Numbness, Weakness, Stiffness, Twitches in lower legs and feet

[Sid Hartha]

Hello: I've been on quite the journey with issues in my lower legs and feet. It all started when I increased my level of activity, - jogging, hiking and walking. One day I woke up and my shins were so tight I could not really walk or stand. I went to the urgent care where they said possible neuropathy and xrays showed stress fractures in the fibula's of both legs. I was told to say off them as much as possible and after some time started using crutches. Things kept getting worse over the next month. Probably due to nocebo as I was worried about the fractures. I got pretty depressed. The tightness moved to numbness in my lower legs, toes, feet which caused issues walking and standing. Sitting became unbearable as my legs below the knee began to twitch and go numb. So they then ran blood tests which were mostly normal except my vitamin b6 was highly elevated so they suspected neuropathy (still have more tests scheduled). I then had them do MRI's of my legs. They in fact showed much to everyone's surprise no stress fractures all but rather prominent anterior tibial artery and distal branches within the digitorum longus. I interpret that to mean increased blood flow and maybe enlarged arteries? I'm still trying to get an answer on what that means exactly. Is it just a normal abnormality as Sarno would say? I guess I still have to get some nerve conduction studies done but it's looking more and more like this could all just be TMS. So I said what's going on in my life. Well that's very revealing - it's nothing short of a total disaster with various stressful things going on all at once, probably the worst crisis of my life. I guess I have to still rule out vascular disease and neuropathy but I guess I am just posting here to get some encouraging responses. Maybe I should get off the crutches and stop limiting my activity level? I should say I've had and beaten various forms of TMS over the years. In this case I really thought there was a structural problem (stress fractures) and so my brain kind of went out of control. Thanks for reading. Be well.

 

[Diana-M]

One day I woke up and my shins were so tight I could not really walk or stand

what's going on in my life. Well that's very revealing - it's nothing short of a total disaster with various stressful things going on all at once, probably the worst crisis of my life.

Hi Sid,
I had the same thing happen to me one day I was taking a walk, and my legs started doing what yours did with the numbness and the cramping. since I’ve been on the forum I’ve seen so many entries from people with the same symptoms. it’s all a result of what you said: too much crisis, too much anxiety. finally it all just explodes into TMS. it will take a while to straighten this all out, to soothe your nervous system, unravel this crisis, change your life, change your attitudes and the way you do things. but there are people here that have done it and have overcome even worse symptoms— so you can too! the best place to start is the structured educational program here for free. be dedicated, and you will learn everything that can help you. and then also I highly recommend you read a very short book that’s pure gold: Hope and Help for Your Nerves, by Claire Weekes. she will convince you that you’ve basically had a nervous breakdown and what’s happening in your body is the result of too much adrenaline for too long. she’s very optimistic about how you can be healed, but this also takes time and dedication. try to lose your fear. I know that’s hard— but it feeds your stress level which feeds your symptoms. if you’ve ever meditated before— now is a good time to do that again. if you haven’t, search around on YouTube for something that appeals and try to meditate a little more each day. that’s very soothing for your nervous system. You can do this. You’ll get better.

 

[Sid Hartha]

Thank you for the kind words Diana. Yes, I will look into that book. I've heard great things. I've already started lowering my stress when I found out I don't have stress fractures. I did a 5 min walk yesterday with pain but I'm no worse for it and will continue the baby steps until I'm back running and hiking. I set aside time everyday visualizing myself getting better and better. The things in my life I can't control I will have to learn to accept since a lot of it is not under my control. I have to follow up on the enlarged arteries to make sure it's not something serious like an aneurysm but once I get all those medical clearances I think I will feel much more at ease.

 

[Diana-M]

The things in my life I can't control I will have to learn to accept since a lot of it is not under my control.

That’s great news on your walking! Keep it up. As far as most stressful things not under your control, boy do I feel that one. One thing that has helped me more than anything else lately is the old adage, “let go and let God.” I’m building my faith in God and it’s becoming such a comfort and I feel like there’s hope in everything in my life and I don’t have to worry anymore. I know others here on the forum have applied other philosophies that have helped them find a peace. I think it ultimately takes a very deep inner peace on a philosophical level to get the kind of comfort needed for your mind and body to relax. This world is a very stressful place these days. We need all the help we can get.

 

[Sid Hartha]

That’s great news on your walking! Keep it up. As far as most stressful things not under your control, boy do I feel that one. One thing that has helped me more than anything else lately is the old adage, “let go and let God.” I’m building my faith in God and it’s becoming such a comfort and I feel like there’s hope in everything in my life and I don’t have to worry anymore. I know others here on the forum have applied other philosophies that have helped them find a peace. I think it ultimately takes a very deep inner peace on a philosophical level to get the kind of comfort needed for your mind and body to relax. This world is a very stressful place these days. We need all the help we can get.

Yes, I've never been particularly religious but I have found myself praying everyday. Honestly the only way I found to feel alright is to learn to let go and just be ok with everything as it is. There is so much freedom in that way of being I have found, and all the mystics seem to have been telling us that all along. That doesn't mean I like it or that it will never change but just trying to be at peace where I am in any particular moment has given me the gift of not going off the deep end. Again thanks for your encouragement and have a great day.

 

[BloodMoon]

I did a 5 min walk yesterday with pain but I'm no worse for it and will continue the baby steps until I'm back running and hiking. I set aside time everyday visualizing myself getting better and better.

Just wanted to say that from my personal experience the combination of what you're doing is a really effective approach. These small actions slip past the amygdala—the brain's alarm for threats—without triggering resistance. I like to think of it as being much like a "cat burglar" quietly bypassing security. Perhaps you are already doing this too, but I combine baby steps and visualisations with practising some daily simple self-soothing techniques to make my brain feel safer. It does take time and patience, but I want to encourage you to keep going (taking baby steps has gotten me from being bedridden and housebound to functioning pretty normally by comparison).

 

[Sid Hartha]

As an update I'm making progress everyday. I've stopped using crutches and adding an extra minute to walking every other day or so. Even did some leg presses at the gym the other day. I still have issues when I try to walk fast where it just feels like the shin muscles are locking up but I'm happy to be going in the right direction.

 

[Adam Coloretti (coach)]

As an update I'm making progress everyday. I've stopped using crutches and adding an extra minute to walking every other day or so. Even did some leg presses at the gym the other day. I still have issues when I try to walk fast where it just feels like the shin muscles are locking up but I'm happy to be going in the right direction.

Well done that's huge progress!