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TiggerLenses

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I'm a 25 year old male from NY. About 8 months ago I noticed fasciculations in my left arm, concentrated at the bicep, elbow, forearm...now, I'm noticing a weakness of the arm, shoulder + hand - the arm isn't able to do as much as the right arm (I'm also left handed for clarification) - it just naturally feels lame (is that the word?) - it's tight, not as strong, not as flexible.

so anyway, I felt a real weakness in the hand (the fingers) and the wrist - so I decided to check something: I wrapped my fingers (my middle finger + thumb) around the wrist of my stronger right hand to see how far they would wrap - well, my fingers are JUST able to come together (the tips of the fingers can touch) - now the left... they not only come together with so much more ease, they can overlap - the difference is ridiculous - there's even space underneath the fingers, I can literally lift them up! so my weak wrist is definitely smaller than the other...

the flexibility of the fingers compared is hilarious - the one hand feels tight and lame - the other is like it's always been, I don't even have to think about it - even typing, my left fingers are harder to do it, it's like the natural effort is gone, I'm forced to try harder -
my strength in that hand is so off compared - I've tried squeezing things with both hands and comparing and I have to give out easily with my left...

the fascic's come and go - some days not really here unless I contract my arm too much, then they'll start...

does this sound like a bad thing?
 
also when I just look at my hands, my left is bonier...

this is shocking to me... all in a little less than a year?
 
sorry, but I also have to state that when sticking my hands out, it's so much more difficult to keep my left hand fingers straight. The muscles feel so wound and stiff? It's a feeling I've never experienced! I also noticed this way back almost 6 months ago, now it's so much worse. I thought that maybe this would go away, but it's only progressing.
I hope to God I don't have ALS.
To those who do, wow, my sympathies! You're stronger than I'll ever be. (not to sound insulting. I'm being sincere).
 
TL, have you been to your doctor? There are many things that can cause what you are describing, many of us here have researched that. But we can't make a diagnosis, qualified neurologists have to do that, and sometimes it takes time.

If you have not already, start with your family physician and talk to him/her about a referral to a good neurologist and take it from there.

Sincere best wishes.
 
Yeah, I've booked an appointment with my doc.
I know it might seem irrational yet, but I really think I have ALS. I really do. Just that feeling, right.
 
TiggerLenses,

There are a lot of bridges that have to be crossed and possibilities that have to be eliminated before a person gets a diagnosed of ALS. I wish you had read about neuropathy or pinched nerves first so you had a gut feeling you had that instead. I'm not teasing you, you're just starting down a dark road of stress and worry you don't need to be on.

I have all the symptoms you describe and quite a few more, and my local neuro and a neuromuscular disease specialist both say its not ALS based on testing and clinical examination. That's the important part to remember, neither you, nor anyone online can diagnose you.

Follow ktmj's advice. Get to your doctor, get to a neuro, and in the meantime try to relax.

Take care,

Robert
 
Oh, it's just that I already had an MRI done not even half a year ago. I even had a full blood screen, urinalysis, etc. (for something else... but it was still done).

So...

Worried?

But if I were feeling weakness, seeing atrophy, wouldn't the fasciculations be going constant all the time - I mean I really only get the fascic's (or feel them anyway...), when I contract my arm or I'm overextending my arm or overusing it or whatever. I mean, sometimes they just come sporadically (even on the left leg too).
Does ALS work from one upper limb to the next then work its way down to your legs or can it go from one arm to a leg back to an arm or what? Because I'm not getting fascic's on my right arm, but I am on my left leg every now and then...

please, any advice at all. I'm going thru a really horrible personal problem right now too, and the extra stress of this is going to put me on the 3rd Floor.
 
and to clarify*
I completely understand not to self-diagnose - to just go see a doctor, trust his/her opinion - but right now I'm looking for those who are currently (and so unfortuantely) experiecing this right now - and can give me insight and compare to what I'm experiencing. I hope this doesn't seem insensitive, but I'd love to know.

Thanks.
 
No that's perfectly fine. I hope you can gain some insight. Just keep this in mind. Most of the regular posters on this portion of the forum aren't diagnosed with ALS.

Ate mais,

Robert
 
Well I was looking for advice from the people who actually are - again, I hope that doesn't seem insensitive.

Thanks, Robert.
 
BethU?

Everytime I read your posts, I feel you are very truthful and knowledgable...

If you could give me insight? please and thank you so, so much.
 
Sorry been a busy couple of days. Clinic yesterday. Anyway, I don't think you have ALS. We're not docs but ALS facis's usually happen all the time after they start. Your age is against it but it sometimes hits the young. The only rational thing to do is see a doctor. You'll drive yourself crazy and after 10 posts in 1 day that's bordering on obsession.

AL.
 
Thanks, Al!
Ya, I'm booking an appt with the doc... I'm going to stress the arm/hand (and even leg) weakness I've been feeling. Have him thoroughly check me out with any and all clinical tests that he can possibly make in his position...because I'm on the brink of insanity here.
Ya it's weird: sometimes these fascic's are on that pesky "non-stop barrage" status, other times it's only when the muscle is isolated-and-used, extended, contracted (which has been the pattern as of late). Also sometimes I get this odd pattern of a spasm in my ankle, then one in my elbow, then one in my calf - short, wee bursts.
My left leg is also feeling weak. My balance is slightly off and the leg strains and teeters and feels like it can't withstand it's own balance for nearly as long as my other leg, when I isolate it.


Anyway. If anyone else wants to chime it, I'd love it. I'm hopeful that this is something way less sinister than MND. If it does come down to that, well that's another road to travel... but right now, it's all up in the air - probably the scariest part?

Love ya guys (I've been lurking longer than you know!).
 
Hi Tigger,

There are lots of causes for what you describe. I know the weakness and loss of flexibility have to be a constant reminder that something is not right. I'm wondering if you've got something going on with a disc in your back/neck (?) also, some on here have had similar symptoms to what you are describing, and it has turned out that they have ulnar nerve entrapment. This would not influence your leg strength though, whereas a disk problem in your back would.You may not be able to remember a specific time that you had an injury, but it still would be a likely and logical explanation.

The twitches could be from a nerve irritation. I did notice that you've not stated that the twitching is worse right now at the time when you have so much other emotional stress going on due to personal matters, so, that too points to skeletal or muscular injury cause, rather than the twitches stemming from anxiety.

Like everyone else on here, I'm not a doctor. I also know how frustrating and scary it can be to have something wrong and not have answers.

With the details you've given, I think you should see an orthopedic or sports medicine type doctor. Its a very logical place to start.

Please let us know what you find out from your appointment, and be prepared that it usually takes longer than one expects to get answers about virtually anything.

Good luck to you, and to your family!
 
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