adamico88
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2012
- Messages
- 13
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- PA
- City
- Avondale
Hello all....I'm hoping to get some advice of whether I should stop worrying, or start pushing my doctors more. For the last six months I have had extremely strange joint problems start out of the blue. It started in my neck (a crunching sound every time i turn it), then moved to my shoulders, hips, knees, back, ankles, wrists, even the bones in my toes now (but they're more of a snapping sound)! Every time I move there is extreme cracking/snapping noises. I noticed in my wrists my muscles have also started to slide over my bone in a strange way...and NOT NORMAL cracking, at least 20-30 times a minute, and very loud...to the point that my co-workers have started to make comments. I have also started to feel a weakness in my shoulders, like I can't lift things...
My neck/shoulder x-rays came back normal (but of course that wouldn't show a problem with my muscles)...All of my blood work has come back normal (lymes, lupus, arthritis, inflammation, etc etc) and believe me, they've tested for everything imaginable...I have seen my primary care doctor 3 times and a rheumatologist, but they're having a hard time getting me approved for an MRI because there's no pain/tingling/numbness...and apparently my age (I'm only 23). It seems ridiculous to me that it's that difficult to have my insurance approve me, but who knows.
The rheumatologist also kind of blew me off, saying "she's not sure what the cause could be, but we'll check back in 8 weeks,"?!?! which completely frustrates me because 8 weeks is a long time to worry, especially when it seems to just be getting worse & I've already been waiting 6-7 months!....I took the matter into my own hands after that & scheduled to see a neurologist next week without being referred (hopefully he'll be able to push more for the MRI or an EMG maybe?)....but in the mean time, I'm wondering if anyone could tell me if this sounds like the start of ALS? I know joint snapping/crackling/popping isn't normally associated with it, and it's not common for someone my age (23)/gender (f)... but any advice would be greatly appreciated....and will probably save my sanity.
My neck/shoulder x-rays came back normal (but of course that wouldn't show a problem with my muscles)...All of my blood work has come back normal (lymes, lupus, arthritis, inflammation, etc etc) and believe me, they've tested for everything imaginable...I have seen my primary care doctor 3 times and a rheumatologist, but they're having a hard time getting me approved for an MRI because there's no pain/tingling/numbness...and apparently my age (I'm only 23). It seems ridiculous to me that it's that difficult to have my insurance approve me, but who knows.
The rheumatologist also kind of blew me off, saying "she's not sure what the cause could be, but we'll check back in 8 weeks,"?!?! which completely frustrates me because 8 weeks is a long time to worry, especially when it seems to just be getting worse & I've already been waiting 6-7 months!....I took the matter into my own hands after that & scheduled to see a neurologist next week without being referred (hopefully he'll be able to push more for the MRI or an EMG maybe?)....but in the mean time, I'm wondering if anyone could tell me if this sounds like the start of ALS? I know joint snapping/crackling/popping isn't normally associated with it, and it's not common for someone my age (23)/gender (f)... but any advice would be greatly appreciated....and will probably save my sanity.