leg weakness after attack

[Pip79510]

Hi,

I am a newbie, but had asthma for years and it is getting gradually worse.

I have had maybe 3 severe attacks and the most recent has had me off work for nearly 2 weeks now. In the past I have carried on going in (to my detriment) you know that work ethic malarkey. This time I took the time off thinking I would be sensible. The problem is after every severe attack I end up with severe weakness in my legs, where I can only walk maybe 50 steps before my legs start giving way. I have to walk super slowly. In the past this has lasted more than two months (I thought that was cos I was stupid and carried on going to work) but this time, after nearly 2 weeks off, I am still not able to walk far.

I am a teacher and my classes are sometimes on opposite sides of the building. I want to go back, need to go back, for multiple reasons, but I am worried the walking issue is going to be prohibitive. I can’t seem to find anything online about walkibg weakness after attacks and wondered if anyone had any insight/ perspective from their own experience. The walking issue seems to also exacerbate brain fog/ability to focus etc. and then if course my peak flow drops.

Any advice/experience shared gratefully received!

Edit: I am currently

Taking steroids presidnolone and antibiotics- in case that has any bearing on anything…

[fraid]

I would go back to your doc with these extra symptoms. I have asthma, also M.E with resultant weak legs, brain fog etc. Hopefully for you it will just be a meds side effect or similar but worth checking out soonest. 🤞

[Pip79510 in reply to fraid]

Hi Fraid,

Thank you for your reply. Ok I will mention it, I have an appointment on Monday so will mention it, hopefully a med side effect. Although I do sometimes get leg weakness even when not had an attack.

All thanks and strength to you x

[PattyT22]

it’s such a coincidence but I have had severe eosinophilic asthma for 5 years and for 2 of them adrenal insufficiency so my steroid dosage fluctuates but at Xmas was huge. I haven’t been able to walk great since covid due to pain but since Xmas my legs keep giving way. I saw a respiratory specialist last week about my pneumonia and he asked why I was in wheelchair I said my legs and he said steroids cause muscle atrophy! I googled this! It’s fixable but only without or lower steroids. I’ve started physio to strengthen the other muscles which will help. Take care.

[Anselm198]

Can I recommend that you ask for blood tests especially your potassium level because it can be affected with the attack and extra meds.

[Bella-Bestia]

Hi,

When I had issues with weakness in my proximal muscles of my legs and arms following 3 exacerbations when I took prednisolone and my inhaler was also increased I was eventually referred to a neurologist. I was no longer taking prednisolone by this time but my mobility became much worse. I was diagnosed with a steroid induced myopathy caused by the prednisolone. As a consequence of my experience I was referred to an asthma specialist to look at how to manage

That was over three years ago. I did slowly recover and am managed differently because of it. My GP at the time said that this was unusual.

If you want to contact me the PM me

Take care,

Bella-Bestia

[runcyclexcski]

When my asthma is poorly controlled, I have such issues, too (which I describe as severe weakness) -- I just have to lie down wherever I happen to be at the moment (merely sitting down is not enough). I started carrying a camping mat with me at all times for such occasions. But on monoclonal antibodies this is less severe. I also find that forcing oneself to exercise helps (whenever one feels OK-ish) -- as long as it does not make the symptoms worse. Otherwise one gets more and more sedentary and then it's a vicious cycle.

[Deovolente]

What antibiotics do you take and for how long? After ciprafloxacin I broke my leg ankle. Be careful with antibiotics! After asthma attack I also had leg weakness to the point it is hard to go to the bathroom and stand in order to brush my teeth.

[janedivney in reply to Deovolente]

Cipro is well known for occasionally causing Achilles tendinitis, to the extent that the Achilles can pop. This side effect is a great nuisance for people with bronchiectasis because cipro is otherwise a very useful antibiotic for our frequent infections, especially to treat pseudomonas. I can’t take it anymore, which means I now have to have intravenous antibiotics

[Pip79510 in reply to Deovolente]

Thank you for your reply.

The thing is the antibiotics and steroids came like 2 days after the attack (due to not being able to contact doctors and being a twit that stayed at work) and I was unable to walk before those so i’m thinking they are not the cause but maybe could be prolonging the difficulty if that makes sense?