Difficulty walking due to leg weakness

psc · 05-26-2009, 01:58 PM

Hi,

My mother is having difficulty walking due to weakness in her left leg. She can move her leg sideways but cannot lift it. Her oncologist had a brain, spine MRI done. They gave her conformol (3D) radiation for 10 days on the back side of her head for the brain metastases. However there hasnt been any improvement.
- Radition onclogist feels that the spine has a few spots but he desnt think that is the cause for her leg weakness. He said sometimes there is a delayed response to brain radiation. Is that true ? He said that we could try giving radiation to the spine though.
- Her oncologist wants to put her on chemotherapy.

She was able to walk until 15 days back. I am feeling very bad - she has gone through so much already in the past 2 years, I have tears in my eyes everytime i think about this...
What is the best option to treat this? Does anyone have similar experience? Please help

thanks,
psc
Dx Mom, Stage IV, ER- PR-, HER2+

Jackie07 · 05-26-2009, 04:06 PM

Hi,

When I was undergoing physical therapy after my 23-hour brain (tumor) surgery and 10-day semicomatose, it was quite difficult at the beginning. For at least 4 weeks while in the hospital I was mostly using a wheelchair. But little by little, I was able to 'turn my neck', 'move the left side of my body', 'stand on my feet', 'walk by holding the bars', and eventually was using a cane when I was discharged from the hospital.

You probably want to get her some professional help. Can you get her a referral to the physical therapy department in a hospital or rehab. center? When my late Mother-in-law was recuperating at home after her surgery and hospitalization, she continued to receive
physical therapy via home health care.

Our brain is an amazing organ - my experience is that 'movement' (any kind of exercise - even just wiggling our fingers - have you watched the PBS program for the elderly to exercise while sitting in a chair?) will stimulate the brain and then reflex back to the rest of the body. It also releases 'endorphene' and improves the mood.

Does she like music? Singing is actually a very good exercise for the heart and lung. I hope things improve for her soon.

Mary Jo · 05-26-2009, 06:36 PM

Hi psc,

I have nothing to offer concerning your mom's leg weakness but did want to say that I could "hear" your sadness in your post and wanted to say that you are such a wonderful daughter. Your mom is truly blessed and I'm sure there isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't thank God for you.

I will pray that things improve for your mom and that you would have some peace today.

Love and a hug I send,

Mary Jo

Laurel · 05-27-2009, 10:01 AM

Like Mary Jo I haven't any experience with brain metastases, however I wanted to respond to let you know that we care and that we will pray for you and for your mother. Also, by responding to your post it keeps it on the active list so others who may be able to answer your questions will come across it and respond. Hang in there.

Shobha · 05-27-2009, 10:23 AM

Dear psc,

I am sending lots of prayers for your mom to start healing and feeling better. You are really a wonderful and brave daughter. May God bless with you strength and lift your spirits up.

hugs,
shobha

Bill · 05-28-2009, 11:13 AM

Hi PSC! I hope your mom is doing better. I was just wondering if she is taking any steroids for brain-swelling. That can cause weakness in the legs, but usually it's both legs. Warm thoughts and prayers. Love, Bill

psc · 05-29-2009, 01:37 PM

Thank you all for your support and prayers! My mother loves music; i think i will buy her some good CDs to listen to. She is currently on dexamethasone 4 mg for brain swelling and taking radiation for spine mets. We are hoping that radiation will help her.
My father passed away when we were very young - my mother single-handedly brought us up. Me and my brother want to do everything possible; but at times we feel helpless. God is great and we hope he helps us find a way!

jones7676 · 06-01-2009, 01:50 PM

The swelling from the treatment could be putting pressure on the leg portion within the brain.....I base this opinion on personal experience.

Emmay · 06-01-2009, 06:59 PM

Hi,
I agree with Bill; my sister has been on the steroid Decadron on and off over the past 5 years, and it definitely weakens the muscles, and recovering strength can take a while even after the steroid is no longer being taken.

Does your Mom have any pain as she tries to walk? My sister was experiencing increased pain in her upper right leg and hip area, until she could no longer walk. X-rays of her pelvis and femur came back negative for a break or any disease, and a lumbar puncture also came back negative for any cancer cells. Her neuro-oncologist said x-rays aren't entirely reliable, so she ordered a CTscan, which showed that my sister had a non-displaced fracture in the upper socket area of her right hip. She'd had a slight fall a couple of weeks earlier, and didn't feel anything more than a minor bruise initially, but the pain grew gradually over time. Now that my sister's been diagnosed properly, she's been getting the bed rest and physical therapy she needs, and is starting to slowly recover.

I hope this is not what's happened to your Mom, but it would be worth getting her checked out thoroughly so she can get the right therapy.

psc · 06-08-2009, 01:26 PM

Thank you for your reply. My mother started decadron only recently about one month back only after she started experiencing drowsiness and leg weakness.