What disease causes paralysis in the feet first, spreading upwards quickly?

My great-grandfather died in 1968, of - then - unknown causes. I hope that by today, maybe somebody may have an idea what it was. (I learned the story yesterday, and it's quite intriguing to me.)

Riding his bike home from a bar visit one night, the man experienced paralysis in his feet so profound that he crashed his bike. The paralysis, which left him completely numb, spread upwards rapidly, and within a few days it reached his inner organs, which was when he died. He remained conscious and clear of mind throughout the whole thing.

An autopsy was performed by the rural hospital doctors of 1968, but the cause was not determined.

I realize this sounds like an episode of "House" - but maybe someone has an idea?

It sounds like nueropathy. There are several different varieties. My wife is going through her third bout of peripheral neuropathy. The symptoms you cited are similar. Guillan-Barre syndrome is a possible culprit. Also a form of nueropathy. The 'sheath' that covers the nerves wears away, that's what makes the extremities tingle and then slowly die leading to paralysis. It's a drag watching someone you love go through it. You mention grandpa was riding his bike hhome from the bar. There is a nother kind of neuropathy...'alcoholic nueropathy'. Do a web-search, you'll be just as interested as you are in the story of Grandpa's death.

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