glenn gavanaugh
Active member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2009
- Messages
- 99
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- CA
- State
- ON
- City
- Suburb of Toronto
Went for my EMG yesterday... here's what happened.
the doc checked my reflexes and strength first - reflexes fine (a little brisk on the right leg, but other than that everything was fine, including Babinski) - not as strong as on my good side compared to other (she used this device that was almost like a clamp, had me squeeze it, read strength...). Fingers not as strong on this side either (when she had me hold them out as tightly as I could as she pushed them in...). Checked the size of my arms, they are about the same... but hands are a definitely different in muscle tone...index finger curl, thumb curl.
the EMG and Nerve Conduction:
she didn't find anything wrong with my arm or hand. she poked my throat with a needle and had me move my tongue around and do this and that with it - didn't find anything abnormal.
what she did find was a nerve damage and fascic's in my foot (where the weakness started about a year ago).
she said that a small possibility it could be ALS. Probably not, but she's not ruling it out. Sending me to a neuromuscular specialist...
anyway, my question is this: I started to notice fasci's in September, 8 months ago. and weakness about 4 months before that. Wouldn't I have more nerve damage by now if it was ALS? Mind you I also have noticeable weakness on my strong side - I can still use my arm, no problem - but it is weaker - but if the weakness is noted in my arm, why no fascic's or nerve damage found? Babinski is still fine? If I have MND, could this mean a slow progression?
I'll be getting an actual copy of the EMG soon. But based on what I've just outlined, could anyone help me?
Thanks so much.
the doc checked my reflexes and strength first - reflexes fine (a little brisk on the right leg, but other than that everything was fine, including Babinski) - not as strong as on my good side compared to other (she used this device that was almost like a clamp, had me squeeze it, read strength...). Fingers not as strong on this side either (when she had me hold them out as tightly as I could as she pushed them in...). Checked the size of my arms, they are about the same... but hands are a definitely different in muscle tone...index finger curl, thumb curl.
the EMG and Nerve Conduction:
she didn't find anything wrong with my arm or hand. she poked my throat with a needle and had me move my tongue around and do this and that with it - didn't find anything abnormal.
what she did find was a nerve damage and fascic's in my foot (where the weakness started about a year ago).
she said that a small possibility it could be ALS. Probably not, but she's not ruling it out. Sending me to a neuromuscular specialist...
anyway, my question is this: I started to notice fasci's in September, 8 months ago. and weakness about 4 months before that. Wouldn't I have more nerve damage by now if it was ALS? Mind you I also have noticeable weakness on my strong side - I can still use my arm, no problem - but it is weaker - but if the weakness is noted in my arm, why no fascic's or nerve damage found? Babinski is still fine? If I have MND, could this mean a slow progression?
I'll be getting an actual copy of the EMG soon. But based on what I've just outlined, could anyone help me?
Thanks so much.