Krowden
New member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2014
- Messages
- 1
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- Michigan
- City
- Grand Rapids
Hi, I am a 22 year old male who recently started having some rather scary symptoms that have made me afraid that I might have ALS or some other motor neuron disease. I woke up a week ago with my hands and legs feeling weaker than normal. At first my hands felt almost like they were asleep and I had to reassure myself that I could still in fact move them. I thought that this weakness in my arms and legs would just go away with time and I didn't think much of it. The next day I still had the weakness but it suddenly increased around lunch time. I felt dizzy and my hands and legs were very weak. I could no longer pass this off as nothing. I searched google for sudden weakness in limbs and got als as one of the search results. Obviously, this scared me a lot and I soon became convinced that I had some kind of neurological problem. The next day, my symptoms again changed. I suddenly felt very sore in my arms and upper legs in addition to the weakness from before. My hands also felt weak and when I tried to clean my ears out with q-tips I noticed my fingers were not making the right movements to twist the q-tip. Fine finger movements in general became slightly awkward. Mostly the weakness is in my knuckles, my knees and my upper arms. Several times throughout the day I experienced something like a foot drop. My foot didn't actually drag along the ground but I didn't lift it all the way and the tips of my toes grazed along the ground for a second. This happened several times. In addition to this I have have weird twitching and fasciculations throughout my body. Starting yesterday I noticed that chewing has become really difficult. I just get so tired trying to chew my food that I need to take a break because my jaw and forehead muscles feel so tired.
Besides the weakness, I also have had some other weird symptoms. A few weeks ago, before the noticeable weakness started, I began to feel like I was losing control of my bladder. Not that I actually leaked any urine, but it felt like there was urgency and I had to go even when there was little urine in my bladder. It felt like urine was trying to leak out, basically. And while we are "down there" I suppose I should also mention that I have experienced some erectile dysfunction and difficulty having an orgasm as well. I am 22 years old. This can't be normal.
Needless to say, these symptoms are hard to dismiss as nothing. I don't know what could be causing this but I am very worried. Is it common for people with als to have a sudden symmetrical onset of muscle weakness in both arms and legs? Anyway, if you could give me your thoughts on what is wrong with me I would be very grateful to you. Thanks.
Besides the weakness, I also have had some other weird symptoms. A few weeks ago, before the noticeable weakness started, I began to feel like I was losing control of my bladder. Not that I actually leaked any urine, but it felt like there was urgency and I had to go even when there was little urine in my bladder. It felt like urine was trying to leak out, basically. And while we are "down there" I suppose I should also mention that I have experienced some erectile dysfunction and difficulty having an orgasm as well. I am 22 years old. This can't be normal.
Needless to say, these symptoms are hard to dismiss as nothing. I don't know what could be causing this but I am very worried. Is it common for people with als to have a sudden symmetrical onset of muscle weakness in both arms and legs? Anyway, if you could give me your thoughts on what is wrong with me I would be very grateful to you. Thanks.