Suggest Treatment For Muscle Weakness In Foot After GBS Treatment

Posted on Wed, 19 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 19 Mar 2014 Answered on

Sat, 5 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello, I am a patient of GBS from last 4 years. I was treated with IVIG dose as per my weight at that time. After 6 days of admiting in hospital, i was operated for ventilatory support. After that i was treated only with Antibiotics and multi vitamin doses. But till now, i am not 100% recovered from that disease. Currently the problem is that i can't pull my foot from ankle joint. and can't stand up independently. Please suggest should i go for MRI of legs or any other test to find out main problem so that i can take treatment accordingly.

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: It is residual/ recovering Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for posting your query on HealthcareMagic. You are having weakness of muscles of the foot. It may recover completely in sometime. Till then you need to maintain range of movement (ROM) so that the weak muscles do not develop contractures. ROM can be maintained with keeping a standard position of the affected parts and ROM programs. Occupational therapist or physiotherapist will be able to help you with it. You need to initiate/ continue continuous passive movement also. It helps in decreasing the associated pain. Massage may also be helpful. Staying immobile is also not good. Mild active exercises may be undertaken once the strength starts improving. I don't think that an MRI or another test would be helpful, since it is a weakness of the muscles. The doctor would be able to judge without tests that it is either in recovery phase or is residual. Hope it helps. Dr Vaishalee

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (36 minutes later)

Hello Doctor, Is there any medication treatment, which is helpful in recovery ?

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (15 hours later)

Brief Answer: There are some options Detailed Answer: Hi again To hasten recovery there are two options -IVIG (that you have already taken) and plasma exchange. After this there is not much available in allopathy. You can try vitamin B12 supplements or steroids but their efficacy is limited. A chinese herbal medicine named tripterygium polyglycoside has shown to be more effective than steroids. Panchkarma treatment in Indian ayurveda may also be helpful. You also need regular checkups by your treating doctor or neurologist to assess the status of condition. Hope it helps. Dr Vaishalee

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (55 minutes later)

Hello Doctor, Is this chinese herbal medicine named tripterygium polyglycoside available on all medical stores or not ? Are there any side effect of this like weight increase or any other ? Because i am already facing this problem of weight increase. Will you please suggest me how to lose weight ?

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (7 hours later)

Brief Answer: Continue ROM Detailed Answer: Hi again I am not sure where you will find tripterygium polyglycoside. I am sure it is available in India. Its main side effects are related to gastrointestinal tract like nausea, vomiting, etc. It may lead to weight gain since it also causes bloating. But you can find ayurvedic Panchkarma. It can also be very effective. Your weight will get back to normal once you are better. Increased weight is due to combination of inactivity and medicines. It is not the right time for dieting. Still you may do some active movements or yoga postures while sitting and lying. You may also avoid high calorie foods like milk products (cheese, butter, ghee, cream, ice cream, sweets. etc). Dr Vaishalee

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar