Just checking in to see if anyone has had this happened at doctor's appointment. My DH does not have a reflex in his knees or arms . The doctor also had my DH to stand and put his feet together and close his eyes when he did this my DH was falling forward. I have noticed for the first time my husband cannot wiggle his toes. Has anyone experience this and what does this mean?
My husband has not had any problems with his relexes but whenever he does see the neurologist the doctor checks his reflexes and has him do things like close his eyes and touch his nose, walk heel to toe, stand up and sit down with his arms crossed. Maybe others LOs have had problems. Sorry I'm no help.
After my Dh's hospitalization and Dx, we had PT and OT at home to work on his balance and coordination. He was told they were to rebuild strength. He has Vascular Dementia and there is decline in any area the brain is connected to, depending on where current damage is happening.
My husbands neuro always checked the reflexes and balance. Shows them a good deal of the neurologic connections to various parts of the body (externally, anyway). It really does tell them alot about progressions, and confirms for them the parts of the brain involved in the deficits. My husband, near his end had developed neurogenic bladder...something that could not be detected by reflex tests unfortunately. It lead to renal failure, and to the onset of atrial fibrillation. As well as created a UTI, and we all know what those can do.
So yes, the reflex monitoring is an incredibly valuable assessment tool for the doctors. Not everyone will show deficits in a text book style, but it is good that the doctor is not just talking, giving a pat on the back and saying, "see you again in 6 months."
The standing with eyes shut is called a Romberg's test (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romberg's_test). Balance is determined by sensors in the ankle joints (and others), balance in your middle ear, visual sight all coordinated in the brain. A positive test (where someone starts to fall) simply means there's a problem with balance especially regarding the sensors in the joints. The patient will have to compensate by using visual cues for example. So at night time in the dark (which is like closing your eyes), this person would be unsafe. Fall prevention may be done possibly with a simple night light.
Same here. Little hammer checked reflexes, eyes closed, lift one foot, then the other. The "sobriety walk" with one foot in front of the other.. Last visit, the doctor noticed cataracts, ...later said they are quite common with Alz. patients. Checked his ears and we had to go to his ear doctor to removed impacted ear wax. (ugh..it was amazing how much was down deep in his ears!!) I would NEVER attempt to do that myself. Basically, they check him head to toe..feeling the pulse in his feet, etc.