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Clearwater,

Thanks for your questions. No, I haven't had my EMG or NCS yet. I get my care at the VA and there is quite a backlog for those tests. They called me yesterday and the earliest they can schedule me for is 9/27/17. I took that date and now have a very lengthy wait for the next phase of the diagnostic process. As much as I want to find out what my issues are, part of me is scared of these tests because of what they might reveal.

The "clinical weakness" identified in my left leg this week was minor when compared to my right. Considering the disparity in size between my left and right calves and growing disparity in my thighs, I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this. Still, it was a finding that hit me out of the blue.

The difference between my calf sizes was first noted in early 2014 by my former PCP at the VA. He sent me for an ultrasound but did not refer me to neurology or any other specialists. I had leg discomfort after long runs, but that was about it. In fact, my 2 mile run time for the Army PT test actually improved by 1:30 between late 2014 and very early 2017. The disparity in my legs has grown since the start of 2017. I am in pain in my lower leg after waking up and sitting for extended periods (like right now).

Thanks to all for following my updates and for providing helpful and reassuring comments.
 
Re: Concerned/Worried about ALS

Dr. Wendyn,

I have a question for you about radiculopathy because I saw that you discuss it above. In your clinical career, have you ever seen or heard of case where a radiculopathy led to the significant atrophy of a limb? I ask because my left calf has atrophy without appreciable clinical weakness. The left calf was 7 cm smaller than my right in 2014 (first notice) and is now 9cm smaller. I have also started seeing wastage in my left thigh over the past 6 months. I had a spinal MRI on 6/19, a neurology consult on 7/17, and will have an EMG on 9/27 (these long delays are endemic in the VA system). The spinal MRI showed minor radiculopathies at the L3, L4, L5, and S1 levels. The neurologist noted minor clinical weakness in my left leg when she asked me to raise my left thigh against resistance from a seated position. A colleague of mine (physician) said that he's never heard of a radiculopathy causing such severe atrophy. Have you ever seen such cases? This 70 day wait for an EMG is very difficult and I continue to worry about what may be wrong with me. My left leg symptoms beyond the atrophy are pain in the ankle/calf area upon waking, resting, or sitting for extended periods as well as pain near my left rear pelvis/hip (I don't know the appropriate anatomical term to describe this. I thank you for taking the time to read this.

NOTE TO MODERATORS: I CAN'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SEND PMs AND WANTED TO BENEFIT FROM DR. WENDYN'S UNIQUE EXPERTISE. THANK YOU
 
Mod note- moved to your original thread. It helps members follow your posting and symptom history. Please do not post in other members threads as it changes the focus from their needs and questions.
 
Bumping because I see that Dr. Wendyn is online>>>
 
DC and all, please don't "bump" in these forums. Our members often have difficulty reading and/or scrolling, and that's unnecessary extra work for them. Leave a visitor message or PM if you want to get someone's attention. That said, please be respectful of the newly-diagnosed, those in late disease, etc. It's no more than the Golden Rule. When others are in crisis and you are not, I think you can guess who deserves more consideration.
 
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