Leg Weakness: Causes & Reasons

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Possible Causes for Leg Weakness

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Physical therapy and orthotics in combination help improve efficiency, function, and safety with ambulation and other activities, as foot drop and leg weakness are major components [massgeneral.org]

To identify weakness, the patient may be asked to walk on his heels or to move part of his leg against an opposing force. [web.archive.org]

The combination of a foot deformity and lower leg weakness is often the first sign of CMT. [choc.org]

Lambert-Eaton Syndrome

The first case, a 72-year-old female presenting with leg weakness, was treated by plasma exchange (PE). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Here, we report a rare case of LEMS with atypical bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumor: a 65-yr-old man presented with progressive leg weakness and a diagnosis of LEMS was made [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The first case, a 72‐year‐old female presenting with leg weakness, was treated by plasma exchange (PE). [doi.org]

Pompe Disease

Paul McIntosh and Chafic Karam, Clinical Reasoning: A 38-year-old man with respiratory failure and progressive leg weakness, Neurology, 86, 18, (e190), (2016). [dx.doi.org]

Proximal legs Weakness Proximal Legs > Arms Ptosis (40%) Course: Slow progression; Ambulation difficulties Vital capacity: 40% to 90% Cardiomyopathy (80%) Especially with [neuromuscular.wustl.edu]

[…] after leg weakness Eventually occurs in 100% Diaphragm involvement: Common & Early; More symptomatic when supine Sleep disordered breathing: Common Expiration more involved [neuromuscular.wustl.edu]

Acute Hepatic Porphyria

These may include: vomiting insomnia constipation pain in the arms and legs muscle weakness confusion, hallucinations, and seizures heart palpitations Hereditary coproporphyria [healthline.com]

Weakness or paralysis. AHP can affect the nerves that control your muscles. You may get weakness in your legs, belly, and arms. [webmd.com]

Symptoms that impact the nervous system include: Pain in arms, legs, chest, back, neck, or head Muscle weakness Mental symptoms like agitation, confusion, depression, and/ [iffgd.org]

Hemiparesis

– upper and lower extremity Contralateral Ataxia – arm and leg Notes Weakness usually more prominent in leg than arm; extensor plantar response; no facial involvement or [strokecenter.org]

Hip flexion on the right was weak, and he could not lift his leg off the couch. The remaining right leg flexors were weak but the extensors were normal. [pn.bmj.com]

One-sided weakness can affect your arms, hands, legs and facial muscles. [inhomephysicaltherapy.ca]

Autosomal Recessive Spastic Paraplegia Type 30

The term “paraplegia” means severe weakness in both legs including paralysis. “Paraparesis” indicates weakness in both legs of lesser severity than paraplegia. [rarediseases.org]

[…] spasticity and weakness. [journals.lww.com]

An early feature is difficulty walking due to spasticity and weakness, which typically affect both legs equally. [icdlist.com]

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Imbalance One-sided arm or leg weakness. [strokeassociation.org]

Classic signs of an ACA stroke are contralateral leg weakness and sensory loss. Be sure to evaluate lower-extremity strength and sensation. [americannursetoday.com]

And depending on where in the brain the injury occurred, the weakness could be the face, arm, leg or a combination of the three. [medicinenet.com]

Stroke

Imbalance One-sided arm or leg weakness. [strokeassociation.org]

weakness, speech disturbance, visual field defect). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Stroke in the anterior cerebral artery results in opposite leg weakness. [web.archive.org]

Hereditary Coproporphyria

Other symptoms include: Muscle pain Muscle weakness or paralysis Numbness or tingling Pain in the arms or legs Pain in the back Personality changes Attacks can sometimes be [medlineplus.gov]

The nerve damage associated with ADP could cause breathing impairment or lead to weakness or paralysis of the arms and legs. [healthofchildren.com]

Some people can develop muscle weakness during an acute attack. [patient.info]

Lumbar Disk Herniation

weakness is a limitation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

In addition to leg pain, the leg may also be weak or numb. One or both legs may be affected. Rarely, bowel or bladder function may be affected. [hss.edu]

Constant pain, leg weakness, or loss of function requires further evaluation. [spineuniverse.com]

Spondylolisthesis

However, the patient returned 2 months later with both leg weakness and back pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Common symptoms include low back pain, muscle spasms, leg weakness, or limping. [med.virginia.edu]

Signs of this include: pain that radiates down the legs weakness in the legs or trouble walking trouble peeing or bladder accidents numbness and tingling in the groin and/ [kidshealth.org]

Spinal Stenosis

An 80-year-old male presented with a 2-week history of weakness in his left leg. A few days before presentation, his gait had deteriorated quite dramatically. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Symptoms: Leg (neurogenic Intermittent Claudication) Characteristics Leg Fatigue (dullness) or Leg Weakness Leg numbness or Paresthesia s (tingling sensation) Bilateral Leg [fpnotebook.com]

When present, symptoms may include pain or numbness in the back and/or legs, or cramping in the legs. Weakness in the legs may occur. [knowyourback.org]

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Symptoms: Leg (neurogenic Intermittent Claudication) Characteristics Leg Fatigue (dullness) or Leg Weakness Leg numbness or Paresthesia s (tingling sensation) Bilateral Leg [fpnotebook.com]

When present, symptoms may include pain or numbness in the back and/or legs, or cramping in the legs. Weakness in the legs may occur. [knowyourback.org]

Surgery will also be advised for those individuals who develop progressive leg weakness, or bowel and bladder problems. [knowyourback.org]

Sciatica

Get immediate medical care if: You have sudden, severe pain in your low back or leg and numbness or muscle weakness in your leg The pain follows a violent injury, such as [mayoclinic.org]

Lower back pain Pain in the buttocks or leg that is worse when sitting Hip pain Burning or tingling down the leg Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot A [renuvacenters.com]

Seek immediate medical attention if you have: Loss of feeling in the affected leg Weakness in the affected leg Loss of bowel or bladder function Prevention It's not always [mayoclinic.org]

Polyneuropathy

Patients with severe leg weakness may need walking aids. Simple wrist splints can help weak wrist extension. [patient.info]

Conservative Oriental medical treatment was done to a man of 84 years who was diagnosed as a alcoholic polyneuropathy and suffered from both distal dominant leg weakness & [kci.go.kr]

It is a rare disorder of the peripheral nerves characterized by gradually increasing weakness of the legs and, to a lesser extent, the arms. [globalgenes.org]

Lumbar Radiculopathy

This herniation puts pressure on the spinal nerves, resulting in pain, and numbness in one or both legs. Occasionally, weakness in the leg develops. [orthopedicandfracturespecialists.com]

[…] down the leg Weakness, numbness, or difficulty in moving the leg or foot A constant pain on one side of the posterior A sharp pain that may make it difficult to stand or [nyspineandrehab.com]

After discussing the medical history of the individual, the physician will examine the patient and assess for any leg weakness. [orthopedicandfracturespecialists.com]

Myelitis

For example, physical and/or occupational therapy may help with arm or leg weakness. Researchers do not know the long-term outcomes of people with AFM. [medlineplus.gov]

Sudden arm or leg weakness, loss of muscle tone, and loss of reflexes are the most common symptoms. [cdc.gov]

Almost all patients develop leg weakness. The arms are involved in a minority of cases. (This depends upon the level of spinal cord involvement.) [medicinenet.com]

Paraparesis

PARAPARESIS Paraparesis refers to bilateral leg weakness. [pediatricneuro.com]

weakness Applies To Paralysis of both lower limbs Paraplegia (lower) ICD-9-CM Volume 2 Index entries containing back-references to 344.1 : [icd9data.com]

On examination, she was found to have severe spasticity and weakness of both legs and feet, bilateral Babinski sign, and bilateral patellar clonus (see video ). [nejm.org]

Muscular Dystrophy

Adults with type 1 myotonic dystrophy may develop cataracts, hand and lower leg weakness and wasting (loss of muscle mass), and grip myotonia. [jamanetwork.com]

Which parts of the body show weakness first? Upper legs and upper arms What other parts of the body can be affected? [cdc.gov]

Distal: Symptoms begin with muscle weakness in the lower arms, hands, lower legs, and feet. Eventually, the weakness moves to your nerves and other muscles. [familydoctor.org]

Juvenile Primary Lateral Sclerosis

weakness * Progressive leg stiffness * Balance problems * Progressive arm stiffness * Progressive arm weakness * Slurred speech * Drooling * Difficulty swallowing * Inability [checkorphan.org]

Symptoms of Primary Lateral Sclerosis Stiffness in the legs Weakness in the legs Spasticity in the legs Tripping Difficulty balancing Clumsiness Weakness in the body’s core [spineandsports.com]

Characterized by leg weakness, spasticity, and bulbar symptoms like dysphagia and dysarthria Additional features include cognitive impairment, eye movement abnormalities, [unboundmedicine.com]

Bilateral Leg Weakness

What is leg weakness? Leg weakness can occur as part of a generalized feeling of weakness all over your body, or it may develop in one or both legs. [healthgrades.com]

Rapid progression of weakness, ascending from legs to the arms and face, or leg weakness with back pain and urinary retention, are indications for urgent referral. [medicinetoday.com.au]

Many conditions can cause leg pain and weakness. [livestrong.com]

Primary Lateral Sclerosis

Left leg weakness progressed over 7 years to paraplegia, then quadriplegia by age 68. Sensory and cerebellar function were preserved and fasciculations were absent. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Characterized by leg weakness, spasticity, and bulbar symptoms like dysphagia and dysarthria Additional features include cognitive impairment, eye movement abnormalities, [unboundmedicine.com]

They include: Stiffness, weakness and spasticity in your legs Tripping, difficulty with balance and clumsiness as the leg muscles weaken Weakness and stiffness progressing [mayoclinic.org]

Cervical Spinal Cord Tumor

and, later, spastic leg weakness. [merckmanuals.com]

Spinal Tumor Symptoms Symptoms often include neck and back pain, arm or leg weakness or numbness, and change in bowel or bladder habits. [cpmc.org]

Some common signs of spinal tumors may include: Pain (back and/or neck pain, arm and/or leg pain) Muscle weakness or numbness in the arms or legs Difficulty walking General [cancercenter.com]

Cervical Herniated Disc

Weakness can also occur. Severe symptoms are rare, but may include urinary retention (inability to empty the bladder) or leg weakness and balance problems. [lowcountryortho.com]

Sometimes the surrounding nerves can also become irritated, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in the arms and legs. [painmanagement.weillcornell.org]

It is sometimes required right away if severe symptoms occur, such as urinary retention or leg weakness and balance problems It is also elected if at least 6 – 8 weeks of [lowcountryortho.com]

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

We describe an elderly woman who developed postinfectious symmetric flaccid leg weakness in the absence of sensory disturbance. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

By day 3, she had moderate PCB weakness and mild facial and proximal leg weakness and absent deep tendon reflexes in all four limbs. [jnnp.bmj.com]

Early symptoms: Weakness or tingling in the legs. Weakness or tingling spreading to the arms and upper body. Increasing fatigue. Loss of reflexes. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

Herniated Disc

Sometimes the surrounding nerves can also become irritated, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in the arms and legs. [weillcornellpainmedicine.com]

Weakness in one or both legs Pain in the front of the thigh Causes Everyday wear and tear can cause the intervertebral discs in your backbone to rupture or herniate over [helpingbacks.com]

[…] to the calf or into the foot (this is from “sciatica,” meaning pressure on the large sciatic nerve in the lower back, buttocks, and legs Muscle weakness in the legs Numbness [weillcornellpainmedicine.com]

Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy in the sacroiliac, which is the bottom most part of your spine, can also cause pain in your buttocks and the back of yo9ur leg as well as leg weakness and loss [depuysynthes.com]

These sensory changes may be present in the arm/hand or leg/foot. Weakness. [sportsmedicine.mayoclinic.org]

Common symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy include: Numbness and tingling in the leg extending to the foot Weakness in the leg Increased nerve pain when moving the lower body [bidmc.org]

Leriche Syndrome

This blocks blood flow to the legs. In men, blood flow to the penis is also blocked. The following symptoms happen: Leg weakness or numbness. [stonebridgeobgyn.com]

Hereditary Proximal Myopathy with Early Respiratory Failure

(Foot drop): 25% Weakness Hands > Legs in most Muscles involved: Long finger extensors; Intrinsic hand; Thumb & index-finger Progression to legs: Toe & ankle extensors Only [neuromuscular.wustl.edu]

Neurologic exam revealed thinning of the anterior legs, bilateral calf hypertrophy, neck flexor and extensor weakness, distal greater than proximal weakness in the legs, and [neurology.org]

For distal leg weakness, use of ankle-foot orthoses can optimize independent ambulation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Distal Myopathy Type 3

The most common clinical presentation is proximal weakness in the legs, and distal weakness in the arms. [neuroweb.us]

[…] become weak Proximal legs may become weak late in disease Quadriceps weak in rare male Many remain ambulatory Earlier onset (2nd decade) may lose ambulation in 3rd to 6th [neuromuscular.wustl.edu]