Lbrooks51115
New member
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2019
- Messages
- 7
- Reason
- Other
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- GA
- City
- Johns Creek
Good Evening. I am a 53 year old man and I will be the first to admit I have an unhealthy habit of surfing the internet for symptoms when I have symptoms that I have not experienced before. I apologize for the length in advance but would really appreciate your feedback.
Three weeks ago while at work I noticed some very very odd "vibrations" coming from pocket like my cell phone was in there, but there was no cell phone. Very strange..The PCP theorized that was coming from a nerve in my back but I will say it took place a few days before the back went out. It happened very sporadically for 3-4 days and than my lower back goes out. But this was different. I have had spasmodic back issue in the past and it comes and goes in a few days-usually spasms. This was different.It was extreme painful back stiffness that would get much worse if I had been sitting down for a while and than stood up. In the past when I had spasms it hurt if I turned over in bed but this was very different and would bother me after sitting and trying to stand.
In addition to the lower back going out, my lower abdomen muscles at the same time became extremely tight-like really tight. This was not anything I had ever experienced. Of course once I started googling it was off to the races. I had those fasciculations before my back went out, found some articles on how lower back pain in some instances has been a precursor to ALS, and you combine it with the lower chest tightness (Spasticity?) and of course I am wreck.
I went to my PCP and they prescribed some predisone for the back and took an xRAY. Nothing spectacular other than I have an alignment issue with my spine from years of bad posture and desk work. When I raised the issue of ALS they said doubtful but I made an appointment with the neurologist. He told me there is no way you have ALS after doing literally a 5 minute exam but you may have a pinched nerve but he said if you would like a nerve conduction and an EMG I would be happy to do that and it could clear you of ALS and tell us if you have a pinched nerve. I did the the nerve study and EMG on the right and left legs and it was not 100% clean. They did find abnormalities in the nerves/muscles that are connected to the L5 Nerve Lumbar spine. Both the Doctor who administered the EMG and my neurologist stated that this is likely nothing to worry about because the abnormalities are confined to a pattern that points to the Lumbar Spine and a pinched nerve which is what triggered the whole episode. The muscles and nerves not attached to the L5 were normal (but they only tested those two areas) My neurologist was even more confident saying I should feel good about the result. "I came with questions and he has given me answers"
Over the last 2 weeks my back is still stiff but has improved compared to where it was and the tightness in my lower abdomen is still there but not nearly as strong. The fasciculations disappeared as soon as I started taking the steroids (I get the occasional one on the calf which is normal for me). I have noticed my legs have felt weak the last couple of days which has concerned me but as the moderators have said, that's a felling not a clinical presentation (and who knows what I have been reading gets into my mind). I am going to have an MRI to validate the pinched nerve and than do some PT but I guess I am wondering if I should be satisfied with the explanation on the abnormal EMG. Even the DR who administered the EMG said while high probability is its related to the back its not impossible that it is early ALS onset-not likely. I am sad because I was hoping I would get a definitive answer. I am literally at mean age of ALS diagnosis. Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Three weeks ago while at work I noticed some very very odd "vibrations" coming from pocket like my cell phone was in there, but there was no cell phone. Very strange..The PCP theorized that was coming from a nerve in my back but I will say it took place a few days before the back went out. It happened very sporadically for 3-4 days and than my lower back goes out. But this was different. I have had spasmodic back issue in the past and it comes and goes in a few days-usually spasms. This was different.It was extreme painful back stiffness that would get much worse if I had been sitting down for a while and than stood up. In the past when I had spasms it hurt if I turned over in bed but this was very different and would bother me after sitting and trying to stand.
In addition to the lower back going out, my lower abdomen muscles at the same time became extremely tight-like really tight. This was not anything I had ever experienced. Of course once I started googling it was off to the races. I had those fasciculations before my back went out, found some articles on how lower back pain in some instances has been a precursor to ALS, and you combine it with the lower chest tightness (Spasticity?) and of course I am wreck.
I went to my PCP and they prescribed some predisone for the back and took an xRAY. Nothing spectacular other than I have an alignment issue with my spine from years of bad posture and desk work. When I raised the issue of ALS they said doubtful but I made an appointment with the neurologist. He told me there is no way you have ALS after doing literally a 5 minute exam but you may have a pinched nerve but he said if you would like a nerve conduction and an EMG I would be happy to do that and it could clear you of ALS and tell us if you have a pinched nerve. I did the the nerve study and EMG on the right and left legs and it was not 100% clean. They did find abnormalities in the nerves/muscles that are connected to the L5 Nerve Lumbar spine. Both the Doctor who administered the EMG and my neurologist stated that this is likely nothing to worry about because the abnormalities are confined to a pattern that points to the Lumbar Spine and a pinched nerve which is what triggered the whole episode. The muscles and nerves not attached to the L5 were normal (but they only tested those two areas) My neurologist was even more confident saying I should feel good about the result. "I came with questions and he has given me answers"
Over the last 2 weeks my back is still stiff but has improved compared to where it was and the tightness in my lower abdomen is still there but not nearly as strong. The fasciculations disappeared as soon as I started taking the steroids (I get the occasional one on the calf which is normal for me). I have noticed my legs have felt weak the last couple of days which has concerned me but as the moderators have said, that's a felling not a clinical presentation (and who knows what I have been reading gets into my mind). I am going to have an MRI to validate the pinched nerve and than do some PT but I guess I am wondering if I should be satisfied with the explanation on the abnormal EMG. Even the DR who administered the EMG said while high probability is its related to the back its not impossible that it is early ALS onset-not likely. I am sad because I was hoping I would get a definitive answer. I am literally at mean age of ALS diagnosis. Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
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