Lolita
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2012
- Messages
- 19
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- Florida
- City
- Mary Esther
Hello, 30 year old mom of 2 young children here. Was very physically active and was 9 classes away from my undergrad degree. Sometime in June as I was walking upstairs my muscles started to slightly burn and felt breathless..this went on several times. avoided it. Then in August a whole host of symptoms came on..sort of like an onset episode of something that I know are not associated with ALS. Tingling, blurred vision, electrical sensation in legs, shortness of breath, twitching, and an occasional one leg jerk. Probably 3 weeks later. Those symptoms went away, but the twitching, leg/body jerk, muscle burn/fatigue, and breathless remains. The shortness of breath comes and goes, the twithching and occasional leg/body jerk is everyday. The twitching is all over plus one spot below my lip going on for over a week.
Blood work shows slightly elevated MCH 33.7
Lumbar puncture shows slightly elevated protein..no MS or lymes.
1st EMG by neuro says abnormal study w/electrophysiological evidence of left chronic C8-T1 radiculopathy.
2nd EMG by neuromuscular specialist does right arm and leg only and says normal! and no ALS..
MRI brain is Normal
MRI lumbar Normal
MRI cervical shows C3-4 spondylosis w/limited bony and disc protrusion beyond w/ mild to mod. central canal stenosis, potential ventral root effects and cord effect w/o gross malacia.
C4-5 slight bony and limited to mild focal disc w/ mild to mod. central canal stenosis.
C5-6 slight bony and limited focal disc protrusion central right paracentral canal stenosis potential ventral root and cord effect w/o gross malacial.
C6-7 slight bony and focal limited disc protrusion central left paracentral w/ mild central left paracentral canal stenosis potential abutment effect of ventral roots and cord; non malacic cord.
So..Even though my neuro says I've got some arthritis in my neck. I'm guessing that what all that MRI cervical means. He says possible early ALS. He said could be pinched nerve in my neck, but that would not cause my trouble breathing and would usually only cause symptoms in my arms. I see a neuromuscular specialist at Schands in Gainesville...and he says this is not ALS, but he didn't see all my test because somebody screwed up and didnt upload my medical records I have sent. He does and EMG of just the right arm and leg and says normal. He doesnt know why I'm having shortness of breath either. So finally I got an appt. at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville on Jan. 2...I'm just confused as to whether this is early ALS and the neuromuscular said no because I do not fit all 3 criteria for diagnosis. Whatever it is I just need help for my trouble breathing and burning muscle and leg jerks. I'm also very forgetful..I'm just praying to live. All I can think about are my kids. Could this be early ALS? opinions you all....
Blood work shows slightly elevated MCH 33.7
Lumbar puncture shows slightly elevated protein..no MS or lymes.
1st EMG by neuro says abnormal study w/electrophysiological evidence of left chronic C8-T1 radiculopathy.
2nd EMG by neuromuscular specialist does right arm and leg only and says normal! and no ALS..
MRI brain is Normal
MRI lumbar Normal
MRI cervical shows C3-4 spondylosis w/limited bony and disc protrusion beyond w/ mild to mod. central canal stenosis, potential ventral root effects and cord effect w/o gross malacia.
C4-5 slight bony and limited to mild focal disc w/ mild to mod. central canal stenosis.
C5-6 slight bony and limited focal disc protrusion central right paracentral canal stenosis potential ventral root and cord effect w/o gross malacial.
C6-7 slight bony and focal limited disc protrusion central left paracentral w/ mild central left paracentral canal stenosis potential abutment effect of ventral roots and cord; non malacic cord.
So..Even though my neuro says I've got some arthritis in my neck. I'm guessing that what all that MRI cervical means. He says possible early ALS. He said could be pinched nerve in my neck, but that would not cause my trouble breathing and would usually only cause symptoms in my arms. I see a neuromuscular specialist at Schands in Gainesville...and he says this is not ALS, but he didn't see all my test because somebody screwed up and didnt upload my medical records I have sent. He does and EMG of just the right arm and leg and says normal. He doesnt know why I'm having shortness of breath either. So finally I got an appt. at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville on Jan. 2...I'm just confused as to whether this is early ALS and the neuromuscular said no because I do not fit all 3 criteria for diagnosis. Whatever it is I just need help for my trouble breathing and burning muscle and leg jerks. I'm also very forgetful..I'm just praying to live. All I can think about are my kids. Could this be early ALS? opinions you all....
