View Full Version : Confused About Weakness And Atrophy
KANSASTOM
07-15-2008, 02:04 PM
I am confused about the definition of weakness. Is weakness the same as fatigue? Does weakness precede atrophy? I have focal muscular atrophy in my left calf for over a year but I don't think my leg is weak, I am really not sure.
wright
07-15-2008, 02:44 PM
Weakness can be defined as either not being able to complete a task one time or fatiguing quicker than normal while completing a task.
Weakness will precede atrophy with ALS. The weakness is due to denervation as is atrophy. However, as soon as denervation occurs weakness is immediate whereas atrophy will take some time after denervation. If you think you have atrophy and you don't have weakness, then that atrophy is not due to ALS denervation.
As far as the timeline between denervation and atrophy and the rate of atrophy with ALS: that is something in the literature I am still in search of and have been for some time. There are people on this forum that can comment on that because of experience.
I wonder which type of weakness is the most common presentation at diagnosis or overall?
