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Suggest Treatment For Temporary Paralysis Of The Legs

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Posted on Wed, 12 Apr 2017
Question: Every night about 1 hour after going to sleep my wife wakes and cannot move her legs. It lasts for about an hour and does not happen the rest of the night. She panics when she cannot move her legs and has trouble breathing. This never happens during the day even though she takes naps. She takes Lipitor, Tramadol, Nucynta ER ,and Eliquis before bed.
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Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
This could be due to sleep paralysis.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for asking from HEALTHCAREMAGIC.COM

I can understand your concern. Neurological evaluation found nothing abnormal so we can easily rule out any causes related to spine. She wakes up in night and then can't move her legs. This could be occurring due to some sleep dysfunction. Sleep paralysis could be a possibility. In sleep paralysis individual wakes up from sleep and couldn't move limbs for some time. Some time this is related to disturbed sleep rhythm. Altered REM sleep could be the reason. You can ask her doctor for sleep EEG and this will rule out any chances of sleep paralysis.

Panic secondary to inability to move legs is resulting in breathing difficulty. First of all reassure her that there is nothing very serious. This is related to altered sleep rhythm and will go with treatment. Reassurance will reduce her panic and she will not have breathing difficulty. Please visit a good neuropsychiatrist for her evaluation.

Thanks. Take care
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

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

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5193 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Temporary Paralysis Of The Legs

Brief Answer: This could be due to sleep paralysis. Detailed Answer: Hi, thanks for asking from HEALTHCAREMAGIC.COM I can understand your concern. Neurological evaluation found nothing abnormal so we can easily rule out any causes related to spine. She wakes up in night and then can't move her legs. This could be occurring due to some sleep dysfunction. Sleep paralysis could be a possibility. In sleep paralysis individual wakes up from sleep and couldn't move limbs for some time. Some time this is related to disturbed sleep rhythm. Altered REM sleep could be the reason. You can ask her doctor for sleep EEG and this will rule out any chances of sleep paralysis. Panic secondary to inability to move legs is resulting in breathing difficulty. First of all reassure her that there is nothing very serious. This is related to altered sleep rhythm and will go with treatment. Reassurance will reduce her panic and she will not have breathing difficulty. Please visit a good neuropsychiatrist for her evaluation. Thanks. Take care