no abnormalities were found!

How interesting about the physio treatment with the resetting of the brain! Glad to hear things are much better now!

I have had aching joints for a while, crushing fatigue, headaches (migraine sufferer all my life though.. so that’s nothing new). Also cannot raise my right leg from a lying position at all. A few memory problems..

I called the GP today expecting to be turned away again but they invited me in this afternoon to be assessed by a paramedic. He noted the weakness in the leg but was at a loss as to what it could be and suggested a scan if the GP agreed. He said nerve responses all appeared good which was reassuring. He suggested A&E if if happened again.

Thanks for your reply.

By LC do you mean Long COVID? I'm glad it sounds like your symptoms are getting less severe with time and I hope you recover well. Did you get a diagnosis or some help?

My left leg went numb after covid, I had tests, they put it down to either a mini stroke or covid. They couldn't confirm mini stroke as basically I didn't get scanned til a while after and they said mini strokes don't show up after a period of time has passed

@Sunflowersinthewind That's interesting to know you have also had similar symptoms with it possibly being COVID/mini-stroke and that the doctors said that it wouldn't show up in a scan because it was too late after the event. How are you doing now? Have you had any help to aide your recovery?

@anewbook I forgot to mention that they did do a physical exam to test my nerve responses but they seemed fine. They also noted weakness in certain leg muscles despite saying my nerves where responding normally. They never did any scans of my nerves/lower body but they said it could be due to an injury there though. I've made a full recovery but it was very worrying at the time and just hope I don't get it again.

Hope you get some answers and make a full recovery too.

That's interesting as I have a nerve test too, which was normal but also reduced muscle strength. I am largely better now but still have on/off left sided weakness. My left side has never really recovered 100%