foot drop could it be ALS?

[vivi]

Hi!

My husband developped foot drop on the right leg about a year ago and since then he's been limping. He recently got that brace which holds his foot together and helps in walking. His gait got much better with this help. But his right thighs are still week. On the left leg everything seems fine except hi can't stand on his toes. He also had leg crumps, started 4-5 years ago, maybe even longer, especially at night times the crumps were quite bad. Just recently he went to an acupunture clinic, and after a few weeks of treatment most of the pain gone and the crumps have gone completely. He has no problems with bowel, or any other part of the body. He went to see a neurologist last week, who said it could be either a root nerve damage, or ALS. He has to go back in 3 month time for another test.
He had MRI, (but was only looked at at this stage by a reumatologist as where we live no neurologit are available.) He couldn't find anything on the MRI.
I read that nerve damage could be also form bad posture and habitual leg crossing. And til now he didd sit all the time and for long period of time with leg crossed.
Does these symptoms sound like ALS?

 

[joelc]

The quick answer is no it does not sound like ALS.

If he had ALS it is a one way trip down hill, it never gets better.

It is likely some form of nerve damage.

 

[laurel]

Hi Vivi,
My hubby has foot drop and he has CIDP which is chronic inflamatory demylelinating polyneuropathy. It is a treatable condition diagnosed via EMG, nerve conduction tests, lumbar puncture and blood work. If possible it would be good to get referred to a neurologist specializing in neuromuscular disorders. Early treatment is desired to prevent further damage. My husband has permanent atrophy and loss of use of his right hand due to mis-diagnosing from a non specialized neurologist. 3 months seems a long time to wait while damage could be happening.
Be a squeaky wheel and get him referred to someone who specializes--likely you will have to go into a bigger city like Brisbane, but it will be worth it. Let us know how things go.
Laurel

 

[vivi]

joel & laurel tchanks a lot for your reply. We went to see a neurologist in Brisbane, had to fly 2000 km, and that s where he has to go back in 3 month time. So I am not sure in that 3 month what else could we do?

 

[kylisa]

My mother's first major sign was a dropfoot. Good Luck finding a diagnosis. I sure hope your husband does not have ALS.

 

[vivi]

Hi kylisa,

I ' am sorry for you morther. Has she been deteriorated fast after the foot drop? My husband seems to be the same, except that some muscles in the right leg are weak. We tried to do some exercise, and he has no problem to lift his leg upwards, but to the side is very hard. I am hoping it is because he hasn't used much his right leg over a year. With the left leg no problem at all. I hope with exercises every day, like pilates & swimming and no more leg crossing he will get better so I could rule out ALS.
Many thanks for help and advice!

 

[kylisa]

My mother progressed from dropfoot in May 2007 to being bedridden and peg feeding in Nov 2008

 

[vivi]

I am so sorry to hear that. God Bless You!

 

[olly]

hi vivi.
i am not going to beat about the bush here,you would not get footdrop from sitting with your legs crossed.
if it was the case then there would be a hell of alot of women in the world limping with a leg in a brace, if a doctor told you this then he is a moron.
footdrop is a significant neurological sign thats something is not quite right.
i presume you are in the outback somewhere ,please make some noise and get proper medical care for your husband.
there are a few other things besides als that can cause footdrop,hopefully your husband has the more treatable one but needs to see a good neurologist.
any other tests besides mri?
please keep us posted on any more news

 

[vivi]

hi vivi.
i am not going to beat about the bush here,you would not get footdrop from sitting with your legs crossed.
if it was the case then there would be a hell of alot of women in the world limping with a leg in a brace, if a doctor told you this then he is a moron.
footdrop is a significant neurological sign thats something is not quite right.
i presume you are in the outback somewhere ,please make some noise and get proper medical care for your husband.
there are a few other things besides als that can cause footdrop,hopefully your husband has the more treatable one but needs to see a good neurologist.
any other tests besides mri?
please keep us posted on any more news

yes, he had all kind of scans, and the doctor who looked at it at the time - a rheumatologist- couldn't find anything. Unfortunately where we live, in Far North QLD in Australia, is very hard to get a proper doctor, as a matter of fact there isn't any here, so we have to fly to Brisbane which is 2000 miles away. We going back to Brisbane to the neurologist in 3 month time, but this seems such a long time and so distressful not knowing whats going on.
We try do do every day a bit more exercise and it with this walking aid he can walk much better, faster and evey day I think a bit longer without geting exhausted. Maybe physiotherapy would help as well?
Thanks

 

[rocmg]

hi vivi... with all neurological diagnoses there seems to be a certain amount of "wait and see." almost every person on these forums has had to play that waiting game. it's very distressing for patient and family members. however, not everyone that has ever posted on the forum has turned out to have ALS. while it may be a concern, you should bear in mind there are lots of other things this foot drop could be.

If you're really sure you cannot wait three months, I suggest getting on the telephone and, as caroline suggested, make as much noise as possible to get an earlier appointment. i rang every single day to have my mother seen by a good neurologist. the secretaries must have hated me, but whatever, they'll get over it.

 

[laurel]

Hi Vivi,
I know it is awkward since you are such a long distance from Brisbane. But from our experience I had to be on the phone asking for cancellations and an earlier appointment. It worked and when got in a couple of months earlier than anticipated. Once hubby was tested, the ball got rolling quickly. He tests were basically interpreted the same day as he had them. The neurologist said that his EMG and nerve conduction tests were a little confusing as he didn't fulfill all the criteria for CIDP--MADSAM and she still had some concerns about ALS. But she started him on IVIG fairly promptly and he has had good response. He receives this two days a month every month. His response to the IVIG was a good indicator that it wasn't ALS. The prompt treatment was important so that he didn't lose anymore function. We have found all along in our quest for diagnosis that I had to really push to get early appointments and just not accept the standard wait for a specialist--which around here was about 3 months as well. I was a very squeaky wheel and when I squeaked we always got in within 2 weeks. Good luck.
Laurel

 

[Brenda Bowman]

Hello ViVi, My son started with drop foot. Call every day until you can get earlier app. With ALS theyhave to wait for things to get worse. Hope & pray for you. Good luck! Brenda

 

[vivi]

about the early appointment, the situation is very shocking. It was about a year ago when my husband went to see a GP, who reffered him to a neurologist...who's obviously a careless studpid doctor. The waiting preiod to see him was also a few weeks, and for every scan, + MRI had to wait about 1 month for each test. So months and montsh passed, till he got referred to Townville, which is the closest place for a neurologist, but again after a month passed I had to find out that the waiting period is min. 6 month! So I made some complaints, phone calls, emails, and that's how finally we ended up in Brisbane, (just last week) where he had some tests done. The neurologist said he would need to do another test in 3 month to be able to make a diagnosis. Do you think it wouldn't be necessary to wait that long.? By the way the idiots rheumatologist forgot to send the MRI report to Brisbane. Shocking, isn't it? Now I'm try to get my husband to see a physiotherapist, maybe it will help to strengthen the leg muscles? What do you think, physio could help?
I appreciate so much your help and advice!
thanks

 

[vivi]

sorry just correcting my previous post: the GP referred him to a rehumatologist, as this was the best solution at the time according to the GP. And the rheumatologist referred him after a long time to Brisbane