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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Which Medical Specialist Treats Weakness And Numbness In The Hands And Legs?

My brother is 72. He has been having weakness and numbness in his hands and legs. He has also passed out for short amount of time. He had surgery to put in a stent for a aorta aneurysm. The stent slipped and now he has only 1 functioning kidney. What kind of Doctor should I have him see?
Fri, 5 Aug 2016
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Weakness & numbness in limbs are mostly caused by peripheral nerve damage. Nerve damage is almost always permanent as nerve tissue does not grow back easily. One can only prevent further damage by identifying its cause and taking treatment, but the damaged nerve cannot be repaired. There is a window period of a few days between getting weakness and numbness and the nerve being permanently damaged. Thus, if weakness and numbness is treated during this period, the permanent damage to nerves can be avoided. There are many causes of peripheral nerve damage such as diabetes, chronic renal failure, leprosy, vertebral compression, vasculitis, shingles and hypothyroidism etc. Cause needs to be identified. There is a role of methylcobalamine in treatment of peripheral nerve damage caused by metabolic disorders.
Advice
1.     Investigations – blood sugar (fasting & postprandial) and serum creatinine
2.     Tablet methylcobalamin 500 mcg once daily per oral for 3 months

Thanks
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Which Medical Specialist Treats Weakness And Numbness In The Hands And Legs?

Weakness & numbness in limbs are mostly caused by peripheral nerve damage. Nerve damage is almost always permanent as nerve tissue does not grow back easily. One can only prevent further damage by identifying its cause and taking treatment, but the damaged nerve cannot be repaired. There is a window period of a few days between getting weakness and numbness and the nerve being permanently damaged. Thus, if weakness and numbness is treated during this period, the permanent damage to nerves can be avoided. There are many causes of peripheral nerve damage such as diabetes, chronic renal failure, leprosy, vertebral compression, vasculitis, shingles and hypothyroidism etc. Cause needs to be identified. There is a role of methylcobalamine in treatment of peripheral nerve damage caused by metabolic disorders. Advice 1. Investigations – blood sugar (fasting & postprandial) and serum creatinine 2. Tablet methylcobalamin 500 mcg once daily per oral for 3 months Thanks