First Time Poster With Symptoms

[bingo29]

Hello everyone,

I've been driving myself insane the last four weeks thinking that I may have ALS.

It started with constanding twitiching in both triceps, and my left hand webbing (b/w thumb & index finger) began cramping and kind of pulling in toward my palm. So of course... i google and next thing you know I'm doing all sorts of strength tests (i.e. twisting the cap off of the white out bottle). I went to my family doc and he said he did see some atrophy (which scared me) and he referred me to a neurologist. Yesterday, my right hand started to cramp and my thumb and back of my hand began to have on and off stiffness.

My appointment isn't for two weeks so the anxiety will probably tear me apart by then, but I figured I would share my symptoms to see if anyone has experienced the same things.

Thank you for any response.

 

[Mediasmart]

Age and occupation?

 

[bingo29]

Sorry... I'm 31 and work in HR... aka.. Desk Jockey

 

[GregK]

bingo, read the **** STICKIES **** all is revealed there. 99.9% of your questions will be answered in the stickies.

Only come back here if those do not answer your questions.

 

[bingo29]

Sorry, i really thought i went through them and didn't see anything about the same hand issues. My fault.

 

[bigmark1954]

Bingo....read all of the stickies, MND is highly inconsistent as to how it manifests in each person. I had twitching and cramping in my hands and forearms early on in my progression. That in no way is a barometer in whether or not you have ALS.
If you do have any of the MND's....you have a very long journey ahead, if you are under 40 years old it is not as likely.
If you get a decent neurologist, and he screens you.....he will send to an ALS specialist, or clinic. In the mean time just try and live your life.....worry without diagnosis will only break you down emotionally as well as physically.
Bottom Line....you can't change anything so why drive yourself crazy?
In the words of our leader and mentor (Max)...It is what it is!

 

[MaxEidswick]

just programmed control-\ ...

011b011b011b0174 read the **** STICKIES **** all is revealed there. 99.9% of your questions will be answered in the stickies.

 

[MaxEidswick]

read the **** STICKIES **** all is revealed there. 99.9% of your questions will be answered in the stickies.

needed to make it cntr-shift-\

 

[Dusty7]

Not likely to be ALS at your gae, but it's possible, so you're on the right course. See a neuro and start the long process of testing.

Atrophy and problems in the hand could be due to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or a pinched nerve. Where did your doctor see atrophy? In the FDI (between the thumb and index finger on back of hand)? In On the palm side odf the thumb? In the forearm?

Try to relax in the meantime as stress just adds all kinds of mimic symptoms that make the diagnosis much harder.

 

[bingo29]

Thanks Dusty... i really didn't mean to upset anyone as I'm just super concerned and scared.

My atrophy is in my left hand, in the "web". My whole hand doesn't cramp just the webbing. If I touch my index finger to my thumb, the webbing kind of pulls in and offers resistance when i pull back. Three days ago my right hand webbing did the same thing but, I (untrained eye) do not notice any atrophy. The back of my right hand seems stiff as well, but i figured that could just be my anxiety.

I understand that noone can give a diagnosed, i was just curious if anyone noticed their hand "web" as being an issue with early symptoms as i did not notice (may have missed) the webbing on any sticky and i made not have been very clear at the beginning.

Sorry to any one I've offended.

 

[MaxEidswick]

>I understand that noone can give a diagnosed, i was just curious if anyone noticed their hand "web" as being an issue with early symptoms as i did not notice (may have missed) the webbing on any sticky and i made not have been very clear at the beginning.

these are the same symptoms I experienced between June 2011 and August 2013.

You only have 13 days to wait until your neurological exam. Stay off this forum. it is not going to help you or reduce your anxiety.

Research the neurologist to be sure they are ALS/MND knowledgeable. If not, find one that is and contact your PCP to get a referral. 90% of neurologists are not ALS knowledgeable.

Max


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Max - Friday, August 01, 2014 1:35:20 PM
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onset 9/2010, diagnosed with ALS by Stanley Appel 8/29/2013
It Is What It Is ...

.

 

[Atsugi]

I have occasional twitching in many muscles and I DO NOT have ALS. My fingers have often cramped, pulling my fingers toward my palm. It's just something that some people do while you're getting older. While I'm sure doctors have a name for it and would love to treat you forever, I hardly think it's a disease.

Bingo, It's ridiculous to think you have ALS. Many people have cramps and twitches. The fact that a teeny tiny statistically small number of them get ALS is wild bad luck, as these symptoms have nothing to do with ALS.

Paralysis is when you muscles no longer work, and your hand becomes limp and useless. A cramp is just the opposite, when your muscles tend to contract when you don't want them to. You don't have ALS.

Dr Internet and Dr Google often send people to our website for totally unrelated symptoms.

 

[texastracy]

Bingo,
Sorry that you are going through this. The waiting for dr appointments is the worst part of any medical situation. Dr. Google scraps the crap out of you because he lacks a human element - self-control. He just spits out anything that comes to mind.

If you continue to view the forum while you wait, read stickies, past posts, and different sections. The search button is great. I use it frequently when I have a question, before I post a question. It has helped a lot.

Stay strong,
Tracy