Hello, I started experiencing some neurological issues a couple months, namely pins and needles in my legs, arms, trunk, head, and face that will come off and on for days at a time with no relief, random numb patches in my legs, and lower back pain. I haven’t had the tingling for a couple of weeks now. My main symptom now is one foot that keeps spasming and making my toes feel odd.
I’ve gotten basic bloodwork to rule out the most common issues, so I was referred to a neurologist, who found that I have hyperflexia and sustained ankle clonus. From what I see online, clonus is typically pathological, and he even said it is not normal. Everything I see online says that it hints at some upper motor neuron issue. My spinal MRI came back clear though, so I’m just waiting on the brain MRI and more bloodwork.
Is it even possible to experience the leg symptoms I’ve had with no spinal lesions? Can just brain lesions cause those symptoms as well? I still have to see if I even have brain lesions, but I assume something is not right if the neuro commented on my reflexes.
Thank you for the reply. I’ve been worried about the clonus finding all week, especially after going on youtube and seeing the same reflex in stroke survivors or people with spinal injuries twice my age. Reading that it’s also common with ALS really scared me. The neurologist even asked me if I was on any medication because it was just so pronounced.
I wish I had recorded my symptoms more diligently when I was experiencing them at their peak because it’s easy to forget pain. I vividly remember the leg pins and needles. It hurt to even walk, and I know I had some in my arms. I was looking back at messages I sent to some people when I didn’t know what was happening and saw that I wrote I felt them in my head and face too. I felt odd telling the neurologist about the head and face when I wasn’t completely sure and wasn’t experiencing it in that moment, but my past self wrote that down, so it has to be true.
Hopefully my insurance will approve the brain MRI this week so that I’ll have some peace of mind. (Or confirmation of lesions of the mind)
Hello, my brain MRI turned out to be fine. My bloodwork was fine as well, which included several inflammatory, infection, and vitamin tests. I guess I don’t have MS or another obvious mimic. This neuro wants me to see another type of neurologist for the upper motor neuron signs because he still thinks it’s some brain or spinal dysfunction. It’s just not within his purview anymore.
No idea what I could have but still have sensory and spastic symptoms.
Also, the MRI was 1.5T, but I saw some articles saying it doesn’t really matter whether it’s a 1.5 or 3T machine so not too sure what to think about that.