Weak legs?

[Mimi828]

Hi everyone. I have a friend who has had pd for a very long time, like 15 years, she considers her management of her symptoms fairly successful but suddenly, out of the blue, with no warning, she’s been having a lot of trouble with her legs, they are quite weak and almost like they are asleep, and they just don’t want to cooperate, making just walking around the house a challenge. This, accompanied with some gait freezing, has caused a number of falls and many near misses. She has to consider each step very carefully. She’s now using a walker all the time, She’s not experiencing too many other problems, her meds are still doing well and besides being a little slow, she’s been managing just fine all these years, this weak legs thing has really throw her whole game off. She’s worried she may need a wheelchair eventually. All of this is very scary for her. Has anyone else experienced this or have heard of this happening in pd people? Thanks

[Boscoejean]

parkinsonsnewstoday.com/col....

[LindaP50]

Weak legs, any other symptoms. Like slightly forgetting things? Urinating often?

Could be a urinary tract infection. Take a home test - Azo Urinary Infection Test strips. UTI's for people with PD can cause one to be septic and affect the kidneys more quickly than people without PD.

If not a uti, could need more exercise. I now try and have hubby get up once an hour and walk through the house or go on his stationary bike.

[M-o-ggy]

I get this after. I have eaten .It takes about three hours to wear off It is not to bad if I am sat but if I try walking the thigh muscles feel as if they are going to collapse.

I first noticed it aftér my breakfast. Specialist said to take first dose of the day and wait two hours.to allow tablets to work then eat .

Didnt work so now I have take tablets and green tea at 0600 next tablets at 0930 eat as late as I can. Tablets at 1300 sit for at least 3 hours Tablets at 1630 Do physical work etc Sandwich about 1800

Tablets at 2000

I have read that it is caused by low BP . During these times I have tested this and discussed with my Dr who tells me it is very good. They refuse to accept that BP that is normal in a 20 yr old is normal for an overweight 70 yr old.

[bigl62]

Sorry to hear about your weak legs.I have recently experienced jello weak legs. It comes and goes.lasting about an hour.. I haven't been able to track any trends or patterns or lead up events.

[Carpediadem]

Oh my Godness. I really needed to read this post today !! Im 62, having symtoms since 7 y. old. My primary s are cramps all over the body. Except my toenails. And I know that the cramps depends on amounth of intake of wheat , oat ( worse).And also my ataxi, total weakness. of my leg muscles.If I fall I stay on the floor!! Cant get upp in 4 days.I don’t have celiaki. And I have MR- scannnedmy brain. aAnd I do have lost a great amount of dopamineproducing cells. so theonly thing that helps i diet avoiding oat, wheat. im myy aerly years antifungal medicin helped against cramps

[camper1]

Make sure she is swinging her arms when walking.

[Bunny622023]

Hi Mimi, you may try reading up on Muscle atrophy which is very common in Parkinsons, may be something that can help.

I've taken these words here off the web, but there is a lot of paperwork on the muscles. "As the disease progresses, PD patients have different degrees of muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, muscle pain and muscle atrophy. It is defined as sarcopenia when the reduction in muscle mass reaches 10–20% of that of a normal adult and is accompanied by a decrease in strength and/or physical function".

My husband has definitely lost a lot of muscle in his upper legs and he has a lot of falls. Sometimes it feels like a baseball bat to the back of the leg and his knees just buckle. He's 61, had PD 25 years +....... it's only started in the last few years in earnest. He is a runner, gym goer, cycles every other day but lately with Falls Fisio, his normal exercise regime has been less which definitely doesn't help with trying to build the strength in the muscles. It's been key in keeping his PD at bay so to speak, but certainly things are not ideal with the falls for him as for your friend. I can only suggest trying to build strength in the quadriceps and core. All the best.

[Kitefli in reply to Bunny622023]

I had experience muscle weakness that affected my swimming. After DBS, I noticed that based on the program settings, my swimming speed improved quite a bit. So, that muscles are not necessarily weak, it is the brain not giving appropriate signals. Strengthening my muscles in gym didn't do much for swimming; however, reprogramming my DBS did. Also, exercise will definitely help in other ways. If you already have weak legs, you may not be able to use stationary bike. I suggest using a motorized stationary bike (Theracycle). I have one that I am willing to donate; since I am not using it anymore. The problem is shipping; it is heavy. I live in San Jose, CA.

[Bunny622023 in reply to Kitefli]

Hi Kitefli, thanks for your answer. Interesting isn't it how the DBS helped with your swimming. I think that's great and as usual different things work for each person. Unfortunately for my husband, he does have muscle atrophy in his legs as his Neuro has said, so he just needs to get back on his bike and get on out there, air in his lungs and mix it with the weight training at the gym and his Fisio. He has always been stronger and more balanced with multiple exercise regimes. He has used stationery bikes manual and electric before and also his own bike stationary in the garage but he prefers to be outside overall. They're just not for him static bikes, electric or otherwise. All the best.

[JeanieBeanie]

My HWP has been experiencing this. Our GP agreed to referring him for an X-ray and he has arthritis. We have had a lot of rain in UK and I don't know if this is affecting him. Also after months of asking for anti anxiety medication (he has had PD 30 years) he finally got a prescription. There was an improvement after just a week.

[realk]

It's pretty common in PD, 15 years after the diagnosis...I would suggest play a little with the drugs& food timing ,try yoga for balance and for coordination chigong exercise ; and this for leg strength youtu.be/MNbwlsqgKLc?si=iwb...(Not working as expected?)

[LeharLover62]

For my hubby, buckling legs means his dopamine/meds a bit too low. You may want to consider a med adjustment, especially if the buckling is more noticeable during off times.