First, I will say prayers and I will tell others I know to say prayers.
Second, maybe it’s an unrelated ailment? Sounds crazy but it’s possible.
Either way Prayers will be coming and please keep us updated.
Your docs should have explained this to you. Sarcoidosis can include neurological issues, and numb extremities are often a first sign.
https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/what-is-sarcoidosis/symptoms/
My husband and I are following a very low lectin diet. It’s not easy but the rewards are quick and substantial. If you want help with this, let me know.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1417731/
Most common types of this come on slowly (diabetes for example). But you describe sounds like an aggressive cause, probably from something affecting the immune system...that is why they will do a biopsy, to see if it is lymphoma or sarcoidosis.
Once they find out the cause, they will know how to treat it...
But treatment only stops the cause, then you have to wait for the nerves to recover. This may take months and may not be complete.
So be patient...and if the doctors aren't certain, ask for a referral to a bigger hospital that has a specialty clinic in the disease.
I have only seen one case like your wife and we had to refer him out of state to get diagnosed. The treatment took time but after 2 years he was our of his wheelchair.
You are in my prayers.
Ask the doc or nurse to explain it to you
Could be peripheral neuropathy caused by gullain-barre or CIDP. No fun. I’m in my 20th year.
My best to you both.
Hmmm. Weird one. I’m to the point of using a walking stick and my doc wants me to use a walker, becuse I’m always in danger of hitting the ground like a duckpin (four times in 15 months so far, with two fractures and two torn muscles to show for it). I’ve got hardcore neuropathy in both feet and lower legs due to diabetes and neural damage from infections, but that sort of numbness is usually confined to below the knees. That chest issue is throwing me though. Has she had an upper GI ultrasound yet? Could be stress-related ERD. I had a bout that put me in the ER and they thought it was a coronary, same symptoms. Tightness in the chest. Erosive reflux can mimic a heart issue, it isn’t your generic heartburn. It’s far worse. And did they rule out a nerve in her lower back? She could have done something as innocuous as twist the wrong way, and is binding a nerve. That would get worse over time if it’s continually aggravated. They’d probably have to do a little surgery to relieve the pressure if PT doesn’t help. Good luck to her and keep us posted.
Sounds like peripheral neuropathy. My 87-year old mom has had it for the last 10 years or so. Numb feet and lower legs. Said she feels like she’s always wearing socks. Balancing / walking very difficult. Sometimes shooting pain.
The cause of PN is often diabetes, but not always. Could also be the result of physical trauma or disease. My mom had both shoulder (rotator cuff) surgery and shingles right before the PN came on. Either of them could’ve been the cause. Or a combo. (She doesn’t have diabetes). In some people, there’s no identifiable cause.
I will say a prayer for you.
The body is a system. When I went for my first set of surgeries long ago for something, I was amazed that afterwards, I could clearly read road signs for the interstates. I realized then that my body had been dragging all of my systems to fight what I had, including my sight.
Maybe there’s something similar going on with your situation. I’m no physician, so please just take this as one person’s commentary.
Had a friend recently lose sensation in feet but maybe more rapid onset. About a week or two before he lost all sensation. Prob was bad discs in neck, which surprised me because I thought it would be lower in spine. They did a cervical fusion to correct.
Infections in spinal cord can also do this.
Disc thing easily detectable with MRI though. May have ruled that out already.
I might have the wrong person but don’t you now live in Spain?
One point on the lymphoma angle - there is a new type of polio going around which usually only affects kids but with a reduced immune system an adult could pick it up maybe. Would explain the breathing difficulty too.
Pressure on the spine can cause numbness of the feet and legs.
I’m assuming ALS has been ruled out.
https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(16)32653-8/fulltext
Tell your wife to stop eating all sugars. I had a remission of all symptoms with a diet of only steamed fish, rice and vegetables for 6 months. Drink only fresh water. No sugary drinks.
I have heard of this condition before and the cure was to cut all fats from your diet. Of course there will be some fats that are unavoidable and we need some fat anyway. .I have seen this work, my relative went from a cane to a walker to a wheelchair and about 3 months after cutting fats the feeling began to come back in his toes first. Now he is walking around. He will never be back to running, but he is 79. This happened to him around the age of 75.