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Jenny1988

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Hello,

I am a 26 year old female.
Right now I feel as thought I am experiencing either severe hypochondriac symptoms or a reality check. I need advice.

A month ago I went to a neurologist because I had been experiencing arm numbness and shoulder pain. They did a Nerve Conduction Study and an EMG. The nerve conduction study was normal but the EMG was not. They didn't tell me anything but sent me to have a cervical MRI because they suspected a herniated disc. Once the MRI came back normal, they attributed the symptoms to muscle spams.

In the past few days I have noticed that I've started twitching more than ever. They're little twitches but most of the times they're in the feet, other times in my calves, they're in my fingers and I noticed it once in my stomach. They're mostly in my legs though. Not jerking but twitches. I was just reading about ALS online and the symptoms such as a strong gag reflex I have. I was at my ENT doctor last week and he said I have strong gag reflexes when he inserted a cutip inside my throat to get a culture.

Am I freaking out for nothing or can it be ALS? I mean, why else would an EMG come out abnormal if it was not due to any spine issues? Why else would I be twiching so much? Does ALS hurt the muscles when they're going into atrophy? When I went to my new neurologist this past week she said there is weakness in the arm that the EMG came out abnormal. She wants to see the results.

I am severely anxious and although I know you guys cannot diagnose me, I would like some feedback as to what can be going on with me. Thank you.
 
Your initial symptoms that sent you to neurologist, numbness and pain, are sensory and would seem to point away from ALS which is a motor disease. Hope this helps.
Vincent
 
You need to find out in what way the EMG was abnormal. There are specific things on an EMG that would point towards or away from ALS. Since it was not mentioned as something to worry about likely it did not show ALS. Your neurologist will tell you more when they get the report. Strong gag reflex is very common. You are not complaining of bulbar symptoms it is completely irrelevant. The chances of you getting ALS are infintesimal at your age if you are not a known FALS family. Have you lost multiple relatives including a parent to ALS? Read the sticky, wait for the neuro to do their job but your symptoms and age make ALS highly highly unlikely
 
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Ok, so numbness is associated with sensory, which does not correlate with als? I'm sorry I'm just trying to learn about this.

Nikki, I have not had anyone in my family, that I know of, that has had ALS. The thing about odds is that I was recently diagnosed with Central Serous Retinopathy which is also rare in young woman. So it looks like I'm not against the odds which is why I worry.

I know many people are going through a lot and I haven't even been diagnosed and I'm complaining, and I'm sorry. I am just so concerned as to why the doctor didn't tell me why my muscle was getting less electrical signal with the mri being fine. ��
 
Jenny, let's take your post from the bottom up... it may help you understand.

I am severely anxious and although I know you guys cannot diagnose me, I would like some feedback as to what can be going on with me. Thank you

(That would be a diagnosis)

Am I freaking out for nothing or can it be ALS? I mean, why else would an EMG come out abnormal if it was not due to any spine issues? Why else would I be twitching so much? Does ALS hurt the muscles when they're going into atrophy? When I went to my new neurologist this past week she said there is weakness in the arm that the EMG came out abnormal. She wants to see the results.

(You had the EMG a month ago… she didn’t have the results?)

In the past few days I have noticed that I've started twitching more than ever. They're little twitches but most of the times they're in the feet, other times in my calves, they're in my fingers and I noticed it once in my stomach. They're mostly in my legs though. Not jerking but twitches. I was just reading about ALS online and the symptoms such as a strong gag reflex I have. I was at my ENT doctor last week and he said I have strong gag reflexes when he inserted a cutip inside my throat to get a culture.

(Everybody has a strong gag reflex to having a cotton swab stuck in their throat.)

A month ago I went to a neurologist because I had been experiencing arm numbness and shoulder pain. They did a Nerve Conduction Study and an EMG. The nerve conduction study was normal but the EMG was not. They didn't tell me anything but sent me to have a cervical MRI because they suspected a herniated disc. Once the MRI came back normal, they attributed the symptoms to muscle spasms.

(Which symptoms…the twitches or the numbness and pain?)

I am a 26 year old female.
Right now I feel as though I am experiencing either severe hypochondriac symptoms or a reality check. I need advice.

(Two good questions to ask the Neuro at your next appointment.)


The Central Serous Retinopathy has nothing to do with ALS. Be patient until your next neuro appointment and trust what he/she tells you.
 
hello,

I actually got my EMG results today although, I do not know what exactly does it mean. This is what was written:

"Needle evaluation of the Left Cerv Para and the Left triceps showed increased insertional activity and slightly increased spontaneous activity. The Left first dorsal interosseous showed increased insertional activity and moderately increased spontaneous activity. All remaining muscles showed no evidence of electrical instability."

I cannot wait until my appointment next month to see the neuro because seriously, I am finding every single symptom in the book to think I definitely have als. Now I mysteriously am paying close attention to my swallowing and the twitches which I cannot see but definitely feel. I also noticed that my skin is extremely dry which I've read some people also have with als.

:cry::cry:
 
> I am finding every single symptom in the book to think I definitely have als.
Really? You've mentioned twitches and gag reflex. Both easily explained by myriad other conditions.
Two symptoms is far from 'every'.

Your emg does not seem to have the buzz words associated with als.

And finally - it's winter. Lots of folks have dry skin.

Quit obsessing, you have no reason.
 
If you're convincing yourself that you have ALS with an abnormal EMG which may just indicate a pinched nerve to myopathies... I don't think anybody here could change your mind. Maybe one of our very knowledgeable members can further note concerning your EMG.
But... at your next neuro appointment be sure and tell him/her you're nearly convinced you have ALS. See how that goes.
 
Jenny,
Ask your neuro to walk through the full rpt w/ you. But nothing in it says "ALS," nor do your symptoms. You might try therapeutic massage with an MT who focuses on neurosensory cases -- sometimes a nerve is just a little wonky, not an MRI finding.

Meanwhile, don't freak out. As it happens, CSR is more often associated with hypochondria and similar disorders than people w/o this disorder. If you've read the stickies, you know that ALS is a disease of lost function, and you don't have any such losses. If you seek out those who do, such as at a nursing home, you will appreciate the difference.
 
I had numbness in my R leg some years ago, and twice it 'disappeared' & now it is my weaker leg. I also had very painful calves for about a week. I had just one 'twitch' location in the R inner surface side of my R knee. I've been living with ALS for 8 years.

Unless they (and you) are firmly convinced it is ALS, I would find a good Chiropractor who can address your arm numbness and shoulder pain.
 
Are you saying the numbness had anything to do with ALS? If it did not Can't see why it was relevant to say that here. I had bad unexplained pain in what is now my weak leg for a few days in ninth grade. I Don't think it has anything to do with what is happening to me now. Coincidences happen.
 
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I'm sorry if I offended those who have already received a diagnosis, it was not my intention. I'm not just talking about the EMG and the fact that it showed positive sharp waves. I'm concerned because the cervical mri that I had done was completely clean which makes me worry. If a clean Mri did not show why my left arm muscle was not receiving electrical signals and now a month later I'm experiencing twitching, I wanted to know if someone else had gone through this and ended up having another type of diagnosis, not necessarily als.

I do understand that I have bad anxiety. The CSR has nothing to do with als and I was not trying to make it seem like it. Is just that most of the advice I receive is that als is very rare which then my response to that is that CSR is also rare in a hispanic, young woman.

My neuro and I will definitely have a conversation which I will explain to her why I feel the way I feel. Hopefully she can explain to me why my left arm is showing denervation.

Thanks for your feedback.
 
My emg showed chronic denervation in areas that aren't affected with my cervical spine issues. I have spinal stenosis at c4-5 but emg showed issues at c6,7,8. No imaging explains it. Still a mystery to me but keep in mind there are plenty of things left that can cause twitching....vitamin deficiency, thyroid, etc. if you're cncerned, Id advise seeing a specialist in als like most here would suggest...that way your fears will be at rest for good
 
Place a call to the neurologist office or your primary physician and direct your questions directly to them. Even if you can't get in to your neuroligist until you next appointment they should have a nurse or someone on duty that can answer your questions. I know myself that I can't read the results of a MRI or a EMG. I have no clue what is going on with you. But, when you mention having bad anxiety it makes me definitely think that ALS isn't in the picture. You truly need to help yourself by taking your questions elsewhere at least at this point or tell after your next visit with your neuro. I don't think at this point you are going to believe any of us. You have it in your head that you have ALS. You said you tend to be a hypochondriac. There is your answer right there. It's not ALS! Take care, Kim
 
Thank you all for your feedback.

I made an appointment to the neuro for this next Tuesday because I can't shake this feeling anymore. I do have anxiety issues which I need to address also. I can't even imagine what most of you are going through and still have time to answer 'anxiety' posts to other. After my appointment I will let you know what was said to me.

Once again, thanks.
 
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