!
let's see -- I had MRI's and CAT scans to find why I was falling beginning in 2006. The MRI's revealed a crushed vertebrae at level C-5 and the nuerologist thought it was to blame for the falls and possibly the problems with my arm.
I had back surgery in June 2007 but neither the balance issues or the arm improved - in fact got worse. I was unable to speak following the surgery and was told the procedure (through my neck) bruised my vocal cords and in time the voice would come back. It did but not without a change in cadence which continues to worsen and is noticeable most when tired.
At the same time the arm weakened until finally in August of 2008 I was carrying a plate of food and the arm just fell to my side and I dropped the dish. In September I had my first EMG. The doc said it was a neuro muscular problem and suggsted I get a second opinion.
In Septembeer of that year (2008) I flew to Eau Claire WI to see a specialist who was recommended by a doctor friend. Th diagnosed was MSA and recommended I go to Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a full work-up.
Being somewhat stuborn (some would say, hard-headed) I said it wasn't necessary since it didn't matter the label - since there was nothing to do to "fix" it.
After returning from that trip I began falling more and suffered broken bones and stitches on several occassions. My speech was slurred by the end of the day and my normal articulate speech pattern became jerky most days. I still blamed it on being just a clumsy old lady!
Finally this past summer I fell too many times and looked like a tatoo lady with various colored bruises over my body and was too tired to move after showering in the morning So I made the call to Mayo and anticipated their findings.
The tests at that time showed a very dirty EMG
and ruled out MSA. So .... that is no doubt more than you needed to know but might help explain the progression.
