Chapter 799 - 373: Rickets? Highly Unusual Symptoms (2)

Chapter 799: Chapter 373: Rickets? Highly Unusual Symptoms (2)

The greatest love in the world truly comes from parents.

This girl is now twenty-five years old.

She has been suffering from her illness since she was fourteen, a total of eleven years.

Her parents sold a house to cure her illness and have cared for her day and night for eleven years.

Li Jingsheng is often moved by the power of family love, or romantic love, or friendship.

Very few people can dedicate themselves for eleven years as if it were just one day.

"I can see you’ve been taking great care of her. Are those the medical records for her treatment in your hands?"

"Yes, these are the medical records for this year. Over the past eleven years, we’ve been to so many hospitals, we can’t even remember them all. Various records fill more than half a bookshelf. We haven’t thrown any away, keeping them just in case a doctor needs to see them; we can find them at a moment’s notice."

"You are the greatest parents in the world. It’s unfortunate that she has this illness, but to have such devoted parents who love and care for her is her good fortune."

Li Jingsheng sometimes really cannot comprehend how parents can love their children so selflessly.

Various acts of selfless devotion.

Why do some children abandon their parents’ treatment just because of a medical bill of twenty or thirty thousand?

Human nature is sometimes truly a mystery.

"Let me see the records. Do you now suspect she has a bone-related disease?"

Li Jingsheng took the file from the relative and examined it carefully.

An MRI of the head was done, electromyographic signals were checked, various biochemical tests were conducted...

But all her indicators were essentially normal.

This was very puzzling.

Where exactly is the problem?

Even with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), there are ways to diagnose it.

But her cerebrospinal fluid biochemistry is all normal.

Her nerve signals are also intact.

Muscle strength tests failed, which is quite normal because she is now like someone without bones, her whole body limp.

"We heard from someone about a disease called osteomalacia, which has similar symptoms: weakness throughout the body, and in severe cases, being bedridden and unable to move. You are an expert in this area, please help us diagnose her."

For the sake of his daughter’s treatment, the elder has done a lot of research over the years.

Seeking medical treatment everywhere.

"Osteomalacia generally refers to vitamin D deficiency rickets, essentially insufficient bone mineralization. Her height looks normal, and everything was normal before the age of fourteen. Besides, osteomalacia is progressive; it can’t suddenly cause someone to collapse and become limp. From what you described about the onset and her symptoms, I think the likelihood of a nerve disorder is higher."

After reviewing the patient’s medical records, Li Jingsheng found nothing and immediately switched to another diagnostic direction.

"Let me feel her bones."

The relatives cooperated well, but the patient herself remained silent.

But her gaze was not dull.

Especially when her parents mentioned selling their house to seek treatment for her, she shed tears.

"Can she still speak?"

"She used to be able to, but she’s spoken less and less over the past few years. Especially in the past two years, she only speaks when she needs to use the restroom, not at any other time. We’ve seen a psychologist who said she has depression and signs of autism."

Anyone who has been bedridden for a long time, unable to move, like a living corpse.

Needing parental care even for daily necessities, it’s a miracle they haven’t gone crazy.

Li Jingsheng tried feeling her bones.

Starting with her legs.

The bones felt relatively normal, the bone quality was passable, with some degree of osteoporosis.

This is caused by her long-term bedridden state and inability to exercise.

Life lies in movement.

The benefits of exercise are numerous: apart from strengthening bones and muscles, it also promotes metabolism and expels various toxins. It keeps the body’s cells and tissues full of vitality.

Studies have shown that people who love exercise and maintain it consistently age noticeably slower than those who do not like exercising.

"Siying, hand me the pen."

Li Jingsheng said to Han Siying.

She handed the pen to Li Jingsheng, unsure what her mentor intended to do.

"Remove her socks."

This time, Han Siying didn’t need to do it herself; the family member took care of it.

Due to years of not walking, the skin on her feet was particularly pale. It seemed her circulation was good, as her blood color was alright.

At twenty-five, she is still relatively young.

All of her bodily functions are in a very good state.

Men and women of this age generally have smooth and glossy skin, almost no need for skincare products.

Li Jingsheng used the end of the pen to stroke her foot sole.

This is a clinical test method.

Simply put, it’s about tickling the patient’s foot sole.

Then, based on the patient’s reaction, one can determine muscle tone, leg nerve response, etc.

When her foot sole was tickled, you could see her toes involuntarily curl upwards, indicating that nerve reflexes should be present.

Moreover, she was able to curl her toes, suggesting some leg motor function still exists.

"Siying, you tickle her foot sole while I feel her bones again."

"Okay!"

Han Siying took the pen and stroked the sole of the patient’s foot.

As Li Jingsheng felt her bones, he sensed a process of exertion in her leg. The muscles contract to some degree, and the bones coordinate to some extent.

"How does she eat? Does she need a nasal tube for feeding?"

Li Jingsheng didn’t find any nasal tube inserted.

It indicated that she shouldn’t need nasal feeding.

"We just feed her directly. She can open her mouth."

"So she can swallow and chew."

"Yes, she always has."

The family member said with certainty.

That’s a bit strange. Chewing functions seem simple but involve a lot of coordination.

If the patient can eat, it means the head, oral cavity, and pharynx motor functions are all normal.

"Can she turn her head?"

"She used to be able to, but now it seems to take a lot of effort."

Li Jingsheng nodded, feeling even more perplexed.

Earlier, when he felt the patient’s bones, he could basically confirm that her bones were healthy, so where exactly was the issue?

If it were a nerve disorder, chewing and swallowing functions are normal.

Moreover, when her foot sole was stimulated, her toes curled as a reaction.

Although the extent is minor, the reaction is still very evident. At least visible to the naked eye.

"Miss, try to squeeze your right hand."

Li Jingsheng grabbed her hand.

He then asked her to squeeze her right hand.

No response at all.

"Alright, I have a basic understanding of her situation. Could the child’s mother come with me for a moment?"

Li Jingsheng asked the girl’s mother to join him in a room inside the infusion room.

"Auntie, please sit! Earlier, when I diagnosed your daughter, I believed her bones were absolutely fine. Her muscles have some degree of atrophy, but they’re in good shape. Furthermore, her foot circulation is fine, indicating that her nerves and circulation shouldn’t be the issue. May I ask, did she undergo any trauma before falling ill?"

Li Jingsheng suspected the patient might have a stress-induced disorder.

Or perhaps self-isolation.

"No! Her grades were always excellent, and we never pressured her. Besides, she was always cheerful and lively before. Even if her father scolded her and made her cry, she’d be singing and dancing again shortly after, never taking it to heart.

She’s our only child, and we dote on her dearly.

When we went to a hospital in Beijing for a consultation, the doctor asked similar questions. We also consulted a psychologist who talked privately with my daughter and found no issues."

The elder replied with conviction.

"Alright, since those concerns have been eliminated, I’ll explore other diagnostic directions. Are you currently staying in a hotel?"

"We are staying in a motorhome. Her father bought a second-hand RV for her treatment, which saves us hotel expenses and allows us to take her anywhere for medical consultations."

This arrangement is indeed clever.

It seems the economic situation of this family shouldn’t be too bad.