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cainca

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Hi-I am joining this forum in hopes in getting feedback from some of you of what possibly be going on with my husband. He is 57 years old & up until 3-4 months ago, something changed. He began to have back pains...ended up going to a chiropracter, getting adjusted, only for the pain to return or to jump to another area. Then one day when we were out walking, he said he had to go back because he just couldn't walk anymore with his back pain. So the walking stopped, and for several months, it was just complaining of back pain, etc. Then we noticed he started to lose weight unexpectedly...along with muscle tone! Then the weakness started, hard for him to walk upstairs, gait became off, and still having back pain. Went to the doctor, he did a MRI which came back C3-C4 spinal stenosis. Went to a pain specialitst, and 3 tx. sessions for injections were set to go. He then got an UTI, which set the tx.'s back. (In the meantime I didn't mention that other tests came back ok....chest x-ray, blood work, colonoscopy, which was a relieve, so we were figuring all of the pain was due to the cervical problem.)

The more I thought about it, and reading about cervical stenosis, weight loss, gait difficulties, and some voice changes (voice started cracking at times like he was going through puberty) wasn't much mentioned. We went back to the pain specialist yesterday because I wanted him to tell me if this was what cervical stenosis suppose to look like, and once again we went over his symptoms, and I even had him watch my husband walk. He said to me as my husband was at the end of the hallway, "I think something else is going on with him, and I think you do too, don't you?" Wow, that confirmation was hard to hear, but I never shared it with my husband. He suggested setting up an appt. for another MRI for the lower back, and to see a ENT for the voice issues.

I have a bad feeling this is really, really serious....thinking MS, ALS, and other muscle diseases. (I also didn't mention he has broken out in a sweat after taking a shower, occassionaly!) Any feedback would be appreciated if the above symptoms relate to your ALS. People at work are starting to commented on his weight loss-maybe 15 lbs. now, and/or asking him if he is feeling ok. This is just scarey, no doubt about it! Thank you all! Cathy
 
My suggestion is to make an appointment with a neurologist, take all your test results with you.
If he has muscle atrophy show the doctor and he/she may want to do a EMG test and go from there.
 
Sounds frustrating and scary.

A good neurologist will know how to rule out or confirm "MS, ALS, and other [neuro-muscular] diseases".

I hope your husband has something treatable.
 
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Don't borrow trouble. Yes, it sounds like he has more going on than the stenosis, but new problems are not necessarily connected to each other. An ENT is an excellent place to start. Any ENT is well qualified to recognize neurological problems and order appropriate testing.

Speaking from experience, attempt to get in with the best ENT who is a laryngologist, if possible, even if it takes a bit more of a wait. I'm not talking waiting months to see one, rather than general ENT, but if its only a matter of days or so, go with one that has best qualifications.

For me, in the beginning I went to a general ENT, he is excellent in his field, I really liked him, he had everything going for him except for enough specific knowledge of problems with voice. I remember him talking to me and saying that his level of expertise was about 'here' and he held his hand up shoulder high, and that I needed someone who was up 'here' and he held his hand up above his head. A general ENT will easily recognize a problems such as reflux affecting the voice. This is a common problem, and many people do not even realize they have reflux. But, if no problem jumps out, that's when your husband should see the laryngologist.

Breaking out in a sweat, and losing weight are worrisome symptoms, but no ones that point to something like ALS.
 
I just responded with a reply in regards to his voice issues. My response went off to moderation somewhere (I seem to be unlucky in this regard) it will show up eventually, hopefully sooner than later.

Anyway, please check back for it.
 
Definitely need to see a neurologist and have an EMG. Can't believe they have not imaged his lumbar spine. It could be caused by a huge host of things. Don't get too hung up on ALS. ALS does not usually present in that manner.
 
I had some similar symptoms. Lost weight, became weak in hands and legs, started having twitching, etc. Came on here and was told no ALS. Diagnosed with bad gallbladder (removed), bilateral CTS and ulnar nerve issues and crossed leg palsy (crossing my legs tightly for long time after losing weight). Also lumbar MRI showed pinched nerves L4-S1, non surgical. Get EMGs done and lumbar MRI. Was told it will take a few months for nerves to heal from crossing legs. Have had one CTS/ulnar surgery and doc wants to do other side in a couple of months.
 
PART 1 WOW! are we related.haha. My dad passed from Bulbar Pasly/ALS in 2009. While all that was going on my moms has Spinal Stenosis. She put off surgery for years.Had triple by pass in 02. When she finially did go for the surgery they went in through her stomach and replaced the disc with a cadavor disc , 3 days later they fused the back with little rods and screws. Then the disc cracked and she had to go through itall again. Poor thing, she put it off for ever , then had to do it twicw. She doing pretty good, alot less legs pain. I want you to check out the web site from my chiropractor. He has a chart the shows every disc and the nerves about each one. Like if you have problems with disc # ? you have bladder problems, legs cramps ect. You can go through the whole spine and see what controls what. Thinking positive here, maybe it is the disc that controls like your throat. ? This Doc does the Maryland Terps (larry plotkin / elkridge md chiropractic or elkridge chiropractic/ maryland. Good luck and think positive.
 
PART 2 . A couple of months after my dad died , My voice was cracking and like going in and out. I thought I had Bulbar like my dad. I put off going to docs for months. If it was ALS I did not want to know. I am also a smoker, ( i know, i know) Then you think about stuff like your kids. So anyway I went to my ENT and come to find out after he put the scope down, that from a cold I had months before had left inflamation in my voice box. This was being imflamed by acid reflux that I did not even know I had. He put me on ZANTAC and I am ok now. So it could be so many other things instead of something horrible. Good Luck to you, he is so lucky to have such a caring wife:)
 
What was the site that you were talking about that you mentioned explained what each disc affects? It sounds like an interesting read, but I do no see a link.
 
larryplotkin/elkridgemd it comes up Elkridge Chiropractic (top one) top tool bar has 3D spine
 
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