Possible Guillain-Barre Syndrome after a viral upper respiratory infection

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hello, I recently had a sudden onset where my right leg just below the knee began to have a searing pain that led to complete numbness. The following morning I noticed that my left leg began to feel numb as well. By the end of the day, I had complete in numbness in both my legs and went to the hospital. They ran blood tests and urine tests and everything came back fine, so they administered a muscle relaxant, which stopped the paresthia in my legs. The following day, I began to notice that my throat was really sore and it feels numb. Before I had gone to the ER, I went to an urgent care center and the doctor stated it could be signs of Gullian-Barre Syndrome. I'm worried because I have a sore throat with mild numbness now, but I'm thinking I may just have a cold. My legs are no longer numb like they had been before. Should I go see a neurologist to get checked out or am I just worrying too much? Worried Person

Dear Paul: According to your description it is possible that your symptoms correspond to the beginning of Guillain Barre Syndrome this is a disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves. Weakness and tingling in your extremities are usually the first symptoms. Most people with Guillain-Barre syndrome experience their most significant weakness within four weeks after symptoms begin. In some cases, signs and symptoms may progress very rapidly, with complete paralysis of legs, arms and breathing muscles over the course of a few hours. Call your doctor if you have mild tingling in your toes or fingers that doesn't seem to be spreading or getting worse. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a serious disease that requires immediate hospitalization because of the rapid rate at which it worsens. The sooner appropriate treatment is started, the better the chance of a good outcome. Although some people can take months and even years to recover, most cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome follow this general timeline: Following the first symptoms, the condition tends to progressively worsen for about two weeks. Symptoms reach a plateau within four weeks. Recovery begins, usually lasting six to 12 months, though for some people it could take as long as three years. There's no cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome. But two types of treatments may speed recovery and reduce the severity of Guillain-Barre syndrome: plasmapheresis (or plasma exchange) and Intravenous Immunoglobulins. These treatments are equally effective. Mixing the treatments or administering one after the other is no more effective than using either method alone.