Strange Left Leg Sensation

[JennFiction]

Hi all,

Wonder if anyone has this symptom [other than twitching, of course]. Now & then, my left leg feels strange. Kinda weak, kinda abnormal ... it's so hard to explain. I've been tested by many neuro's over the past year and it's never shown weakness. And I don't feel this way all the time. I'll go through a good week where I think that it's finally gone, and then I have a day where it just feels kinda strange to walk. It's holding me up and I'm not falling or turning my ankle, but somedays it just feels like it's almost about to give out on me.

I know I don't have ALS. I do have BFS, I know that. The twitches don't really bother me anymore. [Although the other night I had some major thumping in my left forearm -- so much so that when I laid in a certain position it was causing my left pinky to jerk at the same time. That was unsettling.] I guess when these symptoms flare, though, I worry about MS, because there are so many different symptoms and they can be so vague, there are relapses and remittances, and it can be hard to diagnose.

I don't sit around and worry about this day in and day out, but when my leg is feeling like that, I do get a bit scared.

Any thoughts from anyone out there? Thanks as always. This is a great site.

 

[ivancrazy]

Hi Kate....

What you are describing is perceived weakness. Many people with BFS get that, including your's truly here! I have read that it is a result of stress, or more pointedly, of adrenaline release. The more you worry about it the worse it gets...hence a cycle begins. So try not to worry!

Yo've heard the old adage "weak in the knees?" Well this is the same.

You are fine! You may want to do a search on the web site here under perceived weakness and see what you get.
peace, jen

 

[Alonzo]

Hi there-

I have been experiencing this same thing with my leg...I have such a hard time describing it to people. It just feels weird...kinda weak, but its not like I can't walk or go up stairs or anything. Although, I do notice going up stairs or up a hill, it seems more strained but that could just be from being out of shape. Ever since all this twitching and other stuff started, I haven't been getting much exercise. But also, when I'm on my feet for a while it gets achy and sore. I have also had many clean neurological exams, a clean emg and all that good stuff. I've been to a rheumatologist, too....who thinks possibly fibromyalgia but I honestly don't think he knows any more than I do. So, its all a big mystery and I just hope and pray that it's just BFS (although, none of my doctor's have diagnosed me with that because they don't seem to be too well versed with BFS). This has been going on for almost a year now, though, along with all the other weird symptoms and I can't even tell anymore if its just a viscious cycle of stress and anxiety because I drive myself crazy over it all....worry, worry, worry! I've also been experiencing chills in that leg (or at least what I would call chills). Has anybody else experienced this? I just went to my PCP the other day and she didn't seem concerned at all. She keeps telling me that I've had many thorough exams and tests and she knows its frustrating, but also good that they haven't found anything horrible! I guess I should just listen to her and stop worrying! But, that's easier said than done. I wish you well, Kate. I'm sure we're all fine!

Feel better-
Renae

 

[ivancrazy]

Hi Renae,

I am so glad to have found someone with the same leg thing that I have going on. I also agree that when I climb stairs or exert myself [on days that it feels strange], it often feels like it's not going to make it, but then somehow it does. I've also had some pain in that leg, and that leg just seems strange to me now. [It's not every day ... today it's been pretty good, although I was feeding the baby dinner and my foot started going to sleep on me and I was moving it around like crazy to get it back to normal.]

I guess my biggest fear is that one day it will really be weak, and that I will find out I had MS for like 10 years and never really knew. I don't know why I'm so worried about MS. Well, wait a minute -- of course I know why! I have a new baby and I have to keep going, and be healthy for him. I have a big job and I need to be here to take care of him. So being disabled would just be impossible. As a matter of fact, I never worried about anything like that until I had him, so I know there is a psychological component going on here. I am in therapy, but not sure it's really helping.

Let's hope we're all really just fine and we're going to make it through life okay.

Thanks,

Kate