Levitarium
New member
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2016
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- RI
- City
- North Providence
Hello everyone. Firstly my thoughts go out to all of you PALS and CALS. If I am not gone by then, my passion is neuroscience and I hope to become a medical researcher in the study of progressive neurological disorders such as ALS and Parkinson 's.
I am a 17 year old African American female.
I know you all may think that I am crazy and should already be dismissed from having this condition because it is so much more rare at this age, but I cannot stop shaking this feeling that I may be an exception.
Firstly I started twitching but I dismissed them, because I've always been a nervous wreck, because I have health anxiety.
But then last week I was still a bit obsessed about it and right after typing I bent my left hand and I noticed how stiff my middle and ring finger were. Again I began to get more anxious about it... again I still tried to ignore it... didn't work. Last Friday I had a nervous breakdown and told my mom everything, because my hand was getting stiffer and was experiencing joint pain then I got weird nerve pain and pain and numbness that occasionally radiated to my forearm. I went to my pediatrician and I explained her my symptoms.
She checked for swelling and tried to see if I could feel anything when she pressed down my hand. I didn't feel anything except for a slight pressure between my ring and middle finger. She told me that it might be a mild case of Carpal Tunnel and she gave me a brace to use it and told me that If my symptoms didn't get better or got progressively worse that I should go back. I've been a bit better for these 3 days, but not convinced. I asked her if It seemed like MS or ALS... her response was "OH no sweety!"
She said it seemed like CTS because of the nerve pain that I started experiencing, the fact that I work at the library and I did tell her that I type 4+ hours a day sometimes and am constantly on my phone.
Now I am not sure if I am experiencing muscle weakness on my hands because the pain already makes it difficult for me to fully Carry things with my full strength but my legs feel weaker in a sense. They feel more sore and tight and walking over uneven floor causes joint pain on my right ankle and tightNess behind my left knee.
I am not someone in good enough shape but walking home from work today was causing extra effort.
Should I be worried, because MANY people said that they felt muscle stiffness as an early symptom but is pain such as burning, aches 24/7 that come and go throughout the day but never truly go away a sign of ALS? Does it occur before I start to feel muscle weakness? Should I schedule an appointment with a neurologist? How many people my age have been diagnosed? I heard it usually affects male Caucasians so am I out of chance?
Thank you all very much, for any effort that is put in replying to this.
Once I get my paycheck at work I will donate!
If God let's me live, I would really like to be involved in this kind of research once I'm older.
Thanks again!
I am a 17 year old African American female.
I know you all may think that I am crazy and should already be dismissed from having this condition because it is so much more rare at this age, but I cannot stop shaking this feeling that I may be an exception.
Firstly I started twitching but I dismissed them, because I've always been a nervous wreck, because I have health anxiety.
But then last week I was still a bit obsessed about it and right after typing I bent my left hand and I noticed how stiff my middle and ring finger were. Again I began to get more anxious about it... again I still tried to ignore it... didn't work. Last Friday I had a nervous breakdown and told my mom everything, because my hand was getting stiffer and was experiencing joint pain then I got weird nerve pain and pain and numbness that occasionally radiated to my forearm. I went to my pediatrician and I explained her my symptoms.
She checked for swelling and tried to see if I could feel anything when she pressed down my hand. I didn't feel anything except for a slight pressure between my ring and middle finger. She told me that it might be a mild case of Carpal Tunnel and she gave me a brace to use it and told me that If my symptoms didn't get better or got progressively worse that I should go back. I've been a bit better for these 3 days, but not convinced. I asked her if It seemed like MS or ALS... her response was "OH no sweety!"
She said it seemed like CTS because of the nerve pain that I started experiencing, the fact that I work at the library and I did tell her that I type 4+ hours a day sometimes and am constantly on my phone.
Now I am not sure if I am experiencing muscle weakness on my hands because the pain already makes it difficult for me to fully Carry things with my full strength but my legs feel weaker in a sense. They feel more sore and tight and walking over uneven floor causes joint pain on my right ankle and tightNess behind my left knee.
I am not someone in good enough shape but walking home from work today was causing extra effort.
Should I be worried, because MANY people said that they felt muscle stiffness as an early symptom but is pain such as burning, aches 24/7 that come and go throughout the day but never truly go away a sign of ALS? Does it occur before I start to feel muscle weakness? Should I schedule an appointment with a neurologist? How many people my age have been diagnosed? I heard it usually affects male Caucasians so am I out of chance?
Thank you all very much, for any effort that is put in replying to this.
Once I get my paycheck at work I will donate!
If God let's me live, I would really like to be involved in this kind of research once I'm older.
Thanks again!