I've searched the archives and it seems that no one has clearly answered the question "What does ALS arm and leg weakness feel like."
The difference between perceived and clinical weakness had been made clear. And I know there is a sticky about Fatigue vs Weakness. But it isn't clear whether, as weakness progresses, PALS feel perceived weakness (burning and fatigued muscles, etc.) or just have the inability to do something. I think that is what many undiagnosed people want to know: whether the perceived weakness they have now is a precursor to clinical weakness or if there is _absolutely_ no feeling associated with progressive weakness.
It has been said so many times on this forum that ALS is about failing, not feeling. So in an attempt to make this clear, can you please answer A or B:
A. As weakness progressed, my arms and/or legs felt _completely_ normal. There was just the increasing inability to do something, such as climbing a staircase or picking up a glass. There was _absolutely_ no accompanying feeling of weakness or anything else, such as tired, fatigued, burning, or heavy muscles or muscles that felt drained of energy. For example, it became increasing difficult to climb stairs because of difficulty raising my legs, but my legs felt _absolutely_ normal all the time, there just wasn't any power. Or I couldn't lift certain objects, such as a gallon of milk, or the objects felt heavier than usual, but my arms felt _completely_ normal all the time, with _absolutely_ no feeling of weakness, fatigue, burning, etc.
B. As weakness progressed, the muscles in my arms and/or legs felt weak, tired, burning, heavy, etc. upon exertion or at all times. For example, it became increasingly difficult to climb stairs, and when doing so my leg muscles burned or felt heavy, weak, fatigued, etc. Or my arms felt stiff, weak, fatigued, and drained of energy all the time, and it became increasingly difficult to pick up objects.
Thanks.
The difference between perceived and clinical weakness had been made clear. And I know there is a sticky about Fatigue vs Weakness. But it isn't clear whether, as weakness progresses, PALS feel perceived weakness (burning and fatigued muscles, etc.) or just have the inability to do something. I think that is what many undiagnosed people want to know: whether the perceived weakness they have now is a precursor to clinical weakness or if there is _absolutely_ no feeling associated with progressive weakness.
It has been said so many times on this forum that ALS is about failing, not feeling. So in an attempt to make this clear, can you please answer A or B:
A. As weakness progressed, my arms and/or legs felt _completely_ normal. There was just the increasing inability to do something, such as climbing a staircase or picking up a glass. There was _absolutely_ no accompanying feeling of weakness or anything else, such as tired, fatigued, burning, or heavy muscles or muscles that felt drained of energy. For example, it became increasing difficult to climb stairs because of difficulty raising my legs, but my legs felt _absolutely_ normal all the time, there just wasn't any power. Or I couldn't lift certain objects, such as a gallon of milk, or the objects felt heavier than usual, but my arms felt _completely_ normal all the time, with _absolutely_ no feeling of weakness, fatigue, burning, etc.
B. As weakness progressed, the muscles in my arms and/or legs felt weak, tired, burning, heavy, etc. upon exertion or at all times. For example, it became increasingly difficult to climb stairs, and when doing so my leg muscles burned or felt heavy, weak, fatigued, etc. Or my arms felt stiff, weak, fatigued, and drained of energy all the time, and it became increasingly difficult to pick up objects.
Thanks.
