Bedenbaugha
Member
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2012
- Messages
- 13
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- Ga
- City
- Douglasville
Hi,
I am not diagnosed with ALS, although going through the rule/out/testing, etc. In fact, taking a break from it all because I'm tired of benig poked and prodded. I figure If I have a NMD, it'll still be around when I get back to it..
Anyway, My symptoms are: weakness in left arm, left hand, faciculations in left arm and side predominantly, frozen left shoulder, dorsal interosseous atrophy in left hand (between finger and thumb), no ulnar entrapment per EMG/NCV. Starting to notice weakness in Right hip (or high butt muscle.. which actually is mostly fat now that walking is more difficult ). I had an EMG a couple of months ago that was negative, so I'm hoping for everything being a side effect of my degenerative disc disease..
That being said, I had a HORRIBLE experience with a lumbar puncture several weeks ago and ended up in the hospital for 2.5 days. I ended up with a dural leaking cerebrospinal fluid from the puncture site, a herniated disc from the pressure change, and had to have 2 blood patches (basically, where they inject your own blood into your spine and hope it clots enough to seal off the leak). The headache with this was tremendous, nothing I ever wish on anyone!
My question is this though:- Has anyone else had this type of reaction to an LP? I have had an LP before without any problems (ruling out MS when I was 25-of course, I'm much older now )..and I wonder if folks with ALS/NMD have a different rate of LP related reactions/issues than say the "normal" population. From a theoretical perspective, considering midbrain involvement on MRI's in ALS patients, it might be reasonable to assume that a CSF pressure change would cause a 1) worsening of ALS symptoms or 2) a sensitivity to this type of procedure.
Anyway, if anyone has had a similar experience, please let me know?
I am not diagnosed with ALS, although going through the rule/out/testing, etc. In fact, taking a break from it all because I'm tired of benig poked and prodded. I figure If I have a NMD, it'll still be around when I get back to it..
Anyway, My symptoms are: weakness in left arm, left hand, faciculations in left arm and side predominantly, frozen left shoulder, dorsal interosseous atrophy in left hand (between finger and thumb), no ulnar entrapment per EMG/NCV. Starting to notice weakness in Right hip (or high butt muscle.. which actually is mostly fat now that walking is more difficult ). I had an EMG a couple of months ago that was negative, so I'm hoping for everything being a side effect of my degenerative disc disease..
That being said, I had a HORRIBLE experience with a lumbar puncture several weeks ago and ended up in the hospital for 2.5 days. I ended up with a dural leaking cerebrospinal fluid from the puncture site, a herniated disc from the pressure change, and had to have 2 blood patches (basically, where they inject your own blood into your spine and hope it clots enough to seal off the leak). The headache with this was tremendous, nothing I ever wish on anyone!
My question is this though:- Has anyone else had this type of reaction to an LP? I have had an LP before without any problems (ruling out MS when I was 25-of course, I'm much older now )..and I wonder if folks with ALS/NMD have a different rate of LP related reactions/issues than say the "normal" population. From a theoretical perspective, considering midbrain involvement on MRI's in ALS patients, it might be reasonable to assume that a CSF pressure change would cause a 1) worsening of ALS symptoms or 2) a sensitivity to this type of procedure.
Anyway, if anyone has had a similar experience, please let me know?