worriedwife
New member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2018
- Messages
- 8
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- al
- City
- The South
Hi All,
I was wondering if you could give me your opinion on my husband. For about a year he was having issues with his back. He tried physical therapy and epidurals. Nothing seemed to help. Fast forward to a couple of months ago...we both started noticing him limping. He noticed that his left leg was getting progressively weaker. This concerned him and back to the bone and joint doctors he went. After CT, EMG (they didn't see anything too concerning), and MRI (to which my husband is a MRI tech), nothing was shown to cause his symptoms (No disc issues or the like). He was referred to a neurologist. This particular neurologist works with my husband and seen him limping in the hallway of the hospital, he had him do some other things and was concerned...he got him an appointment the next day in his office.
So, here's this past Thursday and he has another EMG. The neurologist was very concerned at what it showed. This time the test was done all the way up his back as well. He said that no nerve damage was present at this time. He was also concerned about my husband's reflexes. He prepared us that he thinks my husband has ALS. He sent him in that afternoon for another MRI cervical spine/brain, to rule out MS. It did not show MS. Next step is a muscle biopsy next week and then spinal tap. If nothing found then...the neurologist wants a second opinion at an ALS clinic in our state. He told us to keep an open mind.
Right now his symptoms started presenting itself in his left leg first, then progressed to the right. Now there's muscle cramps in the calf of the right leg (like a Charlie Horse).
Here's the symptoms:
*Began with left foot weakness, going up leg into calf and thigh.
*Unable to dorsiflex foot.
*Can not push against resistance in all major muscles of the left leg.
*Twitching in quad, hamstring, and calf.
*Difficulty walking.
*Right foot becoming a bit weak.
All these symptoms started about three months ago.
We are beside ourselves. He's 39, we've been married 17 years, no family history of ALS, and we have 2 kids under 13. Up until this point he's always been healthy, aside from high blood pressure. He's still working as we speak. I guess the real freak out moment came when he looked at his patient portal and they have him listed as being treated for ALS. Are we in denial? We thought maybe they entered it that way because of our difficult insurance, who kicks back so many tests. Are they thinking the worst and hoping for the best, my husband does this in his field. Could it be something else? Is it possible it's another motor neuron disease? Does he have a shot at it NOT being ALS?
I would appreciate any opinions and sorry this is so long. Thank you to anyone who may read and offer advice.
I was wondering if you could give me your opinion on my husband. For about a year he was having issues with his back. He tried physical therapy and epidurals. Nothing seemed to help. Fast forward to a couple of months ago...we both started noticing him limping. He noticed that his left leg was getting progressively weaker. This concerned him and back to the bone and joint doctors he went. After CT, EMG (they didn't see anything too concerning), and MRI (to which my husband is a MRI tech), nothing was shown to cause his symptoms (No disc issues or the like). He was referred to a neurologist. This particular neurologist works with my husband and seen him limping in the hallway of the hospital, he had him do some other things and was concerned...he got him an appointment the next day in his office.
So, here's this past Thursday and he has another EMG. The neurologist was very concerned at what it showed. This time the test was done all the way up his back as well. He said that no nerve damage was present at this time. He was also concerned about my husband's reflexes. He prepared us that he thinks my husband has ALS. He sent him in that afternoon for another MRI cervical spine/brain, to rule out MS. It did not show MS. Next step is a muscle biopsy next week and then spinal tap. If nothing found then...the neurologist wants a second opinion at an ALS clinic in our state. He told us to keep an open mind.
Right now his symptoms started presenting itself in his left leg first, then progressed to the right. Now there's muscle cramps in the calf of the right leg (like a Charlie Horse).
Here's the symptoms:
*Began with left foot weakness, going up leg into calf and thigh.
*Unable to dorsiflex foot.
*Can not push against resistance in all major muscles of the left leg.
*Twitching in quad, hamstring, and calf.
*Difficulty walking.
*Right foot becoming a bit weak.
All these symptoms started about three months ago.
We are beside ourselves. He's 39, we've been married 17 years, no family history of ALS, and we have 2 kids under 13. Up until this point he's always been healthy, aside from high blood pressure. He's still working as we speak. I guess the real freak out moment came when he looked at his patient portal and they have him listed as being treated for ALS. Are we in denial? We thought maybe they entered it that way because of our difficult insurance, who kicks back so many tests. Are they thinking the worst and hoping for the best, my husband does this in his field. Could it be something else? Is it possible it's another motor neuron disease? Does he have a shot at it NOT being ALS?
I would appreciate any opinions and sorry this is so long. Thank you to anyone who may read and offer advice.