Leg Weakness and Mobility Issues

Posted by gaboslastresort @gaboslastresort, Jun 29, 2024

Hi! I’m new here and am sharing my situation in hopes one of you have heard of something similar to what I'm going through. For reference, I’m a 23 year old female. Since mid-January, I have been experiencing symptoms in my legs including weakness down both legs, decreased range of motion, and lack of endurance which inhibits my ability to walk distances longer than a minute or stand for a couple minutes without getting fatigued/feeling like I just ran a marathon. As a result, I no longer drive. I also struggle getting down/up from the ground due to decreased range of motion/flexibility and can only go up the stairs one by one with my left leg leading and hold a rail going down one step at a time. These symptoms have significantly impacted my daily life.

Some background is I was having bad anxiety/consistent panic attacks in Dec/start of Jan. In mid January I did a Pilates workout targeting the legs (tons of squat variations including pulsing, calf raises, etc) and I instantly knew I overdid it when my legs were shaky and stairs were tough right after. It became extreme DOMS, I had a heavy sensation as if bricks were weighing my legs down, and even lightly pressing my legs hurt. Probably irrelevant but I also got a really bad cold around that time. It’s as if my body freaked out with everything and somehow turned the DOMS into weakness that never got better.

Since then, I have seen a neurologist, rheumatologist, orthopedic dr., musculoskeletal dr., and primary and urgent care. All are stumped and don’t know what’s going on, saying it’s an unusual presentation and weird I have no other symptoms.

I have had an MRI on my lumbar spine and brain which were both clean and rule out MS. My EMG/nerve conduction came back normal. I have gotten lots of blood drawn 4 different times and everything is in normal range. From my autoimmune blood panel, only my ANA was positive (abnormal), but my neurologist said women often are positive even though they don’t have autoimmune disease. Mine was a speckled pattern and titer was only 1:80.

Since mid-February, I have been going to physical therapy 1-2 times a week and have seen slow, small improvements, but still not close to where I was before all this.

Since I struggle with walking a normal pace/cannot walk far before my legs feel completely wiped out, I only average about 1,000 steps a day if even, and my legs (especially my right which is worse), have visible muscle atrophy.

Any thoughts/suspicions on what's going on? Could my symptoms simply be caused by lack of use and get better if I gradually start moving or have someone stretch my legs each day? Or is it some rare autoimmune disease that got triggered from the leg workout/bad anxiety I was dealing with in January? Or does it sounds more like a muscular condition? Thank you in advance, I just want my life back.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group.

SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Sep 1 2:46pm

In reply to @humblyhoping "What is your treatment plan? Did you have a brain scan?" + (show)

@humblyhoping I was diagnosed with Functional Movement Disorder or FMD. It is also referred to as FND, Functional Neurologic Disorder.
It’s a disorder, not a disease. Simply put, my brain and body are not talking to each other as they should.

I have unbalanced walking so I have to use a cane. There’s a whole bunch of issues with it. You should look it up on YouTube if you need to know more.

Treatment, is physical, and psychotherapy.

loveaus | @loveaus | Sep 1 3:30pm

I had similar symptoms in my 30's. It was Tranverse Myelitis in my cervical spine with non-ms demyelination. It was most likely the result of a car wreck. I was rear-ended when I was 19 and had a mild concussion. There's not much they can do but it usually resolves on it's own. Mine flared up again years later but it eventually resolved. A steroid pack is always helpful for me. It knocks out the inflammation. The nice thing is that you taper off of the steroids so you don't have rebound inflammation. Most doctors won't have an issue with allowing you to give it a try.
Do not take B vitamin supplements if you don't have a deficiency. It absolutely can do harm if you have kidney disease or other issues. Most excess vitamins are excreted through the urine but b vitamins can be harmful. Be sure to discuss it with your doctor before taking it.
Overall, I think you're going to be just fine but be sure to report new symptoms to your doc.
Best of luck! xoxo

humblyhoping | @humblyhoping | Sep 1 3:56pm

In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@humblyhoping I was diagnosed with Functional Movement Disorder or FMD. It is also referred to as..." + (show)

I will, thank you. How are you today and is your condition improving?
I am going to make an appointment for eye doctor.
Something off in left eye. I have had a heaviness in left brain area for awhile. My eye vision is getting very poor only in that eye. Don’t know if contributes to dizzy and imbalance.

SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Sep 2 12:22pm

@humblyhoping I have had a bad 10 days. I also have, occipital neuralgia. It’s inflammation of the nerves in the head. That has been causing me some problems.

Other than that I’m ok. Thank you.

simchaemuna2 | @simchaemuna2 | Sep 3 1:54pm

I sooo appreciate your posting. My daughter is experiencing the same thing almost to the letter. She is seeking the same information you are. If I found out something I think might be useful to you I will let you know. Until till then I will keep both of you daily in my prayers

bug3 | @bug3 | Sep 4 11:46am

Have they tested your blood? Or perhaps shrinking arteries that decrease how much blood is reaching your legs. I have the same symptoms.

db2751 | @db2751 | Sep 4 5:13pm

I have had acupuncture and it worked for a period of time. My skin is so thin and sensitive that over time I became hyper anxious over having it done. I have started have routine alternating SI joint injections and spinal epidural.

csforrester99 | @csforrester99 | Sep 10 5:40am

How are your symptoms now? I have been dealing with this for 4 years.

williampassas | @williampassas | Sep 11 12:19pm

Has Sjogrens Syndron been considered?

bug3 | @bug3 | Sep 11 8:52pm

In reply to @bug3 "Have they tested your blood? Or perhaps shrinking arteries that decrease how much blood is reaching..." + (show)

I have blood tests frequently as 1 years cancer survivor. They also tested my blood flow an although not optimum, flow is adequate according to the vascular folks. It is a horrible situation as I continue to lose ground. I keep waiting to hear from the revision ortho doctor but yet to hear back. Just another old person so why bother type attitude. I greatly appreciate your words. So what wad found to fix your problem?