matty22
New member
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2012
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- CA
- State
- ON
- City
- Welland
Hello Everyone,
I'd like to start in advance by saying thank you to anyone who takes the time to read and/or respond to my post/question.
Like many others who have come and gone, I have been experiencing worrisome symptoms for some time now and finally have decided to get some input from others familiar with such symptoms...also more information that needs clarifying has come into the picture.
So here goes everything, I am a 22 year old male from Ontario, Canada who started to experience symptoms around April 2012. Symptoms include body wide muscle twitching, muscle weakness/wasting, fatigue, lack of motion in limbs and cramping. My weakness is real, I do/did not have 1 localized area of weakness (i.e. foot drop, can't turn bottle cap or button shirt) but some parts of my body are weaker than others. I can no longer work out or run (things I use to do on a regular basis before illness started). My right hand shakes when just filling a pot of coffee with water. My left leg feels extremely weaker than my right and feels like it is going to give out while walking but like I stated no actual falls yet. I do walk a little funny now and running isn't even an option anymore (produce a weird, unstable gallop motion). I can raise up on both toes and heels but only for like a second and the left gives way a lot quicker than the right.
Fast forward to now, I finally got to a neuro today (Oct.10th 2012) for a consult and ncv/emg. Upon consult, the neuro stated he noticed clonus, global brisk reflexes (both seemed worse on left side though, especially for feet/legs) global muscle loss (worse on right side and im right handed...) but also stated hoffman's and other neuro signs were negative. The ncv turned out normal. The emg was then done on my left leg and left arm (one sided and my complaints were multi-sided but he said it should show anything bad like ALS either way). After the emg was complete, he advised me the emg in my calf showed fibrillation but no positive sharp waves or any other bad signs. He then stated my thigh was normal. He then advised me the emg on my upper arm was normal. Then he advised me the emg in my hand showed larger MUP's but he said he felt this was due to an old injury to the hand/nerve, although I don't recall ever having one.
After the testing was done, he advised me he did not think anything like ALS or anything of that nature was going on but didn't give me much input on what could be causing the findings of his tests or my symptoms. He said his best guess due to the generalized muscle loss/fatigue would be something post viral maybe but if things keep getting worse to come back?
I know in advance a lot of people are going to think I'm a scared kid who came here for no reason and should listen to the neuro and go on with life but that is the thing, I can't go on with life, my body physically won't allow me. I try to run, or do push ups and my legs/arms give out and don't allow me. I am someone who avoided doctors/hospitals my whole life until now and was always out doing something. I hate more than anyone being ill for so many months with no answers, and not being able to be my physical old self.
I guess in the end I'm just here for some feedback and maybe a couple answers that I didn't seem to get too clearly from the neuro. Some things that keep running my mind are...can post viral symptoms really appear like this and be so debilitating for so long in a previous healthy young male?...What does the fibrillation that showed in my calf muscle mean?...I tryed to find this answer on my own...but I couldn't find anything related to just a fibrillation and no psw or increased mup's. Also, would the neuro even mention coming back at all if he didn't see any significant signs/symptoms?
As stated, I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read my post and any responses given would also be appreciated, weather it be with personal knowledge, experience and/or opinion...anything at this point helps. Thank you everyone in advance and please try to take it easy on me if you are thinking this is nothing and I am over worrying, keep in mind I am extremely young so any symptoms of these sort are going to be extremely worrisome and hard to deal with.
I'd like to start in advance by saying thank you to anyone who takes the time to read and/or respond to my post/question.
Like many others who have come and gone, I have been experiencing worrisome symptoms for some time now and finally have decided to get some input from others familiar with such symptoms...also more information that needs clarifying has come into the picture.
So here goes everything, I am a 22 year old male from Ontario, Canada who started to experience symptoms around April 2012. Symptoms include body wide muscle twitching, muscle weakness/wasting, fatigue, lack of motion in limbs and cramping. My weakness is real, I do/did not have 1 localized area of weakness (i.e. foot drop, can't turn bottle cap or button shirt) but some parts of my body are weaker than others. I can no longer work out or run (things I use to do on a regular basis before illness started). My right hand shakes when just filling a pot of coffee with water. My left leg feels extremely weaker than my right and feels like it is going to give out while walking but like I stated no actual falls yet. I do walk a little funny now and running isn't even an option anymore (produce a weird, unstable gallop motion). I can raise up on both toes and heels but only for like a second and the left gives way a lot quicker than the right.
Fast forward to now, I finally got to a neuro today (Oct.10th 2012) for a consult and ncv/emg. Upon consult, the neuro stated he noticed clonus, global brisk reflexes (both seemed worse on left side though, especially for feet/legs) global muscle loss (worse on right side and im right handed...) but also stated hoffman's and other neuro signs were negative. The ncv turned out normal. The emg was then done on my left leg and left arm (one sided and my complaints were multi-sided but he said it should show anything bad like ALS either way). After the emg was complete, he advised me the emg in my calf showed fibrillation but no positive sharp waves or any other bad signs. He then stated my thigh was normal. He then advised me the emg on my upper arm was normal. Then he advised me the emg in my hand showed larger MUP's but he said he felt this was due to an old injury to the hand/nerve, although I don't recall ever having one.
After the testing was done, he advised me he did not think anything like ALS or anything of that nature was going on but didn't give me much input on what could be causing the findings of his tests or my symptoms. He said his best guess due to the generalized muscle loss/fatigue would be something post viral maybe but if things keep getting worse to come back?
I know in advance a lot of people are going to think I'm a scared kid who came here for no reason and should listen to the neuro and go on with life but that is the thing, I can't go on with life, my body physically won't allow me. I try to run, or do push ups and my legs/arms give out and don't allow me. I am someone who avoided doctors/hospitals my whole life until now and was always out doing something. I hate more than anyone being ill for so many months with no answers, and not being able to be my physical old self.
I guess in the end I'm just here for some feedback and maybe a couple answers that I didn't seem to get too clearly from the neuro. Some things that keep running my mind are...can post viral symptoms really appear like this and be so debilitating for so long in a previous healthy young male?...What does the fibrillation that showed in my calf muscle mean?...I tryed to find this answer on my own...but I couldn't find anything related to just a fibrillation and no psw or increased mup's. Also, would the neuro even mention coming back at all if he didn't see any significant signs/symptoms?
As stated, I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read my post and any responses given would also be appreciated, weather it be with personal knowledge, experience and/or opinion...anything at this point helps. Thank you everyone in advance and please try to take it easy on me if you are thinking this is nothing and I am over worrying, keep in mind I am extremely young so any symptoms of these sort are going to be extremely worrisome and hard to deal with.