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Numbness and cramp in right foot.

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jennifer50782
jennifer50782

i have had numbness and cramp in my right foot for 2 years it started after 9 months of sciatica. It also left me with a limp.after numerous visits to doctors physios and other specialist I was sent for an mri scan. This showed The discs on the right side of my spine had closed together causing the limp.and also explained the back ache I was having. An operation was offered with no guarantee I would be any better in fact I was told it could even leave me in a worse condition. So I declined.  So now am told just have to live with it. I take b12 D vitamins potassium and anything I read may help with the cramps and numbness. I am 70 years of age and apart from this very well.so I have to live with it . It may help to share this information

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • paddy50248
    paddy50248 jennifer50782

    Posted

    Hi Jennifer,

    To present oneself to a doctor and others with the symptoms you write about and then to be told to get on with your life is  a "story" heard all to often.  While I'm not a neurologist, I do have DYT1 Generalised Dystonia.  It is widely accepted that of all the neurological conditions, Dystonia in all it's shapes and forms, is the most mis-diagnosed if indeed it is even diagnosed at all.  

    I can't be more specific when addressing you symptoms other than to get a referral from your GP to a neurologist.  By doing so you just might get a diagnosis that can be dealt with somehow, some way.

    Best wishes

    Paddy

    • jennifer50782
      jennifer50782 paddy50248

      Posted

      Neurologist is one I havnt been recommended but will ask GP because it may not be related to spine scan could be different disorder thank you
    • SteV3
      SteV3 jennifer50782

      Posted

      Hi Jennifer,

      Here's one for you, how many people - probably including yourself do you know that suffer from "Writer's Cramp"? I would assume the number is fairly high if I'm correct, and it is also called in medical terms "Focal Hand Dystonia"... yes, I have it - I can write a few words then my writing becomes even unreadable by me! Generalized Dystonia covers all forms of the horrible condition.

      There's many cases that go undiagnosed because Neurologists don't know enough about the condition which Paddy stated, it is bad really - it is something that many are unaware of, which is sad in this day and age of information and technology.

      Regards,

      Les.

  • SteV3
    SteV3 jennifer50782

    Posted

    Hi Jennifer,

    I must agree with Paddy on this one, I to have Generalized Dystonia, amongst other ailments. Physiotherapists are useless, I've had them in the past and my doctor said last week we'll try one again, instead of increasing painkillers!!

    Ask you doctor to refer you to a Neurologist Consultant, I see mine every 10 weeks and sometimes inbetween.

    Bear in mind I was diagnosed 30 years ago, back then only 7 known cases were in the UK. I was given the option of a brain operation, but with only a 5% chance of success I thought it was not worth the gamble, because the chances of becoming worse were too high!

    I expect the 'limp' you refer to is a gait in medical terms which I suffer from as well. But, I have swollen feet, ankles and legs which are even painful just to touch, let alone to have cramp in them at the same time. Numbness is also a problem, and I  tend to lose my balance very easily.

    With Generalized Dystonia though, the whole body iis effected!

    Regards,

    Les.

    • paddy50248
      paddy50248 SteV3

      Posted

      Les,

      I'd hate this to turn into a sort of "Mutual Admiration Society" site!

      I was hit with Dystonia at about age seven, I'm now 63, (64 on the 19th of May coming.  In a letter from a neurosurgeon in the USA who saw head X-rays of mine on my website.sent me an e-mail regarding the brain surgery carried out on me when I was just 9/10 years old.  During the period of about eight months I had eleven "brain operations" all of them experimental.  The result was that my Central Nervous System (CNS) was wrecked.  Even typing this brief message there isn't a single inch of my body that isn't in a state of involuntary movement.  I need hardly tell you how physically and mentally exhausting this is.  I have physiotherapy twice a week and acupuncture once a week -  all of which costs a fortune. The physiotherapy is beneficial for a short time, but any loosening of the muscles and tendons in my body is welcome.

      We have a huge shortage of Neurologists in Ireland.  If one wants to make an appointment one might have to wait one year, perhaps even longer.

      Best wishes.

      Paddy

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    • jennifer50782
      jennifer50782 SteV3

      Posted

      i lose my balance too and have fallen a few times just by putting weight on my affected foot first  will ask GP for referral to neurologist in case it's not related to spine wear and tear. Thank you for that information
    • SteV3
      SteV3 paddy50248

      Posted

      Hi Paddy,

      I made an appointment to see my Neurologiist today to see him on the 23rd April 2015, just two weeks today - over here that is normal, some areas it can take up to a month with the NHS cutbacks. I usually book about a month in advance for BoTox injections, which have to be administered by Neurologists anyway, they always have 5 Neurologists around on that day, so they can get all BoTox Injected patients done quickly. My main Neurologist is NHS and Private, so he can be seen, even on Private care. A really nice guy, always pleasent and always there to listen to you, and if need be, he will go out of his way to get anything else or help if required. When he asks  something to be done on your behalf it is done quickly, he chase anything up if he finds a delay - to be honest, hes quicker than my own GP and thats saying something. My Doctor is pretty quick, she chased up the OT Team on Monday, yesterday I got a phone call from of the OT Team to make an appointment to come and see me on Friday next week!

      There's a well known Neurologist in Scotland that is supposed to be really good, my own Neurlogists even mention him to me because he runs his own website and they all either know him or know of him. I would post the url on here but it would cause the post to go in to moderation. So, if you need it let me know via email. smile

      Regards,

      Les.

    • paddy50248
      paddy50248 SteV3

      Posted

      Jeepers, I would love to meet any neurologist.  I've been discussing the prospect of getting out of Ireland to see a neurologist - one that will listen to me and one who will see the extent of damage done to my brain when I was a child.

      Please do let me have that URL via email,  

      Thanks 

      Paddy

  • Tezes
    Tezes jennifer50782

    Posted

    Hi Jennifer,

    i have had numbness all down the outside of my left foot for about 2 years, have had nerve conduction tests which didn't show anything. I also get a lot of back pain and cramp etc.

    I also developed a tremor and other symptoms about 18 months ago and last August after brain scans and seeing a consultant neurologist that specialises in movement disorders I was diagnosed with Dystonia and dystonic tremor and I now have medication which minimises the symptoms. I'm 58, I don't believe you should just live with symptoms they are there to tell you something is wrong. I agree with the others ask to be referred to a neurologist and let them explore a bit deeper.

    kind regards

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