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What Causes Sudden Limping Without Pain In An Elderly Person?
Hi. My mom is 67, and she has htn, niddm. She had an episode of her limbs going limp. No respiratory no pain just limp ness of the limbs. That lasted approx ten minutes. She went to the local ED and had test and blood work. Which all results were negative. Do u have any clue why this happened?
posted on
Sun, 13 Dec 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 11 Jan 2016
Answered on
Tue, 12 Jan 2016
Last reviewed on
Hello
Thank you for your question.
The description of symptoms in your mother along with her medical background is suggestive of a condition called Transient Ischemic Attack.(TIA)
Transient Ischemic Attack is a form of stroke which completely resolves within minutes to hours, typically in less than 24 hours.
Symptoms include weakness or numbness of limbs, slurring of speech, transient blindness or dizziness or loss of coordination.
Multiple TIAs could imply increased risk of a stroke in the next few months.
The risk factors for a TIA are increasing age , prevous history of a TIA, Hypertension, Diabetes , High Cholesterol etc.
As you have already been to the hospital, I think you would have already a got a basic blood workup along with CT Brain and a Carotid Ultrasound.
Your physician will prescribe antiplatelet drugs such as Clopidogrel, apart from your regular medication for hypertension and diabetes Mellitus. You will also need Lifestyle modification such as avoidance of smoking.
It would be useful if you had mentioned more details such as the onset of the episode , which limb was involved etc. There could also be other reasons for this presentation. I feel considering her age and medical background ,TIA is a possibility.
I hope you have found this information helpful.
Regards
Dr Alex
Thank you for your question.
The description of symptoms in your mother along with her medical background is suggestive of a condition called Transient Ischemic Attack.(TIA)
Transient Ischemic Attack is a form of stroke which completely resolves within minutes to hours, typically in less than 24 hours.
Symptoms include weakness or numbness of limbs, slurring of speech, transient blindness or dizziness or loss of coordination.
Multiple TIAs could imply increased risk of a stroke in the next few months.
The risk factors for a TIA are increasing age , prevous history of a TIA, Hypertension, Diabetes , High Cholesterol etc.
As you have already been to the hospital, I think you would have already a got a basic blood workup along with CT Brain and a Carotid Ultrasound.
Your physician will prescribe antiplatelet drugs such as Clopidogrel, apart from your regular medication for hypertension and diabetes Mellitus. You will also need Lifestyle modification such as avoidance of smoking.
It would be useful if you had mentioned more details such as the onset of the episode , which limb was involved etc. There could also be other reasons for this presentation. I feel considering her age and medical background ,TIA is a possibility.
I hope you have found this information helpful.
Regards
Dr Alex
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