Meadowlark
New member
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2010
- Messages
- 2
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- Alaska
- City
- Southcentral
I experience cramps and stiffness as pain. Not severe pain, more moderate really, that is short lived in the form of cramps, that squeeze and then leave, and stiffness, which hurts if I try to move against it.
Does that go along with anyone's experience of MND?
I've had symptoms of weakness, cramps, stiffness, rapid muscle fatigue for over four months now. It started in my legs, left was worse than right, but now legs are about equal in terms of weakness, cramps and stiffness. I can't walk more than a mile or so. It's hard to stand up from a sitting position; it's hard to climb stairs. Just takes so much effort.
I live 1500 miles from the nearest medical center and have made the journey once so far. I've had my brain and entire spine MRId, loads of labs, two lumbar punctures. The only abnormal finding so far was seen on brain MRI and also viewed on c-spine MRI two months later -- a small lesion in the pons area. The radiologist reported that it perhaps suggested some inflammation somewhere?
So, yes, I am worried about MND, not obsessed with having ALS, but really in search of answers. My next appointment at said medical center is next week. I will have EMG, a consult with a MS specialist to rule that in or out, and then ? I guess it depends on EMG results and what MS specialist thinks.
Ever since my first days of weakness, when I would rise up out of a chair and feel my legs wanting to buckle ever so slightly, I have sensed activity or "noise" in my legs. No big twitches or tingling or numbness -- nothing like that. Just a level of activity sensed when I am quiet. About a month ago, I noticed some very fine rippling on the instep area of my right foot. Like heat lightning, small little twitches, you might call them fasciculations, but I'm not really sure. I can see the movements individually, but I cannot feel them individually.
I'm a nurse who used to power through 12-hour shifts, but I quit doing that in September. I am running out of money, and will lose my job and health insurance this spring if I don't go back to work. At this point, I don't think I could sustain my brisk Nurse's Walk for more than a short time, certainly not 1/2 day. People used to tease me about how fast I walked.
I try to be as realistic as I can, to be as patient as I can, and let each day unfold as it will. Obviously I discovered this forum and it has been a source of comfort and frustration at the same time. For the past 6 weeks, I have been walking 30 minutes each day, and doing yoga/stretching two sessions a day. I feel better after stretching out. After the walk, I feel weak and it is hard to lift my legs into the car, takes time and concentrated effort. But I feel compelled to do these things as I wait for my next appointment. I am trying to strengthen myself as I feel myself getting weaker at the same time.
Thank you for reading. I'm just looking for some kind of support, and really wondering about the pain experience.
Does that go along with anyone's experience of MND?
I've had symptoms of weakness, cramps, stiffness, rapid muscle fatigue for over four months now. It started in my legs, left was worse than right, but now legs are about equal in terms of weakness, cramps and stiffness. I can't walk more than a mile or so. It's hard to stand up from a sitting position; it's hard to climb stairs. Just takes so much effort.
I live 1500 miles from the nearest medical center and have made the journey once so far. I've had my brain and entire spine MRId, loads of labs, two lumbar punctures. The only abnormal finding so far was seen on brain MRI and also viewed on c-spine MRI two months later -- a small lesion in the pons area. The radiologist reported that it perhaps suggested some inflammation somewhere?
So, yes, I am worried about MND, not obsessed with having ALS, but really in search of answers. My next appointment at said medical center is next week. I will have EMG, a consult with a MS specialist to rule that in or out, and then ? I guess it depends on EMG results and what MS specialist thinks.
Ever since my first days of weakness, when I would rise up out of a chair and feel my legs wanting to buckle ever so slightly, I have sensed activity or "noise" in my legs. No big twitches or tingling or numbness -- nothing like that. Just a level of activity sensed when I am quiet. About a month ago, I noticed some very fine rippling on the instep area of my right foot. Like heat lightning, small little twitches, you might call them fasciculations, but I'm not really sure. I can see the movements individually, but I cannot feel them individually.
I'm a nurse who used to power through 12-hour shifts, but I quit doing that in September. I am running out of money, and will lose my job and health insurance this spring if I don't go back to work. At this point, I don't think I could sustain my brisk Nurse's Walk for more than a short time, certainly not 1/2 day. People used to tease me about how fast I walked.
I try to be as realistic as I can, to be as patient as I can, and let each day unfold as it will. Obviously I discovered this forum and it has been a source of comfort and frustration at the same time. For the past 6 weeks, I have been walking 30 minutes each day, and doing yoga/stretching two sessions a day. I feel better after stretching out. After the walk, I feel weak and it is hard to lift my legs into the car, takes time and concentrated effort. But I feel compelled to do these things as I wait for my next appointment. I am trying to strengthen myself as I feel myself getting weaker at the same time.
Thank you for reading. I'm just looking for some kind of support, and really wondering about the pain experience.
