rhythman
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2009
- Messages
- 91
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- CA
- State
- New Brunswick
- City
- xxxxxxxx
Hi All
I hope everyone had a restful and happy holiday season.
I have not posted for a month because I promised myself, after heeding advice from wise people here, that I would stay off the internet. I've only been on to check e-mail daily. I'm posting today because I just came back from my doctor (GP) and have a question that you may be able to help me understand.
My GP went over the report that my neuro sent him after my mid Dec. exam. He said that the neuro wants 2 more mri's, another emg and a nvc test...all this will be within the first 2 weeks of February. Fine. He then said that the neuro report suggested that I have some results that are abnormal (first emg), but there does not seem to be muscle weakness. Huh?
I explained to the neuro that everything is 'heavier' than it used to be and lifting anything is harder than before. I gave him examples. Holding my little cell phone to my ear causes my delts to start burning after a couple of minutes. I can barely make it to the curb with a garbage bag in each hand before my traps and delts are screaming. While socializing and deep into a conversation, I'll become aware of my shoulders becoming sore and I'm only holding a beer. To me, this is progessive weakness and if I extrapolate this scenario, it seems that I won't be able to lift the beer (oh no!), or cell phone in a few months. He didn't seem to be concerned. He called that fatigue. He then had me push, pull, etc. and do a bunch of simple office tests and said my strength seemed fine. What? It's not fine...everything is harder to do and lift.
I had read about perceived versus actual weakness, but I really don't know what it is that I'm experiencing. The neuro left me with the impression that as long as I can do 1 rep...lift that cell, lift that beer...it's all good. If I'm getting 'weaker'-whatever that means-each week, it's not all good.
Thoughts on this weakness confusion? Thanks.
I hope everyone had a restful and happy holiday season.
I have not posted for a month because I promised myself, after heeding advice from wise people here, that I would stay off the internet. I've only been on to check e-mail daily. I'm posting today because I just came back from my doctor (GP) and have a question that you may be able to help me understand.
My GP went over the report that my neuro sent him after my mid Dec. exam. He said that the neuro wants 2 more mri's, another emg and a nvc test...all this will be within the first 2 weeks of February. Fine. He then said that the neuro report suggested that I have some results that are abnormal (first emg), but there does not seem to be muscle weakness. Huh?
I explained to the neuro that everything is 'heavier' than it used to be and lifting anything is harder than before. I gave him examples. Holding my little cell phone to my ear causes my delts to start burning after a couple of minutes. I can barely make it to the curb with a garbage bag in each hand before my traps and delts are screaming. While socializing and deep into a conversation, I'll become aware of my shoulders becoming sore and I'm only holding a beer. To me, this is progessive weakness and if I extrapolate this scenario, it seems that I won't be able to lift the beer (oh no!), or cell phone in a few months. He didn't seem to be concerned. He called that fatigue. He then had me push, pull, etc. and do a bunch of simple office tests and said my strength seemed fine. What? It's not fine...everything is harder to do and lift.
I had read about perceived versus actual weakness, but I really don't know what it is that I'm experiencing. The neuro left me with the impression that as long as I can do 1 rep...lift that cell, lift that beer...it's all good. If I'm getting 'weaker'-whatever that means-each week, it's not all good.
Thoughts on this weakness confusion? Thanks.
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