Expert: Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman - 5/1/2008

Question
Hi, I am 32yrs old and I have been having some health issues for close to two years now.  It started when I was about 6 months pregnant with our 6th child.  I had already had some stomache issues and my gallbladder was taken out.  Then at 6mo preg. my hips hurt real bad.  I could barely walk (I played sports through out my other pregnancies).  By eight months along, my hands started twitching.  By three months after delivery, the right side of my face was going numb and felt a little stiff.  for the next few months, my twitching was happening off and on all over my body.  By June a neurologist did some blood work and sent me to a gastrin. for a biopsy to check for Celiac. It came out positive so I saw a dietician.  I was so happy to get a diagnosis so I could heal my body.  A couple months later, I found out I was highly allergic to milk, cheese, and eggs also.  This was all fine with me as long as I got better.  I have now been gluten free for 10 months now and milk free for 7mo.  I have been taking any vitamin prescribed by doctors also.  Sometimes I think the twitching is going away because it will be very light for a few days, but then it will go crazy again.  I have had EXTREME weakness in my arms when I sleep at night for a year now.  To the point it is very difficult to lift them at all for hours sometimes.  Some days it takes half the morning to get my strength back.  I just had an xray of my lower back because of pain and I have a (something)vertebrea llA.  I can't remember the whole name, but it is where the right lower vertebrea has a growth coming off with a sudo(?) joint in it. I really don't think this is the problem of my weakness and twitching.  Could it be nutritional still.  Maybe my intestines and body need more time to heal still.  I don't even consider it being ALS or something like that.  Please ponder and give me some kind of advise on this.  I am willing to try anything new to get healthy again. Thank you so much.

Answer
Dear Amber,

First of all, sorry to hear of all the problems your having.  You have definitely been through a bunch lately.

Glad to hear that you have gotten off the gluten and dairy as this should greatly reduce symptoms and further exacerbations from an allergic and inflammatory nature, but have you been tested for other food allergies?  Just wondering.

The muscle weakness and twitching could easily be due to a B-vitamin deficiency, due to lack of it in the diet, poor absorption, or improper utilization.  Often pregnancy will bring about carpal tunnel symptoms and extremity weakness due to a B-vitamin deficiency, often worse at night, but it usually gets better post-partum.  Wondering what kind of vitamins you have been prescribed?  Have you been metabolically tested to determine your actual physiologic needs?...this cannot be determined by blood tests.  Also have you been tested for anemia, which would be found on a blood test?

Not sure what the vertebra thing is (transitional vertebra, spondylolisthesis, spatulization, spina bifida occulta, sacralization) all of these can have a pseudojoint formation, but would have no direct connection to the arm weakness.  Having said that, these would all be considered congenital anomalies, and they often occur in other areas of the spine, not just the low back.  If you think of the actual name, please let me know, and I would be happy to define it for you.

Now, I agree that ALS is an outside diagnosis...you are really too young for that diagnosis anyway, and the weakness is progressive, not on and off.  However, some of your symptoms can be seen in multiple sclerosis, which does occur in the twenties and thirties, most often to women.  Multiple sclerosis often gets better then worse, and is comprised of neurological symptoms such as:  vision problems, weakness, tingling in the arms/legs/hands/feet, dizziness, problems with hearing and taste.  The best way to diagnose this condition is with an MRI of the brain to look for areas of plaque formation.  If plaques are found, the diagnosis is clear.

Listen Amber, answer the above questions to the best of your ability and write me back with some more information, and I will do my best to get you some more detailed answers and possible solutions.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net