Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

There are no unusual sensation in my legs...I wasn't saying my legs were numb or anything like that. My legs have no unusual sensations. My feet have unusual sensations, sometimes heavy, sometimes tingling, sometimes they feel like a board nailed at a perpendicular to my ankle, sometimes it feels like I'm walking on a cushion or hammock. By now,I'm so focused on identifying the sensations in my feet, I'm paranoid about it and doubt its real. That I'm so focused on what my feet feel like, that I may be imaging it all. The only thing I can say for sure is... it has changed, its not the same.

I have had tingling/pins and needles feelings in my feet and up to my knees every day since June of 2002. I have had a variety of different sensations, especially in my feet, and it started years before that last onset that never went away. Because I worked on my feet for as many as 12+ hours a day, I thought it was just that. But it wasn't.

I have to really get out of the apartment, down the stairs, and to the corner before I really know how my feet will feel. And then while I am waiting for the bus, they feel different. And then while I am sitting on the bus, the feel different. And when I step off the bus and start to walk, they feel different.

There are feelings of numbness, tingling, cramping, like the bottoms are made of aluminum foil, like little knives or stabbing them and several others. Sometimes I notice that my right foot is turning in, seems to be comfortable that way. Other times it just sort of flops around if I don't concentrate on my walking. Still others, I have to really watch the sidewalk because it is barely getting off the ground and I will trip. I have developed a habit of looking down alot when I am out of the house.

My last check-up seemed to sort of stump the doctor (SSDI, not my usual so not used to me) I have some reflexs in my knees, not horrible. But none in my ankles. I have no feeling reaction on the bottom of my right foot and very little on the left. But I am able to walk and place my feet. After having me walk around, they tested my relflexs again, and I had no reflex action in my right knee, but the same in my left, a little in my left ankle, and none in my right ankle. So, who knows? Also, although I have no pain reaction in my right foot, I broke my little toe and didn't know it, I do feel pain inside my foot. MS, you got to love it.

Hope this helped.

Thanks for answering. It is very frustrating. It helps to know it changes for you as you walk. That has been driving me crazy!

I forget to say that I have had foot drop in the right foot for over a year, and it feels like it is starting in the left. It is hard to explain, but it feels like it is almost dropped, some days more, some days less. i feel like I am slowly watching and feel it drop, which did not happen on the right. Like some days it is almost normal, and I think what ever it was is gone, and then I take a step, and it is just wrong, and I realize it is still there.

Exactly! I have to go for a walk to know whether the sensations are there. I don't get up in the morning and say well they are gone today or wake up in the morning and say they are back today. I sit, drink my coffee, watch morning TV and think I should really go out for a walk and check if they are still there.Weird?

When I had drop foot for those 6 weeks. I was mall walking in wither, to stay fit. I walked 4 times around the mall fairly easily and set that as my fitness goal to maintain. In a few weeks, it became to difficult to pick up my feet after twice around the mall.
So I set my new fitness goal at twice around the mall. Then it became too difficult to pick up me feet when I did a quarter of once around the mall. It was a small strip mall. Then I went home and tried to use a cane, that didn't help. Then I tried to use a walker & drag my feet forward. I got half way around the block at home. Then I gave up got depressed watched TV.

In about 6 weeks it wasn't happening anymore. Winter was over. I moved on. It took movement to bring the drop foot symptom on. Now its happening with sensations. But is a kalidoscope of different sensations as I walk. I haven't determined if there is a consistent order to the sensations, I will have to try to observe that. Now its like I identify it & it changes then I get frustrated, that it isn't what I identified and I don't have what it is identified. I give up. I'll look for a pattern to identify instead of trying to identify "it".

The fact that I am using Tysabri and every 28 days have to identify if there has been any new or worsening symptoms...is what has me so stressed at having to "identify it". And of course I read an article on (primary central nervous system lymphoma) which can start as sensation changes and be confused with MS and MAY have a causal link to Tysabri....

Get the idea, I'm researching myself into "scared shitless". Thanks for answering.

When the foot drop came in the right foot, it was almost like it was just there one day. This is when i stopped driving much as it was sort of like a brick that was just "there." But it has gotten better with exercise and streching. It is so odd to me the way the other is happeing. I was working then, and I do remember a few times people asking me why I was walking "like that," but just thought I was tired and really didn't notice or think too much about it.

Like I said, it is just sort of like watching and feeling it happen. I would not scare yourself, What you are feeling sounds very similar. Just as we need to not blame everything on MS, we also need to know that lots of times it is. And this really sounds familiar, Lynn.

Hi, Yes I can relate to you but my sensations are different. occasionaly i get tingling in my thighs and buttocks. Constantly though i have the sensation in my heels and the balls of my feet and deep in my pelvis that i am walking and sitting on rocks and glass. i notice more foot drop when the weather changes and i have to be aware of my wak to avoid it.

I have found that vibation for about 15 minutes hepls me a lot, although it doesn't totally remove it. I nvested into a full body vibrator and i love it. My dr tells me this is residual damgae from my first severe attack that seized my legs and gave me the ms hug sensation. That lasted for about 3 months and now i have this cnstant agony in my feet and pelvis. Seems like ibuprofen works best with the least side effects. I hat ms i hate it ihate it. i try to tell myself that we are all going to get something and it could be worse yet. Most of the time i'm ok with it now, but on my bad days it's horrible. We are all so different yet similar. I feel for you and wish you the best. I was 51 when I had the severe attack when they quickly dx'd me and think that i have probably had this decades ago and didnt realize. I'm one of the "lucky" ones they tell me since it was so late to appear. Very small condolence, ya know? Best wishes for you.

I know what you mean about all the weird sensations in the foot. Ran the lot with left foot, now right & drop foot in both. I got orthotic foot supports that stop the foot drop & help me walk much better. They go to just below the knee & to me are a god send. had already broken foot & both big toes too. I got referred to a foot orthotic specialist who looked at my walking & then got the supports made for me. Every person needs them different..
There are some basic ones you can get made of a white plastic(?) that are good as a start point to see if they help.
There is also a walkaide in USA & very hard to get here that I have heard good things about.
You are sure not alone with this.
Hugs

I go in and out of the tingling stage over most of my body. I am so used to it I hardly notice. My right hand is always numb. I also know from one of my last visits to a neurologist that I have a reduced sensitivity to cold on my left foot. That is the foot with the considerable foot drop. My aunt just bought me the Bioness walk-aide (used for foot drop) It has made a difference in the energy I expend. It is strengthening my leg and hip muscles. The rep said that I should see more benefits as I continue to use the device. It was expensive, but worth every penny.