Left leg paralysis, no pain, nerve damage, has anyone had similar?

Boo1234

Hi I'm new here.  I am reaching out in the hope someone has had a similar experience.  18 months ago my toes felt numb on my left foot.  Then the top of my foot and I couldn't curl my toes.  My foot then dropped.  I was referred to a neuro who said it was most likely a lumbar issue.  During the past 9 months I have had a lumbar MRI, pelvic MRI and then a second lumbar, pelvic and thigh with contrast.  I had 2 x EMG's , a recent lumbar puncture  and next week I have a CT.  Plus lots of bloods.  So far all I know is that I have something very unusual but they don't know what it is.  There is a definite issue picked up by MRI and EMG as it seems my sciatic nerve signal is not good at thigh level. No issue with pinched nerve or disk. Meantime , my leg gets worse and it has spread up my thigh and left buttock.  I have absolutely no pain (for which I am so grateful). I have no movement at all with my left leg and foot. However, the fatigue is bad and I struggle to walk - my right leg is fine but I need a stick to stop me from falling whilst dragging my left leg. My bloods show low B12 and a thyroid issue (underactive)- the neuro did not think this was anything to do with it.  Any ideas?  I'm only 59 years old and my life has been badly affected by this.  I have been told it is highly unlikely I will get movement back.  It may be worth mentioning I do not have weakness in my left leg.  I can stand on it but cannot get it to move. I stopped driving in February as I own a manual car.  I was optimistic that it would be fixed but probably need to give up on that and change to an automatic.

chiarieds

Hi @Boo1234 - & welcome to the community. I hope you get some answers soon, but unfortunately as we're not medically qualified we can't give an opinion.

As far as your foot drop goes, I wonder tho if you've been referred to an orthotics department to see if a suitable brace could be found which would then help with your walking?

Trying a pair of elbow crutches may also be more helpful than a stick, & you could try these out in a physio department. Kindly let us know how you get on.

Boo1234

Thank you for your response.  I turned down the brace and crutches months ago for personal reasons.  I didn't expect medical advice, I think I worded my post badly, I am keen to find anyone who has already been on this journey.  When two neurologists (one of them very experienced) say you are a mystery and have something rare they have never seen before it makes you want to find someone who has walked this road..  Hope that makes sense.  Perhaps this is the wrong forum for me as I really don't want advice on walking aids.  However,  thank you as you didn't know that X

chiarieds

Sorry I was of no help; mentioning aids is just the long retired physio in me coming out. Hopefully you will find someone with similar problems to yourself. Regardless, you will find this community very supportive & understanding.

Alex_Alumni

Hello @Boo1234 and a warm welcome to the community Thanks for explaining that you're looking to share your experience with others who've been through the same.

It takes a lot to post for the first time on a forum, so don't worry about how you worded your post, it's positive to see that you've been able to reach out.

To help any members with similar conditions share their thoughts I've edited the title of your post and marked it as unanswered. I completely understand why you're looking for peer support, as it's quite unsettling to be told you are a mystery as you say.

You're welcome to have a look around the forum if you'd like to, a good place to get to know other members is the Coffee Lounge, where you can chat or play games. 

If you feel there's anything you need a hand with, please let us know, and enjoy your afternoon.

Alex