Mysterious Medical Condition

[Elenin]

Hello guys at VT. My problem started around a year ago, in the beginning of 8th grade, my left quad felt like a burning pain the first day of PE. I ignored the pain, but later on, I simply could not do the things I used to be able to do sucessfully. When the day of the mile run arrived in November, I felt confident, since I was athletic, and was one of the fastest runners in my class. I completed the mile in all the grade levels that required the mile run fitness test. I ran a 7 minute mile in 7th grade. As the mile run began, I sprinted and was ahead of the pack by several feet, more like 10-20. As the first lap of 6 drew to a close, my left hamstrings felt pretty weak, and it gave out. Since that day, I've never been able to sucessfully complete the mile run. During the 8th grade year, during the fall, my left quad consistently ached, and I walked with a limp pretty often. In December of 09 (8th grade), I was brought to an orthopedist, and I was ordered an MRI of both thighs. The results were normal. During the spring, the aching shifted down to my left hamstring. The aching was consistent, and never went away. Also, in spring 2010, I had an MRI of my left knee done, and that was clean as well. The aching has never disappeared.

Now, I'm in 9th grade, and my left leg seems to be getting progressively weaker. When my Phys Ed. class ran the mile, my left leg gave out not even half way through the first lap of 4. I managed to jog my way through the lap, and told the teacher that my leg gave out and I thought I pulled a hammy. I went inside, and sure enough, my leg felt normal within 15 minutes without ice. I met with the school physical therapist, and we met weekly, and we set up a date to attempt the mile again. Before that date, I jogged lightly on the treadmill at home, and the date arrived. I drank plenty of water, and gatorade before the run. The date was the make-up day set for anyone who was absent their class day. As the whistle blew, I was on my way, moving like lightning and quickly accelerating past the 5 runners. 3/4 through the first lap, my left leg gave out once again, and I had some difficulty getting up, but I continued with greatly reduced strides. I continued on, slowly, but surely, but gave out quickly on the start of the 2nd lap. This time, I had great difficulty getting up, as I simply could not get up. It felt like my leg was paralyzed. They had to radio in to the school, and a wheelchair was brought out, and I was placed in it. An accident report was filed shorty after. After 20 minutes in the nurse's office, my leg felt better and I continued on. Since the fall, my left leg has been getting weaker, and I now have difficulty walking. I have seen an orthopedist, and 2 neurologists this year. The PE teachers and the physical therapist are very concerned about this. The p.t. has never seen my type of issue, neither have the doctors. In December 2010, I had an EEG ordered by my current neurologist, or sleep-deprivement test, to measure brain waves to see if tiredness factored in. Recently, last week, I had an EMG and a Nerve Conduction Test done by a neurologist to test for nerve damage in the legs, and sure enough, the test had normal results. This is a mystery concerning my family, my friends who have seen my leg just give out, and the doctors. Strangely, my family doctor who I see for physicals thought I was distracted by a bird on the day where I needed help by wheel-chair to get back in the school. It was an absolute perfect day.

I'm posting here to get advice (if any), and hopefully find others with symptoms like I'm experiencing.

[Skrate]

This is something worthy of house, man.

But... If you're leg gives out that quickly then it has to be either muscular or neuromuscular (stating the obvious, I know). It is possible that your muscles do not have enough glycogen to perform efficently, but I can't be certain for a multitude of reasons. It could be growing pains or even an irregular growth or non-growth in the hammy.

I've had something like this, but not as profound and it didn't last as long, however - once I started loading on carbs, increased my glycogen levels, things almost immediately increased.

[Elenin]

I wouldn't consider it "pain", the leg overall just feels "funny", with the weakness. A bone spur was removed from my left knee in '08, but I don't know if that has anything to do with this sort of issue. The doc who performed the EMG/Nerve Conduction needed help from the director of neurosciences, and did not measure nerve activity in my hamstring, but measured activity in my quad, feet, and a few muscles in my lower left leg. I don't know, but I was confused why the needle wasn't stuck in my hamstring to measure activity in the muscle. I would think that an MRI or any type of scan of my brain would be the next step. My right leg has been normal, and I have never felt weak on that side.

I saw the school physical therapist on Thursday, and, I will attempt the mile on the outdoor track once again, next Wednesday or Thursday. She suggested pushing the neuro for an earlier appointment day from the previously scheduled May appointment. She also thinks a muscle biopsy should be done. There's a slim chance, in my opinion, of my problem being solved before summer vacation.

Unfortunately, an earlier appointment could not be scheduled with the neuro. I did see the physical therapist today, and I'll start keeping a log of my daily activities.

Please don't triple post --
~Aurora

[Josiah7]

Unfortunately, an earlier appointment could not be scheduled with the neuro. I did see the physical therapist today, and I'll start keeping a log of my daily activities.

Sounds Like a Good Plan :)

[Elenin]

My left arm as a whole now has minor discomfort and feels weak, and it feels the same as the leg. My arm has been feeling weak for the past week and definitely has a different feeling than my normal right arm. It appears to me that the weakness has spread. Hemiparesis sounds like it could describe what I've been through. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemiparesis

[eatthis9999]

DONS, you may have injured one of you quadriceps in a previous event and done a muscle tear/strain ( grade 3 most likely, you leg would have got slightly red) MRI does not notice this, the muscle strain will be in a concentrated point so only affects when doing certian things, when not treated with propper physio technique can take 20 years to recover, very often pro sports people take 16-24 weeks to recover from grade 3, and no offence you are not the physical standard, medicaly prepared as well or trained as well as these players, I suggest you go to see a physio and sugest you have damaged a muscle or tendon in you quads.

[Elenin]

DONS, you may have injured one of you quadriceps in a previous event and done a muscle tear/strain ( grade 3 most likely, you leg would have got slightly red) MRI does not notice this, the muscle strain will be in a concentrated point so only affects when doing certian things, when not treated with propper physio technique can take 20 years to recover, very often pro sports people take 16-24 weeks to recover from grade 3, and no offence you are not the physical standard, medicaly prepared as well or trained as well as these players, I suggest you go to see a physio and sugest you have damaged a muscle or tendon in you quads.

I doubt that's the problem, because of the weakness in my left arm.

[eatthis9999]

that suports me actualy, remember einstein said every action has an equal and oposite reaction, meaning it causes pain in your arm as a response to pain in your leg, working in a conjoined injury method

[Elenin]

I'll suggest to the neuro in May that I may have a quad injury that didn't appear on the MRI. Hopefully it isn't the case, but, I just want to get an answer so I could actually participate in a sport before senior year.

[eatthis9999]

no offence to your neuro but he should not be relying on a stupid MRI scan for muscle injury, he should get a physio in to do physical testing, set it out to him that a physio is required and a better test required

[Elenin]

no offence to your neuro but he should not be relying on a stupid MRI scan for muscle injury, he should get a physio in to do physical testing, set it out to him that a physio is required and a better test required

Well, blame the orthopedist and my pediatrician for relying on MRIs and nerve tests to find out what's wrong.

[QwertyAsdf]

that suports me actualy, remember einstein said every action has an equal and oposite reaction, meaning it causes pain in your arm as a response to pain in your leg, working in a conjoined injury method

If I am not mistaken, I believe that you meant to refer to Newton's third law of motion.

[Elenin]

When walking in Washington D.C., my problematic leg was greatly fatigued after the long walks throughout the city to museums and monuments. My right leg was fine during the trip.

I have an appointment Monday with the neuro. Hopefully more tests will be ordered.

I saw the neurologist today, and she eliminated the possibility of a quad strain right after I suggested that possibility to her. She did order an MRI of my brain, which I'll receive an appointment for in a few weeks. She said that if the brain MRI is clean, I will be referred to an endocrinologist. My next appointment with the neurologist is on August 2.

Unfortunately, my mom still thinks there is absolutely nothing wrong with me, even I can feel the semi-numbness/ache 24/7. The MRI of my head hasn't been scheduled, and she will not call the office even after the secretary said to call if no appointment was set up after 2 weeks. She still thinks "the doctor will call, don't worry", but it's been nearly a month since the appointment.

Please don't quadruple post --
~Aurora

[Josiah7]

Not too sure bud, can you describe how bad the ache is, and where specifically ?

[Elenin]

Not too sure bud, can you describe how bad the ache is, and where specifically ?

Read my long post ;). Basically, it's a never ending dull ache on my entire left side with leg weakness that can not be explained and no medical tests have found the cause.

[Josiah7]

All I can recommend is that you get it cheaked out, hard as it may be - Its the only proper thing to do.

[Elenin]

I've been to many doctor's appointments since the end of '09, and they can't figure out what's causing the leg weakness. The only thing left to do is sit and wait until a doctor reads their medical textbooks and looks at disorders/syndromes that fit my symptoms.

[Perseus]

You could always ask about ALS or MS, even though I doubt you'd want to know that you could have either of those diseases.

[Josiah7]

I've been to many doctor's appointments since the end of '09, and they can't figure out what's causing the leg weakness. The only thing left to do is sit and wait until a doctor reads their medical textbooks and looks at disorders/syndromes that fit my symptoms.

If thats the case, I would recommend seeing a physio or similar - but that is probably hard to do in your current situation. Other then that theres not alot you can do, you could try to manage the ache through various creams ect - Worth a try.

Other then that, not much I'm afraid.

[Elenin]

You could always ask about ALS or MS, even though I doubt you'd want to know that you could have either of those diseases.

I hope not, but I'll suggest MS to the PT when I see her June 9.

An MRI of my head has been scheduled for Friday June 10, 6:45 PM. It's probably going to be normal...

Please don't double post --
~Aurora

MRI last night went well, hopefully it'll be normal.

My brain's fine, just received a call from the doctor...

Should I urge my parents to seek a second opinion about my left leg weakness from a regular neurologist, and not a pediatric neurologist?

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---Use the edit button next time! Don't double post!!---

[Perseus]

Should I urge my parents to seek a second opinion about my left leg weakness from a regular neurologist, and not a pediatric neurologist?

I don't see a reason not to. Though, I don't know much about the subject of neurology so I don't know what a regular one would do opposed to a pediatrical one.

[Elenin]

I had an appointment with the neurologist yesterday, and I'll be seeing a movement disorder specialist and an endocrinologist soon.

An appointment with a Movement Disorder Specialist has been set for mid November, and an appointment with an Endocrinologist has been set for early December. There's still a long way to go until someone solves my problem.

Yesterday, I tried out acupoint therapy at the Big E on my left hamstring, and it feels better even a day after. I don't know if that statement could lead to some progression on my problem, but I hope something results from telling the movement disorder specialist about how my leg felt right after the 15 minute trial.

Since I have had no problems running all out for long stretches during p.e. or during 4x/week moderate-intensity runs, I probably suffered a quad strain that took a long time to heal on its own.

---Use the edit button next time! Don't double post!!---