Moonmark
Distinguished member
- Joined
- May 6, 2009
- Messages
- 268
- Reason
- Other
- Country
- US
- State
- New England
- City
- someplace
Hello,
Back again. I am wondering if people here experienced ankle weakness and how that manifested. Those who've read my posts may (or may not) recall I have a 10 month or more history (not sure exactly when things started, but recall some weird muscle spams in my chest area exactly one year ago) of muscle cramps, pain, off and on twitching, off and on saliva, muscle weakness, and fatigue). Negative EMG in June of both legs and one arm. Two neuros (both ALS specialists at well-regarded hospitals) not sure what is going on, said unlikely to be ALS, but neither would definitively rule out a neuro condition. follow ups every 6 months, or sooner, if symptoms progress dramatically.
anyway, the worst part of my body is my right hand, arm, elbow, shoulder. It has slowly crept up the arm, starting with the hand, still fully functional, but pain, and weakness on that side, with activity. trouble lifting things overhead, grip while writing is slightly diminished, drop things a lot, have trouble with ziplocs and buttons and such, but can still do them (sometimes not so easily) and can still write and type, no problem. there is sometimes twitching in my arm after I use it for a while. for instance, I was doing play-do with my daughter the other day for some time and that resulted in an outbreak of muscle twitching in my upper arm. my right arm is dominant, but the muscles in my arm and shoulder are somewhat smaller than the left side, although I pass the tests for clinical weakness at neuro office with no problems. and if it is atrophy, it is not significant enough to warrant alarm by anyone. Reflexes on the right side are greater than the left at last exam in Dec. I am also having a lot of charlie horse-like muscle spasms in my neck, when I sneeze or move too abruptly or something.
I have noticed in recent months that my feet seem to be turning inward somewhat at the ankle and my arches are becoming flatter. I am starting to have pain around the outsides of the ankle, particularly on the right side. Today, after dropping my almost 3 year old daughter off for her one day of childcare, my right ankle gave out as I was walking down the steps and now it seems slightly sprained. I do not want to go to the doctor again. The right foot is bonier than the left one and many of my shoes are uncomfortable. I have noticed this winter that I seem to do better in boots that have more support around the ankle than regular shoes.
at the last neuro visit with the PA, they said they would probably repeat tests such as the EMG and MRI late this spring or summer if things do not improve. Frankly, I am sick of ALS lurking in the back of my mind if it need not be. Do you think by now that the EMG would show the characteristics of ALS or a related disease if that is what is slowly unfolding in my body?
I have made the rounds to the GP, the rheumatologist, the orthopedist and the only doctors that want to see me again are the neuros. Still, they are not too forthcoming with whatever it is may be going on, except to say that some neurological conditions take time to develop and diagnose. Now I am off to see a chiropractor, to see if that helps any.
do you think I should press for another EMG now-- it's been seven months since the first one. I would assume if that is normal, I can move on mentally to some other ailment (lucky for you!). Do you have any suggestions for how you would approach the neuro office? The neuro basically said I should come back if I lose the ability to use a finger, or a foot, or a leg, or whatever.
any advice would be appreciated.
thanks again,
Sandra
Back again. I am wondering if people here experienced ankle weakness and how that manifested. Those who've read my posts may (or may not) recall I have a 10 month or more history (not sure exactly when things started, but recall some weird muscle spams in my chest area exactly one year ago) of muscle cramps, pain, off and on twitching, off and on saliva, muscle weakness, and fatigue). Negative EMG in June of both legs and one arm. Two neuros (both ALS specialists at well-regarded hospitals) not sure what is going on, said unlikely to be ALS, but neither would definitively rule out a neuro condition. follow ups every 6 months, or sooner, if symptoms progress dramatically.
anyway, the worst part of my body is my right hand, arm, elbow, shoulder. It has slowly crept up the arm, starting with the hand, still fully functional, but pain, and weakness on that side, with activity. trouble lifting things overhead, grip while writing is slightly diminished, drop things a lot, have trouble with ziplocs and buttons and such, but can still do them (sometimes not so easily) and can still write and type, no problem. there is sometimes twitching in my arm after I use it for a while. for instance, I was doing play-do with my daughter the other day for some time and that resulted in an outbreak of muscle twitching in my upper arm. my right arm is dominant, but the muscles in my arm and shoulder are somewhat smaller than the left side, although I pass the tests for clinical weakness at neuro office with no problems. and if it is atrophy, it is not significant enough to warrant alarm by anyone. Reflexes on the right side are greater than the left at last exam in Dec. I am also having a lot of charlie horse-like muscle spasms in my neck, when I sneeze or move too abruptly or something.
I have noticed in recent months that my feet seem to be turning inward somewhat at the ankle and my arches are becoming flatter. I am starting to have pain around the outsides of the ankle, particularly on the right side. Today, after dropping my almost 3 year old daughter off for her one day of childcare, my right ankle gave out as I was walking down the steps and now it seems slightly sprained. I do not want to go to the doctor again. The right foot is bonier than the left one and many of my shoes are uncomfortable. I have noticed this winter that I seem to do better in boots that have more support around the ankle than regular shoes.
at the last neuro visit with the PA, they said they would probably repeat tests such as the EMG and MRI late this spring or summer if things do not improve. Frankly, I am sick of ALS lurking in the back of my mind if it need not be. Do you think by now that the EMG would show the characteristics of ALS or a related disease if that is what is slowly unfolding in my body?
I have made the rounds to the GP, the rheumatologist, the orthopedist and the only doctors that want to see me again are the neuros. Still, they are not too forthcoming with whatever it is may be going on, except to say that some neurological conditions take time to develop and diagnose. Now I am off to see a chiropractor, to see if that helps any.
do you think I should press for another EMG now-- it's been seven months since the first one. I would assume if that is normal, I can move on mentally to some other ailment (lucky for you!). Do you have any suggestions for how you would approach the neuro office? The neuro basically said I should come back if I lose the ability to use a finger, or a foot, or a leg, or whatever.
any advice would be appreciated.
thanks again,
Sandra