Hi Mike, why would you close my thread. I have clear symptoms of something to that of UMN or ALS. I'm only trying to get some support here as my symptoms point to nothing more than that. Why do you guys say no ALS , because I had pain throughout it all, now my thumb and index finger are clinically weak with clear atrophy, and loss of dexterity. Doesn't ALS when presented in the hand start in thumb and then spreads to the other fingers. Oh and you mentioned emg's how many times have I read that it doesn't detect ALS all the time. None of this make sense and you guys keep brushing me off. It makes me sad, I'm only here for the support. Clear Atrophy from thumb to my wrist, stiffness in thumbs, index fingers that shake.