In <6l51m7$h7e at sjx-ixn11.ix.netcom.com> flefever at ix.netcom.com(F. Frank
LeFever) writes:
>>You say she was referred to a "specialist"--what specialty?
Neurology?
>Internal Medicine?
>>One cause of something like what you seem to be describing involves
>perturbations in the region served by the vertebro-basilar arterial
>system, perhaps TIAs: called "drop attacks" they are characterized by
>sudden unexplained loss of support by legs, without any awareness of
>difficulty with them, without loss of consciousness, etc.
>>Some branches of this system supply brainstem nuclei relevant to
>control of speech apparatus, so TIA (tansient ischemic attack) could
>also include problems of articulation, if this is what you mean by
>"problems with speech".
>>Anterior branches supply medial temporal lobe, so sporadic memory
>lapses possible also (although not necessarily the best explanation,
>has been suggested as basis for "transient global amnesia").
>>Some risk factors for TIA suggested in description: edema suggesting
>cardiovascular problems, etc.
>>In older people, arthritic changes in cervical area may compromise
>vertebro-basilar function, possibly marginal to begin with on basis of
>vascular anatomy (great interindividual variability in anastomoses and
>compensatory distribution) and/or arteriosclerotic narrowing of
>vessels.
>>F. Frank LeFever, Ph.D.
>New York Neuropsychology Group
>>>>>>In <01bd8f15$520b4f40$ad2e63c3 at default> "Global"
><waterwatch at hotmail.com> writes:
>>>>I hope that someone may be able to suggest a diagnosis for my mother.
>>>>She is 82 years old, and for the last 18 monhs, has suffered
>>sudden loss of use in her legs.
>>>>She has no pain, and remains concious, however she collapses to the
>>ground, and has received various cuts and bruises.
>>>>I have noticed at times that she "Yawns" rather a lot, and also that
>her
>>ankles swell ( Not huge) but larger than normal,and are very blue at
>>times.
>>>>She also at times has difficulty with her memory, and speech.
>>>>I first noticed something was wrong at my fathers funeral, when we
>>were leaving the crematorium, she was walking to the left, as if she
>>had no control.
>>>>She has seen her Doctor several times, who could find no explanation
>>and he referred her to a specialist, who also could not diagnose
>>anything.
>>>>I am getting very worried now, as she had a serious fall yesterday
and
>>the loss of use of her legs appears to be increasing.
>>>>I would be very obliged if somebody could give me an indication as to
>>what could be wrong, so that I could suggest to her Doctor.
>>>>Thank you in anticipation
>>>>Peter Betts
>>GLOBAL at AGRICULTURAL.SSI. btinternet.com
>>>>England
>
