What is the significance of the Babinski Reflex?

I'm still in the diagnostic stage.  I've had a lot of MS symptoms, but my MRIs are normal.  I haven't had an MRI on my thoracic spine yet, that's scheduled for this coming Monday.

On my two neuro exams, I have had a present Babinski reflex in my left foot.  In addition, my SSER (EVP) was abnormal on my left leg. 

The second neurologist I have seen (the first dismissed me without any follow-up after my MRI came back normal) told me that these findings could be from peripheral damage to the nerve in my leg instead of being a problem in my central nervous system (which isn't what the EVP report said. It said that the problem was most likely located between the end of my spine and my cerebral cortex.) 

So what is the significance of a present Babinski and abnormal EVP on the same side?  Could it be peripheral nerve damage, or is it more likely to be something going on in my central nervous system?

Thanks and hugs,

Lisa

uppitycats I can't find this article. Is the address right?   Linda

I checked out that link. Thanks, Uppitycats. It was very informative. The only condition, however, that sounded anything like what I'm experiencing is MS.

*sigh* I guess I'm back to where I started!

If your foot *moved* -- that is a positive Babinski reflex, not a good thing. It doesn't have to happen in both feet. So if he did your left foot, got a response, then moved to your right foot and got nothing, he may simply have repeated it to make sure that there was not also a response there.

Hey Uppity

I didn't know what the response should be other than the toes curling or fanning. I assumed no response was an absence of sensation. I've actually researched this some and only found info that told about the particuliar response looked for, but nothing that told me about the absense of response. Thanks for posting this to me!

Hey Lisa

Thanks to u as well! I can't remember the way my left foot responded...since my mind was on my right foot i guess i didn't pay attention. It did do something, but i couldn't say what. As to how i'm doing, i guess ok. I started a thread earlier about taking the Diamox and that's really kicking me, but i'm hanging in there. I sorta think before i started that med that things were making themselves known again. Just a day or so before i started that i began having more probs with heat intolerance and balance issues. I'm curious as to the extent that maybe the med isn't causing all my probs that i posted about. I'm wondering if maybe they were already intensifying and coincidentally i started the med at the right time to not be sure. I haven't talked to my doc yet, but my pharmacist said the side effects should lessen in time. If they don't by Monday i plan to wean myself from them and call my doc to that effect. How are u feeling?

rhonda

I do have MS - I always thought that a response was a good thing, as none of my Nueros ever explained the Babinsly to me in all thse years. I have always had extreme responses, especially on my left side. This last time was when this Neuro explained it to me after my left leg almost literally kicked him! lol and my arm was bad too. Not sure what my toes did though, but can only assume I failed that one too

Here is a new possibility....
Neurologists frequently suggest people do not spend too much time at stool because some read there and may be there til a leg goes "to sleep" with tingling and numbness of entire leg. This is caused by extreme pressure applied to the leg nerves by the weight of the leg pressing down for a pong period. Heavy people with full thighs are apt to see this more often but it can happen to all. this cuses temporary damage to some nerves in the leg which result in the symptoms reported here but never discussed as a possibility.

Too often, and this can damage the nerve so that it takes longer to heal because the same nerves are repeatedly damaged before complete healing takes place. The symptoms initially are natures warning that something is taking place. It is so uncomfortable that we move the leg and that corrects the immediate problem, however, since we go to stool every day we are apt to repeat the conditions that causes the response to last longer or become chronic. Do not tale reading material to stool that can take too long to read..

The PLANTAR REFLEX tests the integrity of the spinal cord from L4(4th bone of the Lumbar vertebrae) to S2(2nd bone of the Sacrum) and indirectly determines if the coritcospinal tracts are functioning properly. It is elicited by drawing a blunt object downward along the lateral aspect(outer edge) of the plantar surface(sole) of the foot. The normal response is a downward flexion(curling) of the toes. However, if the primary motor cortex or corticospinal tract is damaged, the plantar reflex is replaced by an abnormal reflex called Babinski's sign, in which the great toe dorsiflexes(raises towards the body) and the smaller toes fan laterally. Infants exhibit Babinski's sign until they are about 2 years of age because their nervous systems are incompletely myelinated. Despite its clinical significance, the phyisological mechanism of Babinski's sign is not understood.

Here is a list of possible illnesses associated with Babinski's sign.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease)
Brain tumor
Friedreich's ataxia
Head injury
Hepatic encephalopathy
Meningitis
Multiple sclerosis
Pernicious anemia
Poliomyelitis (some forms)
Rabies
Spinal cord injury
Spinal cord tumor
Stroke
Syringomyelia
Tuberculosis (when it affects the spine)


I am not a doctor, health professional, and don't pretend to be one. I am a student that thought this might be helpful, but to each their own. Best of luck, and good wishes on my behalf.

Hi i am paralyzed from the waste down cant speak because i have very little movements in tounge and lips and 3 fingers that close into my palm and the doctors dont know whats wrong i also have severe spasms and positive babinski sign in both feet just woundering weather anyone else had experienced this and if so what is it :) thanks