miketeeveee
New member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2015
- Messages
- 2
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- MA
- City
- Boston
Hello everyone, I'm new to the forums and just want to say, thanks to everyone who takes the time to address the issues of others. I'm currently experiencing some worrisome symptoms and would appreciate any feedback/advice. 32 year old, otherwise healthy male.
About six months ago, I was experiencing some tingling and numbness in my toes, and was referred to a neurologist by my primary (I have read the stickies and spoken with my neuro and understand that such sensory symptoms are NOT a symptom of ALS, that is just how this started out for me). Around the same time, I started developing twitching al over my body, but mostly in my right calf. The neuro wanted to rule out neuropathy because of the tingling and did an EMG in my right leg and lower back, the results of which he said were normal. During his exam though, he said he found that my reflexes were rather brisk and scheduled a follow-up.
I went back for a follow-up and he performed another physical exam and found that my reflexes were still brisk, and that I had some subtle "additional tone" in my left arm. I had an MRI of my cervical spine and a vitamin B blood test for the twitching, and both were normal.
So I saw my neuro again. He re-examined me and elaborated that my hyperreflexia is in my lower extremities, equal on both sides. He also said that when he re-examined my arms, there seemed to be improvement. He could see my anxiety and has scheduled another complete EMG because, in his words, "ALS could not be ruled out." I'd like to think that what he is saying is that it also can't be ruled IN, but is responding to my obvious anxiety to try to get some answers.
Lastly, I complained of a symptom that I wouldn't mind anyone's thoughts on. Several nights ago, I awoke and had some heaviness in my left arm--it didn't really feel like pins and needles or a cramp, just felt strange. I shook my arm and it returned to normal. Then it happened again another night, but much more extreme. Again it wasn't like pins and needles, my arm just felt extremely heavy, like my bicep was completely weak and useless, and I couldn't lift my arm at all for a few seconds, but shaking it and rubbing it eventually corrected it. I told my neuro and he said that this could be anything and didn't seem concerned unless it continued, but now of course I feel like my left bicep just feels "different." I can do a push up, lift a heavy jug, etc., but I just kind of can't shake this feeling and am terrified of the whole full-arm weakness moment again…
So, thanks for reading this long post, any thoughts are welcome. I'm pretty stressed.
About six months ago, I was experiencing some tingling and numbness in my toes, and was referred to a neurologist by my primary (I have read the stickies and spoken with my neuro and understand that such sensory symptoms are NOT a symptom of ALS, that is just how this started out for me). Around the same time, I started developing twitching al over my body, but mostly in my right calf. The neuro wanted to rule out neuropathy because of the tingling and did an EMG in my right leg and lower back, the results of which he said were normal. During his exam though, he said he found that my reflexes were rather brisk and scheduled a follow-up.
I went back for a follow-up and he performed another physical exam and found that my reflexes were still brisk, and that I had some subtle "additional tone" in my left arm. I had an MRI of my cervical spine and a vitamin B blood test for the twitching, and both were normal.
So I saw my neuro again. He re-examined me and elaborated that my hyperreflexia is in my lower extremities, equal on both sides. He also said that when he re-examined my arms, there seemed to be improvement. He could see my anxiety and has scheduled another complete EMG because, in his words, "ALS could not be ruled out." I'd like to think that what he is saying is that it also can't be ruled IN, but is responding to my obvious anxiety to try to get some answers.
Lastly, I complained of a symptom that I wouldn't mind anyone's thoughts on. Several nights ago, I awoke and had some heaviness in my left arm--it didn't really feel like pins and needles or a cramp, just felt strange. I shook my arm and it returned to normal. Then it happened again another night, but much more extreme. Again it wasn't like pins and needles, my arm just felt extremely heavy, like my bicep was completely weak and useless, and I couldn't lift my arm at all for a few seconds, but shaking it and rubbing it eventually corrected it. I told my neuro and he said that this could be anything and didn't seem concerned unless it continued, but now of course I feel like my left bicep just feels "different." I can do a push up, lift a heavy jug, etc., but I just kind of can't shake this feeling and am terrified of the whole full-arm weakness moment again…
So, thanks for reading this long post, any thoughts are welcome. I'm pretty stressed.