Dear all,

My son, 17, had a flu about two weeks ago. Just before flu symptoms began (he says), he began to experience weakness in his legs during exertion. He's the captain of his school track team and has been able to run for miles without noticeable change in strength other than normal tiredness. But this new experience has stopped him after a mile when, all of a sudden, his legs give out. Now he even has a little trouble climbing stairs and walking with his heavy back pack -- he keeps going but says his legs feel weak.

I took him to his homeopath/pediatrician and she checked his reflexes and nerves. She found an insensitivity to stimulation along the sides of his right foot. It was his right leg that collapsed under him when he fell during running last week. His hom doc also found a heart murmur, and his heart beat was 86/m. The murmur wasn't evident in his yearly physical last spring. His blood pressure is 60/120.

Also, I've noticed that his hands/fingers are very cold (Reynauds-like). I've spoken to his athletic coach at school, and she says he's often cold when others are comfortable, that he has to wear extra clothes compared to others. I'm going to take him to a cardiologist and a neurologist on the recommendation of his homeopath/pediatrician. But I wonder if you have any thoughts. His mood is good -- he doesn't seem frightened by his symptoms (the way I am). Who knows, maybe he's grateful he doesn't have to push so hard -- he has a doctor's excuse to get out of athletics this week.

He's 17, 6 feet tall, thin, the president of his school, gets all A's these days. Thank you so much for any insights.

Best,
Margaret in Boston

dear margaret,

This is about your post to the homeolist. sub: sudden leg weakness of your son.

the details that you provide a insufficient for a perfect reply. however, with whatever you have written I have 2 things to say :

1) visit your neurologist and cardiologist as soon as possible.

2) as far as I am concerned, I have full faith on the powers of the correct homeopathic prescription. you and your physicians are best to decide what to do. imho - after an opinion from the cardio/neuro guys a detailed case taking should be done and the correct remedy given immediately.

as it appears to me the "flu" may be some sort of viral attack on the motor nervous system and so this requires immediate attention. btw - is your son thirstless generally ? or was it so during the flu episode. if so, I was thinking about gelsemium. gels. may have these low pulse / BP / murmurs etc and it also has motor paralysis. gels is chilly and I have used it for acute flu episodes. gels shows decreased activity / lethargy during acute episodes and is thirstless.

please note that my opinion is based on the first hand impression of what little you wrote. I hope other members of the list will write to you as well.

may your son be healthy and happy -

dr manish agarwala

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