Left Knee Wobble Worries

[DJohnDavies]

The reason I am worried is that a few days back I started getting a sensation that my left knee is slightly wobbly. I could do walk normally, heel-toe and do squats etc. so I thought that it is one of those "feelings" that will pass.

Well, it didn't. Also, in the past 4-5 weeks my legs have been fasciculating more than usual (with the left being more than right). I know that people have gone through the routine of measuring and finding differences of 1/2 to 1 cm. in their legs (which is normal) but for me the middle of left thigh is 1 cm. smaller and the top (the fatest part close to the torso) is about 2 cm. smaller. This seemed excessive to me. Isn't it ?

This made me question if my quad. strength was normal and if there is any slight reduction in strength and came across this test where without taking support of hands while getting up and keeping one leg as straight as possible, get up from the chair with the other leg. Lo and behold, the left had a harder time than the right.

I am just very worried that now this might be begining of something bad (have had 6 months of widespread fasciculations with normal neuro exam. until begining of April but so far no EMG).

Any replies on the above story will be sincerely appreciated.

 

[StephG22]

SC,

I still say not to worry.

You say your left thight is 1 cm smaller than your right. My left thigh is 1 INCH (2.5cm) smaller than my right. My left leg has also been a trouble spot for me. Lots of twitching and weak/sensitive feeling in it all the time (over a year now). I told my neuro about the size diff and she just said probably because my right side is dominant and that was it. She was not worried. My neuro has even picked up on the fact that my left leg is slightly weaker than my right thru strength test but still, she said, all is OK.

I have had 2 EMGs in this smaller, twitching leg...both normal.

A 1 cm diff is so slight, I'm sure it's due to dominant vs non-dominant side or even the fact that it's pactically impossible to get the measuring tape in the EXACT same place on both legs to compare.

Try not to get to focused on your leg. Don't waste your time measuring and testing yourself. (I'm speaking from experience.) Go enjoy the day! )

Barb

 

[GinniferLynne]

I'm a physician and that is not a standard test of quad strength. I would not worry about it.

 

[Diego4Life]

Barb,

So true about measuring yourself - it's hard to get an exact reading from the exact same spot on both limbs.

SC, have you ever played much basketball? I'm wondering because I used to play often and I was always better able to jump off my left leg than my right. However, I'm right-handed so it's not a matter of dominance. I also played soccer as a kid and while I kicked the ball with my right foot, my left leg was the one that planted firmly in the ground. So I think somewhere along the line I made my left leg stronger. And yes I've done that "get up from a chair with one leg" test - it's just a little bit easier with my left leg than my right. I guess my point is - it could be that you have a leg stronger than the other but it doesn't necessarily mean that one is getting weaker.

Johnny

 

[twitchamy]

Thanks for your replies ...

I did make sure that the measurements were precisely done and when the top (fatest) part of the thigh is 2 cms. smaller than there is certainly a difference (I would agree that 1 cm. could be a result of somewhat inaccurate measurement).

Anyway, measurement by itself is not the biggest thing since it can be different for different limbs and people.

Johnny, your point is well taken about one leg stronger than other but this test should be easy to do with either leg (of course, one leg of the legs could be even easier than the other).

What worried me most was that the amount of strength I had to apply with left was significantly more (eventually I am always able to stand up on the left too) than the right which to me meant that it is not easy to do with my left.