I apologize if this is very long. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to read it and answer as they can. I will try to condense it all as best I can -
2 weeks ago I started with some lower back pain on my left side, it has subsided but I still feel a pinch in my lower back & buttock. I also had a pain in my neck that went down to my shoulder and arm on the left side and that was with a headache as I do suffer from migraines I assumed it was from one I was having. When the migraine went away so did the shoulder and neck pain.
About 10 days ago I started to notice I would do a brief stumble where I would catch myself with my feet. Like as if I didn't properly lift my feet up so my shoe would make a squeeking sound on the floor. Then I noticed that my left leg felt a little off to me, kind of loose around the knee and tired at times. This happened a couple times last week and then again one yesterday.
The next day I had a few muscle twitches and those only increased as the days went on. Now I have them all over my body but mostly in my legs, feet and left arm. Sometimes in my right arm and stomach.
This week I also started to also notice that my leg or arm would jerk slightly and move as if it had a mind of it's own.
I have also been having tingling fingers and toes and my feet feel cold at times, both of them. Also if I sit for a while my left leg falls asleep.
I went to 2 different neurologists this week. I suffer from anxiety issues that I am trying to treat but having a hard time finding the right person. The first neurologist felt that my pains and sensations could be related to my anxiety and migraine pressure points. I didn't believe him and he didn't feel any tests were necessary so I sought out another opinion who didn't know what the problem was but didn't think it was ALS after doing an exam in his office (are those even efficient in detecting ALS?) and said if I would like he would send me for an EMG to ease my mind. I think my anxiety is clouding their ability to see my symptoms. Also, what concerns me the most is that the second doctor noticed more of a brisk reflex on the left arm and leg and didn't think anything of it...I found this extremely puzzling as I know it's a sign of the disease and when I asked him he told me not to worry about it. No one is perfect and that what I had done in the neuro exam was not what someone with ALS would be able to do and that his gut told him that I didn't it.
Yesterday my left arm started to feel weakness and my hand feels tight. I started to feel this way last week also but then it went away. It wasn't as bad as now and also now the left arm started to have some muscle pain and cramping between my elbow and wrist. My right leg also started to have some pain this morning.
Lastly, today I also have some of the buttocks pain on the right side that goes down my thigh. Both of my thighs feel tender. All of the muscles that hurt me also feel tender to touch. Also, I woke up with some toe pain in my left foot. It feels sore. Would these be a symptoms?
I have been trying to repeat some of the tests from the neuros office at home so I don't know if I am over working my muscles and that I giving me the pain, but then why isn't my right arm hurting...my family is convinced it is all in my head. I am mostly disturbed and worried about the brisk reflex, especially since it was only on one side and all the cramping.
I have 4 young children and am 35 years old. I read that stress could cause the disease to progress rapidly, can it travel and progress this rapidly if I do have it in 10 days? I have been under a tremendous amount of stress, even from before I started to notice these symptoms.
2 weeks ago I started with some lower back pain on my left side, it has subsided but I still feel a pinch in my lower back & buttock. I also had a pain in my neck that went down to my shoulder and arm on the left side and that was with a headache as I do suffer from migraines I assumed it was from one I was having. When the migraine went away so did the shoulder and neck pain.
About 10 days ago I started to notice I would do a brief stumble where I would catch myself with my feet. Like as if I didn't properly lift my feet up so my shoe would make a squeeking sound on the floor. Then I noticed that my left leg felt a little off to me, kind of loose around the knee and tired at times. This happened a couple times last week and then again one yesterday.
The next day I had a few muscle twitches and those only increased as the days went on. Now I have them all over my body but mostly in my legs, feet and left arm. Sometimes in my right arm and stomach.
This week I also started to also notice that my leg or arm would jerk slightly and move as if it had a mind of it's own.
I have also been having tingling fingers and toes and my feet feel cold at times, both of them. Also if I sit for a while my left leg falls asleep.
I went to 2 different neurologists this week. I suffer from anxiety issues that I am trying to treat but having a hard time finding the right person. The first neurologist felt that my pains and sensations could be related to my anxiety and migraine pressure points. I didn't believe him and he didn't feel any tests were necessary so I sought out another opinion who didn't know what the problem was but didn't think it was ALS after doing an exam in his office (are those even efficient in detecting ALS?) and said if I would like he would send me for an EMG to ease my mind. I think my anxiety is clouding their ability to see my symptoms. Also, what concerns me the most is that the second doctor noticed more of a brisk reflex on the left arm and leg and didn't think anything of it...I found this extremely puzzling as I know it's a sign of the disease and when I asked him he told me not to worry about it. No one is perfect and that what I had done in the neuro exam was not what someone with ALS would be able to do and that his gut told him that I didn't it.
Yesterday my left arm started to feel weakness and my hand feels tight. I started to feel this way last week also but then it went away. It wasn't as bad as now and also now the left arm started to have some muscle pain and cramping between my elbow and wrist. My right leg also started to have some pain this morning.
Lastly, today I also have some of the buttocks pain on the right side that goes down my thigh. Both of my thighs feel tender. All of the muscles that hurt me also feel tender to touch. Also, I woke up with some toe pain in my left foot. It feels sore. Would these be a symptoms?
I have been trying to repeat some of the tests from the neuros office at home so I don't know if I am over working my muscles and that I giving me the pain, but then why isn't my right arm hurting...my family is convinced it is all in my head. I am mostly disturbed and worried about the brisk reflex, especially since it was only on one side and all the cramping.
I have 4 young children and am 35 years old. I read that stress could cause the disease to progress rapidly, can it travel and progress this rapidly if I do have it in 10 days? I have been under a tremendous amount of stress, even from before I started to notice these symptoms.