i am freaking out worried about my father in law. for about a month he's been complaining about a pain starting in the buttock and running down the back of the thigh. his general doctor mentioned sciatica, but the neurologist he saw yesterday didn't even mention the word. didn't say anything, actually. he's being referred for an mri next and he also suggested physical therapy. i don't know if his pains are shooting or more like cramping (he isn't very good at describing symptoms). he hasn't mentioned any other symptoms, unless he's just not saying. he's not weak - he gets around pretty good for a 74 yr old man.
with anyone else i wouldn't think anything of it, but in this family als is familial. his father had it, one sister had it, another sister recently died from it, and another sister who so far is not sick but is a carrier because 2 of her sons have it (and with her it's probably only a matter of time...)
now my father in law is scaring me. he's always had problems, but each time something comes up the first thing that comes to mind is you know what. (i have an anxiety disorder so i worry obsessively about everything whether rational or not). he's had circulation problems in the lower legs, possibly caused over time by radiation exposure during bomb testing in nevada during the korean war. he's had 2 surgeries over time to fix that, the most recent a couple years ago, now he says his leg hurts. from what i've read most sites say there is no pain associated with als but not what people who have actually been through it have said. i don't know what to think but i can't stop worrying myself into a frenzy.
one site says with familial als people are "typically" younger at onset, and sporadic cases are "typically" middle-age to older. his sister that recently died was 71 when she was officially diagnosed. before the "official" diagnosis they said it was spinal stenosis - she was having back pain. fil is having pain in or near the lower back (starting in the butt he says). but i also thought als cramps (if it's cramps) started in the farthest extremeties and worked its way in (starting in the hands or feet, not starting with the thighs).
does this sound like als could be a possibility or am i just making myself all frazzled over nothing?
with anyone else i wouldn't think anything of it, but in this family als is familial. his father had it, one sister had it, another sister recently died from it, and another sister who so far is not sick but is a carrier because 2 of her sons have it (and with her it's probably only a matter of time...)
now my father in law is scaring me. he's always had problems, but each time something comes up the first thing that comes to mind is you know what. (i have an anxiety disorder so i worry obsessively about everything whether rational or not). he's had circulation problems in the lower legs, possibly caused over time by radiation exposure during bomb testing in nevada during the korean war. he's had 2 surgeries over time to fix that, the most recent a couple years ago, now he says his leg hurts. from what i've read most sites say there is no pain associated with als but not what people who have actually been through it have said. i don't know what to think but i can't stop worrying myself into a frenzy.
one site says with familial als people are "typically" younger at onset, and sporadic cases are "typically" middle-age to older. his sister that recently died was 71 when she was officially diagnosed. before the "official" diagnosis they said it was spinal stenosis - she was having back pain. fil is having pain in or near the lower back (starting in the butt he says). but i also thought als cramps (if it's cramps) started in the farthest extremeties and worked its way in (starting in the hands or feet, not starting with the thighs).
does this sound like als could be a possibility or am i just making myself all frazzled over nothing?
