On Tuesday March 6th, I fell on the icy driveway. I fell on my right hip and I was able to get up right away without difficulties or pain. I had fallen asleep on the couch and I woke up the next morning at 5 a.m. with both of my feet asleep. I stood up and my legs gave out. I crawled my way up two flights of stairs and fell back to sleep in the hallway. Scott found me and put me into bed. We both didn’t think much of it. By noon, my right foot got 90% better, so I thought it was a migraine. My friend, Marybeth, called and said she thought I should go to the ER if it’s still there on Thursday morning. Marybeth picked me up and brought me to St. Francis. They did an MRI of brain and back and at that time everything was unchanged from previous scans. I was admitted thinking it was either Vitamin deficiency or a migraine which testing showed neither. I was discharged with no answers and no improvement on Sunday March 11th. So at this point I can't walk without being able to grab onto something or a walker. I followed up with Jackie and AMC and had an outpatient EMG scheduled for April 4th and Neurologist April 10th.
Tuesday March 13th, I woke up with no change except for my left hand was asleep. I woke up at 8:30 a.m.
I was awake for 2 hours and my left hand the 4th & 5th digit were numb and along the outside of my left hand and partial palm. The only reason why I say how long I have been awake is that I have woken up with this before but it goes away within minutes. So the pinky finger is completely numb and I can't feel sharpness and the ring finger is partially asleep. And my left leg gave out on me twice and my knee buckled. My right foot was completely asleep for an hour after I woke up. My vision has been blurry. I got out of bed and fell twice. At 3:00 p.m. I was still the same on the right foot numb on the bottom has not moved or changed. My left hand numb on the outside of palm, pinky & ring finger are both numb have been all day. I can't move my toes or feel sharp things from my toes up to 1/2 way up my left calf and on same hand where it’s numb.
Only change is my left hand/arm is weak cant hold phone and text for long period. . My son did the hand squeeze test and my left hand is much weaker then the right. It kinda feels like it’s in my outer forearm. And left foot doesn’t turn side to side and feels like it’s more asleep. I put my story on Facebook and two nurses told me to get to Abbott Northwestern Hospital. My friend Michelle came and got me and stayed with me till I was admitted.
Thursday 3/15:
Spinal Tap: All good no infections
EMG:
Arm: Showed my Ulnar Nerve is damage (most likely from my car accident when I was 16). So I will go see a Orthopedic hand surgeon on 4/12.
Leg & Foot: No muscle or nerve damage
The doctors at Abbott looked at the MRI for my back and they believe it’s my herniated disk causing the issues. Which when I posted my story on Facebook someone I use to work with had all my symptoms and it was two herniated disks. I see spine surgeon, Dr. Mullaney, next Wednesday.
I am getting in-home Physical and Occupational Therapy and had first PT session today 3/21. Didn’t really get much done because my foot wants to roll to the outside which causes poor balance I even put on my shoes with the AFO in them which up to today I don’t even need my cane and today my balance was really bad I tried to get up off the couch and turn to my left I almost did a face plant my left foot did not want to follow the rest of my body. Which is a setback because I was doing pretty good up until that.
I also had a 25 lb. weight loss in a 2 month period due to multiple diarrhea and vomiting episodes and then that effects my appetite also. It’s been good the last two weeks. I gained 5 lbs. back, but still 15 lbs. under weight. I have to meet with a GI specialist on 4/9.
Physical Therapy was here today and my left leg WORKS. And she gives it a 4/5 on the strength scale. I am also able to get up from a seated position without any assistance and do most of the leg exercises without assistance. But the foot still does not want to move and swells up and toes turn purple with activity.
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