In the 'Symptoms - Aging' section of our in-depth questionnaire we ask the following question about walking ability:
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Has your ability to walk declined within the past year for unknown reasons?
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Your answer |
...indicates |
...and suggests |
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"No change / reason known / don't know" |
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| 2. |
"A little, but I can still walk unaided" |
Decreased ability to walk |
A symptom |
| 3. |
"I need some assistance" |
Decreased ability to walk |
A symptom |
| 4. |
"I need a lot of assistance" |
Decreased ability to walk |
A symptom |
| 5. |
"I can no longer walk at all" |
Decreased ability to walk |
A symptom |
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Your answer will affect the likelihoods of the conditions below.
Any answers in green reduce the likelihood of the condition.
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| Answers |
Condition |
Comment |
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Brain Tumor |
Gradual loss of movement in an arm or leg could indicate a brain tumor. When walking, unsteadiness, stumbling or imbalance (feeling weak and uncoordinated), especially if it is associated with headache, is a significant symptom. |
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2 |
3 |
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5 |
Guillain-Barre Syndrome |
Only about 28% of patients with the GBS remain able to walk unaided. Patients with the hyper acute form of the syndrome lose the use of their legs within a day. |
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Parkinson's Disease |
A shuffling walk is characteristic of Parkinson's disease. |
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2 |
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Vitamin B12 Requirement |
Staggering can be caused by advanced B12 deficiency. |
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GLOSSARY
Acute
An illness or symptom of sudden onset, which generally has a short duration.
Cobalamin (B12, B-12, Cobalamine, Vitamin B12)
Essential for normal growth and functioning of all body cells, especially those of bone marrow (red blood cell formation), gastrointestinal tract and nervous system, it prevents pernicious anemia and plays a crucial part in the reproduction of every cell of the body i.e. synthesis of genetic material (DNA).
Parkinson's Disease (Parkinson's)
A chronic, slowly-progressing disease of the nervous system characterized clinically by the combination of tremor, rigidity, extreme slowness of movement, and stooped posture. It is characterized pathologically by loss of dopamine in the substantia nigra.
Syndrome
A medical condition characterized by a collection of related symptoms (what the patient feels) and signs (what a doctor can observe or measure).
Tumor (Tumors, Tumour, Tumours)
An abnormal growth of tissue resulting from uncontrolled, progressive multiplication of cells and serving no physiological function; a neoplasm. Literally, a swelling; in the past the term has been used in reference to any swelling of the body, no matter what the cause. However, the word is now being used almost exclusively to refer to a neoplastic mass, and the more general usage is being discarded.
Last updated: Feb 28, 2008
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