HL93
New member
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2018
- Messages
- 7
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- NJ
- City
- Belmar
Hello all,
I first want to extend my sincere appreciation for the support offered on this forum. I don’t think I could show the bravery, class, and kindness that many of you display so well in the face of adversity. Please know that I am so grateful simply for the opportunity to express my concerns.
I have read the “must read” guidelines for this particular forum, and those guidelines have offered me some peace of mind. However, my mind is still reeling and I am incredibly scared.
I am a 24 year-old male. I understand that my age does not fit the profile for ALS at all. Still, I have major concerns.
For the past two months, I have been experiencing widespread muscle twitching in virtually all areas of my body. It has been accompanied at times by strange, non-specific sensations in my arms, legs, and upper back. I have had pins and needles, which I know points away from the disease, but lately I have noticed that I am putting more pressure on my left leg, and it is sore as a result. This has happened once in the past, but it leads me to speculate that I may be compensating for some sort of weakness in my right leg. Twitches in the calves and knees of both legs have been regular but not constant.
In addition, I have noticed myself dropping things more often. Not heavy things; more like pieces of paper or my phone. I have not noticed a loss of general strength. However, I could not tell you what clinical weakness even feels like, because I have no experience with any of these symptoms other than the left leg soreness.
It should be noted that I tested positive for rheumatoid arthritis factor in blood work about a month ago. The nurse practitioner who had taken over for my GP referred me to a rheumatologist, but I could not get an appointment until October. I asked about a neurologist and she said I could go, but she doesn’t feel that it’s necessary. Also, I struggle with general anxiety and mild OCD, and have been under a great deal of stress in general.
In any case, I have an appointment with my GP next Friday (he started a new practice). I don’t know how to make sense of these symptoms, and I am really scared. Any guidance one way or another would be greatly appreciated.
Again, thank you for all you do. If I can take one positive out of my recent worries, it’s that I have been able to learn more about this terrible disease and find new ways through which I can contribute to fighting it through research and awareness.
Gratefully,
Chris
I first want to extend my sincere appreciation for the support offered on this forum. I don’t think I could show the bravery, class, and kindness that many of you display so well in the face of adversity. Please know that I am so grateful simply for the opportunity to express my concerns.
I have read the “must read” guidelines for this particular forum, and those guidelines have offered me some peace of mind. However, my mind is still reeling and I am incredibly scared.
I am a 24 year-old male. I understand that my age does not fit the profile for ALS at all. Still, I have major concerns.
For the past two months, I have been experiencing widespread muscle twitching in virtually all areas of my body. It has been accompanied at times by strange, non-specific sensations in my arms, legs, and upper back. I have had pins and needles, which I know points away from the disease, but lately I have noticed that I am putting more pressure on my left leg, and it is sore as a result. This has happened once in the past, but it leads me to speculate that I may be compensating for some sort of weakness in my right leg. Twitches in the calves and knees of both legs have been regular but not constant.
In addition, I have noticed myself dropping things more often. Not heavy things; more like pieces of paper or my phone. I have not noticed a loss of general strength. However, I could not tell you what clinical weakness even feels like, because I have no experience with any of these symptoms other than the left leg soreness.
It should be noted that I tested positive for rheumatoid arthritis factor in blood work about a month ago. The nurse practitioner who had taken over for my GP referred me to a rheumatologist, but I could not get an appointment until October. I asked about a neurologist and she said I could go, but she doesn’t feel that it’s necessary. Also, I struggle with general anxiety and mild OCD, and have been under a great deal of stress in general.
In any case, I have an appointment with my GP next Friday (he started a new practice). I don’t know how to make sense of these symptoms, and I am really scared. Any guidance one way or another would be greatly appreciated.
Again, thank you for all you do. If I can take one positive out of my recent worries, it’s that I have been able to learn more about this terrible disease and find new ways through which I can contribute to fighting it through research and awareness.
Gratefully,
Chris