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anderkling

Distinguished member
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
273
Reason
PALS
Diagnosis
01/2015
Country
CA
State
B.C.
City
Surrey
I am a 58 year old woman. About 6 weeks ago I started noticing unusual fatigue, then weakness in my left leg. I am falling and tripping, conscious of every step I take. There is something noticeably wrong. I have almost constant twitches in the muscles of my left leg, keeping me from sleeping at night. My gait is changing. I am clumsy on my feet. I have to consciously make sure I lift my left foot when I walk. My walking is different than before, limited. When I google these symptoms, the first thing that pops up is ALS. I'm scared. Should I be worried? I don't want to tell anyone. Can anyone advise me?
 
Go to your physician. Clearly something is wrong. From what you describe it could be many things from a stroke to a pinched nerve to motor neuron disease and a number of things in between. You need to be examined and probably need some tests. Until you get those things we would be blindly guessing and you are just going to worry. Please call first thing tomorrow. Since ALS is rare the odds are in your favor and many of the other things are treatable if you don't delay too long
 
You NEED to tell a doctor, now.

As Nikki says, it could be many things and is probably not ALS. But the last thing you need is a nasty fall or an auto accident. Get it diagnosed immediately, please.
 
im with them on this. get to your dr. we can't tell you anything here but you need to see them. if not for your self . do it for us. this is something that needs to be looked in to.
 
You definitely need to see a doctor, no ifs, ands or buts. Although you are scared it is better to know what's going on. The odds are it's not ALS but it's best to find out for sure, one way or the other. If you don't you increase your chances of getting really hurt. Please let us know how you make out! God bless!
 
Thank you for encouraging me to see the doctor. My doctor examined me, and is very concerned. He ordered me off work (I'm a grade one teacher) indefinitely, and is ordering an urgent CT scan and fast-tracking me to see a neurologist. He suggested ALS or MS as possible diagnoses. I'm overwhelmed. Does anyone know how to alleviate the constant twitching in my leg?
 
I would see a neuromuscular specialist, not just a regular neuro. Maybe your doctor can recommend something to help you sleep and not notice the twitching so much.
 
if it is als, the twitching don't go away till the muscles are gone.
 
Does anyone know of any meds or therapies to calm the twitching? They're driving me crazy!
 
Well caffeine and stress can make them worse but don't know any good answer. Azgirl's comment is a good one. I hope with all my heart this is NOT ALS. If it is for some of us riluzole helps twitching but of course it would do nothing if you have anything else so sorry
 
Please don't jump to conclusions yet. There are many things that mimics ALS. Glad you went to your doctor. Praying that you find out it's something else and there is treatment. In the meantime you will be in my prayers. Let us know how things go. Hugs, Kim
 
Thank you very much for prayers, and for all your kind and thoughtful answers. I see a neurologist on Tuesday. Scared. Anxious. You all know what that's like.
 
Good luck for Tuesday, hope we are not welcoming you on board 'officially' (meant in the nicest possible way) x
 
About diseases mimicking ALS, I read a scholarly paper by a neurologist in the field, who wrote that the diseases mimicking are few and rare, and mostly fatal, untreatable, and that neurologists do a disservice to people with ALS because they spend months and months ruling out everything possible, all the while being almost positive that it is in fact ALS. Meanwhile, people put their lives on hold, hoping against hope.
 
I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. My dad got his diagnosis fairly quick once we realized he really had issues going on. But, they ruled out tons of stuff first. They were at first convinced he had mysthanis gravis (sp?) and then MS and then bingo three neurologists confirmed ALS. I know you are in a panic right now but please to keep busy and keep your mind occupied until you get some answers. Let us know what you find out. Hugs, Kim

I don't mean to come off as a know at all about ALS. People know alot more about it then me on here. You have credible symptoms that need addressed and then there are some on here that burp and think they have ALS.
 
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