Would be very grateful for any insights into my symptoms.

[l12345]

First of all, thanks for all the information in the stickies, and I hope it is ok to still post my question.

I have had sporadic pains in my left calf and thigh for several months now, and I am waiting about 10 more days to see a doctor at the hospital (not a specialist, but referred to by my GP). I have also had thigh twitching for about 8 months - a year, and twitching in my calf which began more recently. I had not even been concerned by it until these other symptoms began. I have also had a pretty much constant very dull aching sensation in my left foot and left buttock for several months. I have also noticed that I am tripping over things more frequently.

About a week ago, I noticed an obvious dent in my thigh muscle, about an inch in diameter. I also have frequent pains in this thigh muscle. The dent is definitely new, and it can be felt better when I tense the muscle.

Does this sound like it could be atrophy of my thigh muscle, and a possible symptom of ALS?

I really hope it is ok for me to post this question, and I truly appreciate any responses. Thanks for reading.

[brooksea]

ALS does not start with pain. You may have a sciatic nerve problem or any number or maladies, but not ALS.

[l12345]

Thanks for your response, I appreciate it.

[HelenL]

Can you tell if your foot is working properly? Dorsiflex it at all? IF you can't do that, then I'd be concerned, if you can I wouldn't worry. I'm only saying this because I did have pain in my legs AFTER I had footdrop and didn't realize at the time what it was. It's the tripping I'd be concerned about. If your foot isn't lifting properly, then see the neuro. If it is, then see your regular doc about sciatica, which can cause pain from your buttocks all the way down the back of your legs.

Good luck, you probably have nothing to worry about!

[l12345]

I think my dorsiflexion is normal, having just looked up what that means! Thanks for your responses, and I will try to let it go until my doctor's appointment. My sincere best wishes to you all.

[Tokahfang]

I was in a similar boat to HelenL, but the opposite way - I lost plantarflexion.

To the original poster: if you have the resources, an inexpensive cane could save you a lot of tripping and potential falls on long walks. From personal experience, I'm not sure I'd take it to the doctor's office with you, but even just leaving one in your car could come in handy until you get whatever is going on with your leg sorted out. And once they get you fixed up, it could live in your closet until one day your friend hurts their foot and needs it, and you would get to look like the very prepared one.

One of the biggest things I see in people afraid of a big or terminal disease is they put off all learning to live where they are at until they find a diagnosis of some kind. And even in people not scared, but in limbo land, the same is true. A personal example: I put off getting a wheelchair for at least a year, while functionally living in a desk chair... that's right, a chair, with really tiny wheels.

[HelenL]

Beky, I did the same with a desk chair in the kitchen for months before I started using the scooter! You are so right, maintaining your balance by using a cane is important while you sort out why you're tripping. Falling can be deadly.

[momap53]

You can even find a cane that "folds up" in the health section of a drug store or big box store. Fits nicely into a bag and ready when you need it.

Beky is spot on with her assessment!
Helen is too. Falls can be deadly.

Don't ask for needless suffering! Get some sort of aide to make walking safer for you in the meantime.

[notme]

Pain and or strange sensations in your buttock and thigh is very common when there is a disc injury in the spine. In fact, an injury in that region can ALSO cause issues with your feet, believe me. Been there, done that.

Perhaps see if they can do an MIR of the lumbar spine?