Ashleymorrivera
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- Joined
- Oct 13, 2016
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- Learn about ALS
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- NJ
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- Old bridge
I think I posted this somewhere on here before but I'm not sure it is in the right place, I’m sorry for the repeat if anyone saw the first post!
Hi my name is Ashley, I’m a 26 y/o registered nurse. I appreciate any and all of your feedback.
About 3 months ago I had sensory symptoms including paresthesia in both my feet and intermittently other places. I went to a neurologist, who believe on examination that I was fine and sent me for a MRI of my brain which came back normal. I took the normal results and dealt with the symptoms and put them off as something benign.
About a month ago I woke up with this feeling in my arm of heaviness. This has continually gotten worse and now my right leg has begun to feel the same. My right hand also feels bizarre, like clumsy and not quick as fluid in it’s movements as my left. At the same time muscle twitching started all over my body but now it seems to be more focused on the right side of my body and in muscles that appear to be atrophying. I went to the same neuro a few days after symptoms started and he assured me my exam was fine. I did not feel fine and asked to be referred for an EMG.
I then went to another neuro who agreed my physical exam was normal and agreed to the test to put my mind at ease. Nerve conduction study and EMG were done which neuro said was ‘normal’ however he prescribed an MRI of the cervical spine and 10mg Amitryptyline daily, saying that I was a very anxious person. I called him back because I found it odd he prescribed the MRI, as this must mean something prompted him to do so. He said I had polyphasic potential in one muscle of my arm from the EMG but this was not indicative of ALS and that he still was not concerned about ALS and that it was still normal to him and no cause for concern. MRI of cervical spine came back normal (no pinched nerve, so no explanation for my symptoms).
Over the last couple weeks I feel as though my right arm and leg get worse daily, they both still function fine but my grasp in my right seems to be weaker now than my left and when I try to grasp hard I feel like different muscles are doing the job to make up for weak ones. The muscle between my right thumb and pointer now appears to be sunken in compared to my left and my right calf is visibly smaller than my left especially when I flex it. My right side also fatigues much faster (ex. If I wash my hair my right arm is burning a couple scrubs in).
My neuro acknowledged that the muscle I believe are atrophied are smaller than my left but he seems to brush it off (kind of in a how do you know they weren’t always like that way). My calves and thighs feel very tight; especially my right and I have had some foot cramps as well. I realize I sound crazy, I’m well aware of that. My wedding is in 3 months and the thought of missing out on all the things myself and my wonderful fiancé have planned for our life together is enough to drive me insane.
I’m frustrated and tired of feeling alone with my symptoms because everyone around me seems to act like they think it’s just in my head. I asked the neuro to refer me to an ALS specialist which he feels is not necessary but said he would if I insisted. I’ve read posts on here of a young woman having a normal EMG and then being diagnosed not too long after, meanwhile mine wasn’t completely normal to begin with. I can still function through work as a nurse and bartended yesterday for 8 hours but after making a few drinks my right arm and leg felt like jello. I do still have some parathesias in these limbs at times and my muscles seem to be sore more often than not.
Attached are some pictures of what I believe is atrophy.
Hi my name is Ashley, I’m a 26 y/o registered nurse. I appreciate any and all of your feedback.
About 3 months ago I had sensory symptoms including paresthesia in both my feet and intermittently other places. I went to a neurologist, who believe on examination that I was fine and sent me for a MRI of my brain which came back normal. I took the normal results and dealt with the symptoms and put them off as something benign.
About a month ago I woke up with this feeling in my arm of heaviness. This has continually gotten worse and now my right leg has begun to feel the same. My right hand also feels bizarre, like clumsy and not quick as fluid in it’s movements as my left. At the same time muscle twitching started all over my body but now it seems to be more focused on the right side of my body and in muscles that appear to be atrophying. I went to the same neuro a few days after symptoms started and he assured me my exam was fine. I did not feel fine and asked to be referred for an EMG.
I then went to another neuro who agreed my physical exam was normal and agreed to the test to put my mind at ease. Nerve conduction study and EMG were done which neuro said was ‘normal’ however he prescribed an MRI of the cervical spine and 10mg Amitryptyline daily, saying that I was a very anxious person. I called him back because I found it odd he prescribed the MRI, as this must mean something prompted him to do so. He said I had polyphasic potential in one muscle of my arm from the EMG but this was not indicative of ALS and that he still was not concerned about ALS and that it was still normal to him and no cause for concern. MRI of cervical spine came back normal (no pinched nerve, so no explanation for my symptoms).
Over the last couple weeks I feel as though my right arm and leg get worse daily, they both still function fine but my grasp in my right seems to be weaker now than my left and when I try to grasp hard I feel like different muscles are doing the job to make up for weak ones. The muscle between my right thumb and pointer now appears to be sunken in compared to my left and my right calf is visibly smaller than my left especially when I flex it. My right side also fatigues much faster (ex. If I wash my hair my right arm is burning a couple scrubs in).
My neuro acknowledged that the muscle I believe are atrophied are smaller than my left but he seems to brush it off (kind of in a how do you know they weren’t always like that way). My calves and thighs feel very tight; especially my right and I have had some foot cramps as well. I realize I sound crazy, I’m well aware of that. My wedding is in 3 months and the thought of missing out on all the things myself and my wonderful fiancé have planned for our life together is enough to drive me insane.
I’m frustrated and tired of feeling alone with my symptoms because everyone around me seems to act like they think it’s just in my head. I asked the neuro to refer me to an ALS specialist which he feels is not necessary but said he would if I insisted. I’ve read posts on here of a young woman having a normal EMG and then being diagnosed not too long after, meanwhile mine wasn’t completely normal to begin with. I can still function through work as a nurse and bartended yesterday for 8 hours but after making a few drinks my right arm and leg felt like jello. I do still have some parathesias in these limbs at times and my muscles seem to be sore more often than not.
Attached are some pictures of what I believe is atrophy.
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