[stinahelpme]

Hello all. Just wanted to thank anyone for taking the time to read to and/or respond to my post.

In June, 4 months ago, my shoulder started to hurt. I had to quit my job because of the pain. I was diagnosed with shoulder impingement, and got several cortisone shots, attended physical therapy, etc. Nothing helped.
The pain got worse and is at its worst now. Mainly only hurts with certain movements. I noticed my bicep in the shoulder-affected arm has gotten smaller/atrophied. I noticed this today. My arm is very weak and I immediately fall over if I try to lift myself off the ground with my affected arm. My arm just gives out. However I am still able to lift everything I want to, I just can't support my weight with it.

Last week I started having a lot of twitching in my arm/hand. But the twitching has recently been happening all over my body. On top of the twitching I also sometimes have a fine tremor in that hand.

I know I am young and my chances of ALS are slim to none. But I am so scared.. I didn't get too scared until I noticed my bicep is visibly smaller in my affected arm.

I saw that some people had shoulder-girdle onset ALS and that's what I am super scared of. Thank you for reading/replying, it is so greatly appreciated. I hope everyone has a wonderful evening.

[♥ lgelb]

ALS does not present as you have described, so I would have no worries on that score.

My first thought apart from frozen shoulder would be brachial neuritis, in which oral steroid might be more effective than injections.

I would see a different orthopedic surgeon (there are certainly shoulder specialists in ATL, probably at Emory) for a second opinion. Also remember that twitching and pain that becomes widespread can still be referred from the original site, and that atrophy, even if you have it, is much more often caused by injury or another localized condition than anything else.

Best,
Laurie

[stinahelpme]

Thank you so much for your response, Laurie. I truly appreciate it!

[♥ KimT]

Get an MRI on your shoulder. Years ago I tore my rotator cuff and neglected to rehab it. It caused a lot of pain, weakness, and loss of range of motion.

You don't have ALS. It's nothing like you describe.

[stinahelpme]

Kim, I got an MRI on my shoulder in June and there was nothing wrong with my rotator cuff, so my ortho diagnosed it as impingement syndrome. Since then my bicep, when flexed, has been getting smaller and smaller.

Today I noticed I'm having some mild glute pain on the right side when flexing, walking or standing up. My legs also feel like jelly. Could this be significant of anything?

[♥ affected]

I'm glad to say as have others that ALS simply does not present the way you are describing. It simply doesn't

Here is our official position and I think it will really help you.

READ BEFORE POSTING! Answers to common concerns about possible symptoms!

[stinahelpme]

Thank you! I keep getting a sensation that a bug is crawling underneath my skin, its only on my right leg in my thigh. Is this at all associated with ALS?

[♥ lgelb]

Stina, when we say "this isn't ALS," layering new symptoms on isn't going to change that answer.

Again, I would get a second opinion on the shoulder. The most significant part of what you said is that your arm has reproducible weakness in performing certain movements. That's low-hanging fruit to address and it could be something that delaying definitive treatment is making worse.

[♥ affected]

Please read the post in the link I gave you - it answers all your questions and is why we point you to it.
As Laurie says, layering 'new' symptoms isn't going to change our minds, we know ALS and you are not going to describe it by trying harder.
This is such great news. Please just work with your doctors who can see and examine you and let them decide what directions to take.