Starting in May of this year, my Dad Who is 51 years old began to have numbness in his foot and was unable to flex it. He chalked it up to a pinched nerve at first. Then he started tripping, and began falling down frequently. He also began to become tired easily, not being able to perform some of him favorite tasks (like yard work). He went to the doctor, and had blood work (which came back normal), x-rays (normal too), and an mri (normal as well). His walking has become so labored that he has a foot brace being made and he must walk with a cane. Walking up stairs even exhausts him. Now in the past few weeks his one arm and hand has become weak.
He was sent to a neurologist and has lots of twitching, (the doctor even noticed some small twitches on his chest and torso which my Mom didn't even notice until he pointed it out) He said it was definitely a degenerative nerve condition of some sort.
Well, he had the emg today. (From the neorosurgeon the neurologist sent him to) They were hoping that it was a condition that was similar to ALS, but slower developing and not as bad (don't know the name, something- neuropathy). From the emg, it was clear that it cannot be that other disease, and that from the emg he thinks it's als.
The only hope is that he thinks there is a small chance it could be West Nile Virus since he has no upper motor neurons affected at this point. He is being sent to an ALS specialist next.
Does anyone have any input on what this sounds like?
My Dad has been healthy and active until now. He travels a lot out of the counrty for work, so I don't know if could have maybe picked up a foreign virus.
Also, how clear are the emg's? I live far from my family right now, and I get all of the info about his condition through my mom. I think she is in denial, so I often think she may be sugar coating things. She is so full of hope still, but I want to be realistic.
Sorry this is so long, and thank you so much for any input.
He was sent to a neurologist and has lots of twitching, (the doctor even noticed some small twitches on his chest and torso which my Mom didn't even notice until he pointed it out) He said it was definitely a degenerative nerve condition of some sort.
Well, he had the emg today. (From the neorosurgeon the neurologist sent him to) They were hoping that it was a condition that was similar to ALS, but slower developing and not as bad (don't know the name, something- neuropathy). From the emg, it was clear that it cannot be that other disease, and that from the emg he thinks it's als.
The only hope is that he thinks there is a small chance it could be West Nile Virus since he has no upper motor neurons affected at this point. He is being sent to an ALS specialist next.
Does anyone have any input on what this sounds like?
My Dad has been healthy and active until now. He travels a lot out of the counrty for work, so I don't know if could have maybe picked up a foreign virus.
Also, how clear are the emg's? I live far from my family right now, and I get all of the info about his condition through my mom. I think she is in denial, so I often think she may be sugar coating things. She is so full of hope still, but I want to be realistic.
Sorry this is so long, and thank you so much for any input.