Please describe Muscle Weakness

[minnie76]

Hi everyone,
I haven't posted for a while.
Here's a little of what I'm going through.

Got a brain MRI in Jan 2012 due to lightheadedness and tinnistis that lasted for 2months. MRI showed excessive demyelination and lesions for someone my age group(37)

Both neuros including an MS specialist said no MS...however if my new symptoms( tingling/ numbness,lightheadeness) last for more then 24hours to call them back.

Called MS neuro after being diagnosed from ER neuro doc back in Jan 2013 re Trigeminal Neuralgia...MS neuro now wants to monitor me ( he wants me to see him and not the regular neuro).
The origin of TN is questionalble( I have a cyst in my check that has been stable with no symptoms for over 7 years) now this is what is causing TN...fam doc/ ent and I all agree that it's weird. Especially since its also affecting the other side of my face too!

Also felt like my bladder/part of my V was shot with Novocain for 4 days..it was functional but I couldn't tell if I had to go pee.

MRI in Feb 2013 shows >20 lesions ( but don't think it had changed from Jan 2013)
MRI of Spine clear
When MS neuro did my Babinski test....my toes did not go down like the used to..they just stayed mute. He retested my two weeks later ( and hurt me this time) but still no movement.

Apart from muscle twitching, numbness...major brain fog( I went home crying on night cause I feel so inadequate at work) I feel that my muscles are getting weaker.

Legs feel like jello sometimes and my arms are weak that I can barely lift them over my shoulder or even when I brush my daughters hair, I;m needing to bring them down again. I'm having balance issues...

My thighs shake sometimes uncontrollably after sex. Even during I get really tired really fast

I've never really conveyed to my Neuro how serious my fatigue/weakness/brain fog I've been feeling

Can someone please describe how muscle weakness feels...I don't want to sound like a nag when I see the neuro...I just don't know if it's true weakness or just that I need to exercise more.

I've been doing physio for a while as per Rheumy cause she noticed my ankles where caving in..and have knee pain.
Physiotherapist also adding balance exercises and lots of stretching



I work at an airport(lots of walking) and have 3 kids...so I'm up and going a lot.

I've got a great neuro(MS specialist). He called my cell last month to see how I was doing cause my TN was acting up and filled another prescription for me.

A close friend of mine just got diagnosed with Fibro..she says many of my symptoms sound Fibro..but neither fam doc/ Neuro or Rheumy suggested it.

Any help and guidance will be greatly appreciated!

Minnie76

[22cyclist]

If you get weakness from a lesion you will notice. It can disable your limb. It feels like you can't move it. You can't get your hands to grasp anything, and it is hard to move your arm. Your arm or leg feels heavy, real heavy. You will drag your leg if it is your leg, trip alot, you will know when the weakness hits. It is a feeling of being out of control of that limb, that half of your body, whatever.

Lisa
Moderation Team

[minnie76]

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for the reply, you're always so informative!

My weakness isn't that bad at all. My arms get tired when brushing hair, cooking, doing dishes and even putting on mascara. But I'm always still able to use my arms, they just tire way to fast in my opinion.

I didn't know muscle weakness was specifically due to a lesion...I just thought it was a general MS symptom.

Take care!

Minnie76

[hunterd]

when I get my weakness/fatigue, I cannot keep hold of things. When I used to get week in my legs, it would feel like I was watching with cement blocks tied to the bottom of my feet, until I could not take another step. I hope this was not confusing.

[Lori Lee]

I think I understand the weakness your talking about. I am currently in a flair ongoing for 3 weeks now. (Boo) Every muscle in my arms and upper back ache terribly to the point it limits my range of motion. My legs easily feel like jello if I over exert (walk up 4-5 steps too quickly I have to come in and rest). I am back to sleeping 11 hours at night.

My arm weakness has been so bad that I cannot hold my arms up to fix my daughter's hair. Currently my arm weakness isn't that bed but there are days I can hardly hold my head up. I have weakness in my neck?

Then there is the permanent weakness in my left leg. I have muscle weakness in the big muscles in my hips. I cannot lift my left leg off the table when asked to do so. Thankfully I still have use of the leg but it is a challenge when I am tired. When I push it I am literally dragging the leg.

[minnie76]

Thanks for the responses!

If I over do it or I'm tired...I feel like my arms(shoulders) are really heavy that I need to rest them more often...
My hand feel asleep again last night! But my neuro said it wasn't CTS..so I'm kinda confused...
My feet tingles in the morning...plus I have this spot on my right foot that itches for no reason...I've had it for years..it doesn't happen everyday but at least a few times a week!

My dad was worried about diabetes..but I was in the hospital (ICU) for over a week back in April(for something unrelated to what's been going on this past year). I remember the nurses always checking for my sugar..so I'm sure if there was a concern I would have know about it.

My lesions are all under 5mm..so I don't think my weakness is coming from that...I just don't know anymore

Minnie76

[Tia1]

I have weakness in my arms and legs and it feels a lot like you described. I can't keep my arms over my head or extended for very long without resting. Doing my hair is especially challenging.

My thighs get so fatigued! Its worse when I'm standing still. They also get tired when I'm intimate. I guess any sustained flex, exhaust them. Not a fun thing to have to focus on in the moment.

Sometimes my calves are affected but my thighs are the worse. I got on my bike a couple weeks ago and was shocked by how incredible fatigued my thighs were. Usually after you get into it for a couple days you get past the burn, but not lately. I thought that i wouldn't be able to make it home.

I'm gonna keep trying!