worriedindenver
New member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2018
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- CO
- City
- Denver
So I've tried to stay away from posting on this board, but just received a call from my doctor and it has me absolutely terrified.
My timeline...
About two weeks ago I started to feel weakness in my left hand. It wasn't the type of clinical weakness you read about here, but in doing some back exercises at the gym it seemed like I wasn't able to grip the bar as securely as I previously had.
About a weak after that, I started to feel some weakness in my legs and then arms, but it seemed to be more perceived than clinical. I could still do everything I had previously, but it just seemed to take more effort. I took some magnesium supplements and this feeling significantly decreased and pretty much went away.
Next followed the muscle twitches and that's when things started to get really scary for me. Both calves and feet seem to be firing constantly. There is the odd arm, hand, forearm twitch added to the mix as well. This has been going on for about 10 days.
I finally went to the doctor (primary care) who did a very basic neurological exam. Everything checked out as within the normal range. Next he drew some blood and I just got the results back indicating that everything was normal except for elevated CPK levels (390 - whereas no more than 190 is considered normal).
This has me ABSOLUTELY frightened. In my mind, because I have not exhibited any clinical weakness, this elevated CPK is indication of the muscles starting to die off and that the weakness isn't far behind. If I weren't twitching all over, I could probably write off the elevated CPK levels as a result of my heavy workout schedule. But, with the twitches added in, I'm having a hard time seeing that this is going to end up being anything other than ALS....
It sounds like a muscle biopsy and EMG are on deck next...
Any insight this community can provide would be greatly appreciated!
My timeline...
About two weeks ago I started to feel weakness in my left hand. It wasn't the type of clinical weakness you read about here, but in doing some back exercises at the gym it seemed like I wasn't able to grip the bar as securely as I previously had.
About a weak after that, I started to feel some weakness in my legs and then arms, but it seemed to be more perceived than clinical. I could still do everything I had previously, but it just seemed to take more effort. I took some magnesium supplements and this feeling significantly decreased and pretty much went away.
Next followed the muscle twitches and that's when things started to get really scary for me. Both calves and feet seem to be firing constantly. There is the odd arm, hand, forearm twitch added to the mix as well. This has been going on for about 10 days.
I finally went to the doctor (primary care) who did a very basic neurological exam. Everything checked out as within the normal range. Next he drew some blood and I just got the results back indicating that everything was normal except for elevated CPK levels (390 - whereas no more than 190 is considered normal).
This has me ABSOLUTELY frightened. In my mind, because I have not exhibited any clinical weakness, this elevated CPK is indication of the muscles starting to die off and that the weakness isn't far behind. If I weren't twitching all over, I could probably write off the elevated CPK levels as a result of my heavy workout schedule. But, with the twitches added in, I'm having a hard time seeing that this is going to end up being anything other than ALS....
It sounds like a muscle biopsy and EMG are on deck next...
Any insight this community can provide would be greatly appreciated!