Zaria
New member
- Joined
- May 28, 2011
- Messages
- 6
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- NY
- City
- New York
I don't know what is driving what. I began having muscle twitches in December 2010.
Then muscle cramps in January and some finger numbness/tingling in March. The muscle
twitches, while not gone, seem to be less that when they first appeared -- or so I think.
The cramps for a period of days went away but are back. Last week, I began to have trouble
pronouncing "r", especially when blended with other consonants (i.e., "br"). A constant has
been mid back pain. I'm experiencing a feeling of muscle fatigue though not sure if it would be actual weakness.
I've had a bunch of tests: Brain/spinal MRI (normal); EMG of legs and arms (normal); and my neuro clinical exam was normal. The only test that came back provisionally abnormal was for Lyme - there are a couple of levels and I'm partially abnormal on level two, which would cause the more conservative doctors to say I don't have Lyme but less conservative to treat).
I don't want to treat before I rule other possible causes out.
Here are my questions:
-Do I need an EMG of of paraspinal muslces to rule out bulbar onset of ALS or is the EMG of arms and legs sufficient?
-Can EMGs miss early onset ALS if symptoms are already present (fasciulations and muscle cramping).
Though in NYC, I've not found a neurologist who I feel has taken the proper interest in diagnosing what is going on since my clinical exam is normal. I just don't know how to understand what his happening to my body.
Is it reasonable to be concerned about ALS based on what I'm describing? I'd be very grateful for your comments.
Zaria
Then muscle cramps in January and some finger numbness/tingling in March. The muscle
twitches, while not gone, seem to be less that when they first appeared -- or so I think.
The cramps for a period of days went away but are back. Last week, I began to have trouble
pronouncing "r", especially when blended with other consonants (i.e., "br"). A constant has
been mid back pain. I'm experiencing a feeling of muscle fatigue though not sure if it would be actual weakness.
I've had a bunch of tests: Brain/spinal MRI (normal); EMG of legs and arms (normal); and my neuro clinical exam was normal. The only test that came back provisionally abnormal was for Lyme - there are a couple of levels and I'm partially abnormal on level two, which would cause the more conservative doctors to say I don't have Lyme but less conservative to treat).
I don't want to treat before I rule other possible causes out.
Here are my questions:
-Do I need an EMG of of paraspinal muslces to rule out bulbar onset of ALS or is the EMG of arms and legs sufficient?
-Can EMGs miss early onset ALS if symptoms are already present (fasciulations and muscle cramping).
Though in NYC, I've not found a neurologist who I feel has taken the proper interest in diagnosing what is going on since my clinical exam is normal. I just don't know how to understand what his happening to my body.
Is it reasonable to be concerned about ALS based on what I'm describing? I'd be very grateful for your comments.
Zaria