Hello everyone last night I was coming down my stairs ( down) and suddenly lost all the feeling in my legs and couldn’t step down or walk, this lasted about 2 minutes and suddenly I had my legs back, I stood there and was frightened of falling backwards or forwards, does anyone know what is going on?
with thanks
Andy
Hi Andy,
Have you recently had a relapse, that you know of?
It could be an after-effect of that.
I had it once - very embarrassingly - at Birmingham New Street Station. I was going to a meeting in Solihull (think this was before I was diagnosed, or I probably wouldn’t have been stupid enough to go).
I had to change trains at New Street. My incoming train was late, so when I arrived at New Street, my connection was already up on the departure board, flashing as “boarding”. It was the furthest possible platform from the one I’d arrived on, and up a flight of stairs too. I knew I had to run - which seemed fine…at first.
I then got halfway up the flight of stairs, lost all power, and couldn’t go up OR down, just like you (and the Grand Ol’ Duke of York).
I had to just stand there, clinging to the handrail, as the rush-hour crowds surged past me, and I missed my train. After a while - may not have been as long as two minutes - I felt confident enough to slowly make my way back down again.
I don’t know the detailed scientific explanation, but I know I had not long had a relapse, from which I was not properly recovered, so I think of it just like a bit of a loose connection.
I’m still walking (up to three or four miles) over two years later, so don’t read it as a sign that the paralysis is about to become permanent. I think it’s just a case of the circuits being temporarily overloaded - perhaps because you’ve put too much demand on them suddenly. If it happened again, I know the secret is to stay calm, and wait for it to pass. But it hasn’t happened in a long time, now I’m properly over the relapse. I think it was a legacy of that.
Tina
Hi Andy,
I had a similar experience last week when going up the stairs, except I carried on walking even though I couldn’t feel anything below my chest. It was such a weird experience and just felt like my upper body was floating! I stood still when I reached the top and feeling came back, probably within 10 seconds, but felt much longer.
Fizzy x
Your username says it all, yes frightening I was coming down the stairs, partner in bed and stranded
thanks fizzylegs x
Ps I hope your feeling well soon
Hi
This same sort of thing happened to me.
Like Anitra I was rushing and my legs stopped working. Even years later I distinctly remember thinking incredulously, WTF? I am going to collapse. I lurched at a railing and kind of crumpled down to the floor in a heap. I was able to finally move after a short while, probably also a matter of minutes, which is a good thing because a lady peered down at me and asked if I needed her to call anyone or perhaps an ambulance.
It is scary and it has happened since. The difference since that first time is I rarely have any warning, I just go down in a heap. And, I don’t rush anywhere anymore 
I have been able to attribute this to heat and humidity each time this has happened. The first time this happened I was really rushing and undoubtedly this raised my body temperature, add to that the fact that it was also a hot summer day and this is what made my legs short circuit to such a degree. I now do my best to avoid the heat for any number of reasons (heat worsens my fatigue, wipes me out) but especially this one.
S.
Can anyone shed a light is sudden paralylis in the lower half of the body a symptom of MS or could it be something else going on?
Andy,
I’m quite sure the incident that happened to me was caused by MS, as I’ve since been diagnosed.
But I’m afraid that doesn’t prove yours must also be MS, or that there couldn’t be anything else going on.
It could be caused by all sorts of things - pressure on your spinal cord from a bulging disc, perhaps? Or it might not even be neurological at all. Sudden weakness, and a feeling of being close to collapse, can be caused by a drop in blood pressure, for example.
You should certainly report it as a symptom - both in case it IS MS, and in case it isn’t. I’m assuming you have already seen a doctor? Whoever’s investigating should be told about everything that’s been happening to you. Then it’s their job to sort out what’s connected, and what could be something else entirely.
Tina
There is something called Uhtoff’s phenomenon which I suffer from. As soon as I get too warm - hot room, hot bath, hot day in summer or too much exercise and my legs stop working - they go very numb and heavy and I can’t lift my feet of the floor - as soon as I cool down it’s OK again
Chris
Hi Andy
I had similar sort of thing prior to my diagnosis of MS. It wasnt while walking up / down stairs but just out walking. Out of the blue, while walking, I would unexpectedly feel a strange sensation , I guess coming from my spine, down into my legs and I would lose power in right leg where I would not be able to continue to move. After about a minute the power came back, but my legs were very shakey and weak. I was given 3days IV steroids and I havent had it again. That was 3 years ago and Im still jogging/walking. Heather
Thanks all and Heather hon isn’t it frightening? I didn’t get any funny sensations just couldn’t feel anything from my waist down
fortunatly I just staye where I was, I have fallen before the whole length of the stairs and can’t remember why, now possibly this is adding up.
glad your still active I have several other health issues, so the only exersize I get is gentle housework
take care of yourself, big day for me tomorrow, neuro appointment !!
Andyx