Vik95
New member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2024
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- RS
Hello all,
I hope that there is somebody on this forum who does EMG interpretations or who can share their opinion on my symptoms as the last two months have been very distressing and anxiety inducing so any reply would be greatly appreciated.
PERSONAL DETAILS:
Male, 29y, obese (295 lbs/134 kg) , sedentary lifestyle, bad posture.
SYMPTOMS:
Since February 7th of this year I started experiencing strange symptoms which started with involuntary single jerks of the right arm. These jerks were followed a day or two after by fasciculations in both legs (mostly in feet and calves) which over the course of couple of days moved to other parts of the body - biceps, fingers, back, abdomen, glutes and very rarely in the neck area. To this day the fasciculations have gotten noticeably more frequent and sometimes quite strong, while other times they are less intense and not visible, but still felt. They are by far most frequent in my right leg and on the right side of the body in general, but still regularly appear in other parts as well. I'd say they are intermittent, they are not constant (like 24/7) but I do go to bed with them and wake up with them.
Over the last two weeks, when I walk, I started feeling strange stiffness in my right leg, mostly around the calves, like someone is griping parts of my leg. I also noticed that when doing repetitive movements (moving the foot from left o right, taping the floor with my toes etc.) the right leg/foot is noticeably slower and seemingly weaker. It is harder to lift my right foot than my left. The right foot is also less flexible.
Additionally, for last three years I have occasional cramping, mostly in my feet and calves, I can often induce them by stretching or clenching my feet, but in the last two years started occasionally having cramps in my abdomen as well. Haven't noticed increased cramping in the last two months.
FIRST NEURO EXAM:
On February 13th, very quickly after symptom onset, I went to a neurologist who specializes in motor neuron diseases and is considered to be the best ALS specialist in the country (Serbia ). After her exam she noticed a slight tremor in my right hand, a slightly reduced ability to feel vibrations on my right side and increased reflexes of the masseter. She didn't notice anything else and said that there is no need to do an EMG. She asked me to do an MRI of the head, blood works, SEP and MEP tests. Her conclusion was that my jerks and fasciculations were likely due to anxiety and prescribed me Xanax. I was told to come back when all the tests were completed.
To note, the neurologist didn't test repetitive movements of my legs/feet, only hands.
AFTER THE EXAM:
Xanax seems to reduce involuntary jerky movements (not 100% sure), however the fasciculations have not been reduced at all, quite the contrary.
Blood works were normal, apart from hypothyroidism (TSH - 7.78 mU/L)
SEP, MEP and MRI were normal.
EMG TEST WITH RESULTS:
Because of persisting and worsening symptoms as well as increased health anxiety I decided to do an EMG test on March 18th at a different clinic and the results are posted below. The summary of the EMG roughly translates: "Noticed chronic neurologic (neurogenic?) lesions in S1 and S2 muscles on both sides, the left calf exhibits spontaneous high frequency discharges. The results imply peripheral nerve hyperexcitability. Other results are normal. In general the EMG is clean. No indication of NMD." What the doctor performing the EMG told me is that there are signs of reduced motor units in my legs, however she said that she doesn't think that this is caused by a NMD but that it can't be completely ruled out.
Reduced motor units in combination with peripheral nerve hyperexcitability (fasciculations and occasional cramps) are what is worrying me the most as these symptoms are recognized to sometimes be the beginning of ALS, months (sometime years) before other symptoms can be noticed.
I am to return to my ALS-specialized neurologist by the end of April (no sooner appointment ) when she is supposed to interpret the EMG results.
Regardless of my upcoming control examination with my neurologist I am inclined to do another EMG test in a couple of months that is much more thorough as the EMG doctor tested only in 5 muscles (three in right leg, one in left leg and one in right arm I believe).
I hope that there is somebody on this forum who does EMG interpretations or who can share their opinion on my symptoms as the last two months have been very distressing and anxiety inducing so any reply would be greatly appreciated.
PERSONAL DETAILS:
Male, 29y, obese (295 lbs/134 kg) , sedentary lifestyle, bad posture.
SYMPTOMS:
Since February 7th of this year I started experiencing strange symptoms which started with involuntary single jerks of the right arm. These jerks were followed a day or two after by fasciculations in both legs (mostly in feet and calves) which over the course of couple of days moved to other parts of the body - biceps, fingers, back, abdomen, glutes and very rarely in the neck area. To this day the fasciculations have gotten noticeably more frequent and sometimes quite strong, while other times they are less intense and not visible, but still felt. They are by far most frequent in my right leg and on the right side of the body in general, but still regularly appear in other parts as well. I'd say they are intermittent, they are not constant (like 24/7) but I do go to bed with them and wake up with them.
Over the last two weeks, when I walk, I started feeling strange stiffness in my right leg, mostly around the calves, like someone is griping parts of my leg. I also noticed that when doing repetitive movements (moving the foot from left o right, taping the floor with my toes etc.) the right leg/foot is noticeably slower and seemingly weaker. It is harder to lift my right foot than my left. The right foot is also less flexible.
Additionally, for last three years I have occasional cramping, mostly in my feet and calves, I can often induce them by stretching or clenching my feet, but in the last two years started occasionally having cramps in my abdomen as well. Haven't noticed increased cramping in the last two months.
FIRST NEURO EXAM:
On February 13th, very quickly after symptom onset, I went to a neurologist who specializes in motor neuron diseases and is considered to be the best ALS specialist in the country (Serbia ). After her exam she noticed a slight tremor in my right hand, a slightly reduced ability to feel vibrations on my right side and increased reflexes of the masseter. She didn't notice anything else and said that there is no need to do an EMG. She asked me to do an MRI of the head, blood works, SEP and MEP tests. Her conclusion was that my jerks and fasciculations were likely due to anxiety and prescribed me Xanax. I was told to come back when all the tests were completed.
To note, the neurologist didn't test repetitive movements of my legs/feet, only hands.
AFTER THE EXAM:
Xanax seems to reduce involuntary jerky movements (not 100% sure), however the fasciculations have not been reduced at all, quite the contrary.
Blood works were normal, apart from hypothyroidism (TSH - 7.78 mU/L)
SEP, MEP and MRI were normal.
EMG TEST WITH RESULTS:
Because of persisting and worsening symptoms as well as increased health anxiety I decided to do an EMG test on March 18th at a different clinic and the results are posted below. The summary of the EMG roughly translates: "Noticed chronic neurologic (neurogenic?) lesions in S1 and S2 muscles on both sides, the left calf exhibits spontaneous high frequency discharges. The results imply peripheral nerve hyperexcitability. Other results are normal. In general the EMG is clean. No indication of NMD." What the doctor performing the EMG told me is that there are signs of reduced motor units in my legs, however she said that she doesn't think that this is caused by a NMD but that it can't be completely ruled out.
Reduced motor units in combination with peripheral nerve hyperexcitability (fasciculations and occasional cramps) are what is worrying me the most as these symptoms are recognized to sometimes be the beginning of ALS, months (sometime years) before other symptoms can be noticed.
I am to return to my ALS-specialized neurologist by the end of April (no sooner appointment ) when she is supposed to interpret the EMG results.
Regardless of my upcoming control examination with my neurologist I am inclined to do another EMG test in a couple of months that is much more thorough as the EMG doctor tested only in 5 muscles (three in right leg, one in left leg and one in right arm I believe).