MangiPNG
Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2009
- Messages
- 11
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- OR
- City
- Portland
hey everyone,
i'm sure those of you who have ALS get this question all the time but i've been dealing with some freaky neurological symptoms that resemble ALS. I am a 35 yr old male. Here's the break down...
In Dec 08, I went on my nightly walk with my wife and not more than one minute out my calf cramped up. We immediately returned home and when I sat down I noticed fasciculation developing. Within less than 24 hours I had diffuse fasciculations everywhere. The cramping mellowed and didn't restrict me from walking. I saw my doctor the week before for lower back problems I've been dealing with for two years now. He issued an x-ray in the lumbar area that returned normal. After the fasciculations developed my dr issued an MRI of the lumbar area, which again returned normal. This is where it gets interesting...
The night before Christmas I was packing for a trip to visit family and my foot locked up; keep in mind the diffuse fasciculations were still present. I immediately called my doctor who told me to go to the ER b/c I probably had a slipped disk. While on the way to the ER my arm on the same side as the foot started hurting (dual pain). The ER doctor didn't know what was wrong so he sent me home with steroids and percocet.
We had to catch a cab at 4am to the airport, and when i jumped into the cab I began feeling ill, confused, and started to loose feeling in my hands and feet (bi-lateral). I called me doctor again and he said go back to the ER, something is not right. Again, the ER doctor said he couldn't identify what I was dealing with but that it wasn't MS or ALS given the waxing and waning nature of things. Over the next few days I experienced the worst burning pain in the spinal column, arm, groin, legs, etc, and it was accompanied by extreme fatigue. The only thing that helped was the percocet.
I eventually made my way to the neuro's office. At that time he ordered and EMG, NCS, a series of blood work, and an MRI of my brain and C-spine. Everything has returned completely NORMAL, albeit I'm still waiting on more blood work results. I’m getting tested for Lyme disease and other less common things.
The pain, cramping (which was mostly in my foot) and spasms (again, in foot) are more or less gone but I'm still dealing with diffuse fasciculations with much less intensity and frequency than when they first started. All my neuro exams have been normal i.e., reflexes, walking on toes, etc. I have no loss of coordination, muscle strength, balance, etc.
I know people say ALS doesn't exhibit "pain" but from reading other posting on the forum, that's obviously not true. My question: does pain manifest in the early symptoms of ALS? Does my situation sound anything like ALS? Yes, I have read a lot about it ALS and it's typical manifestations, but because I am still dealing with residual spasms, pain and fasciculations, I'm concerned. My neuro said, "you don't see diffuse fasciculations in MS, but you do with ALS." I should have asked him if he was implying that I may have ALS, or if he was just making a point.
Your input and analysis of my condition is appreciated. I have found that people with neurological conditions are generally more helpful and knowledgeable than neurologists, so I'd really appreciate your feedback.
I hope you all are in good spirit.
Best,
MangiPNG
i'm sure those of you who have ALS get this question all the time but i've been dealing with some freaky neurological symptoms that resemble ALS. I am a 35 yr old male. Here's the break down...
In Dec 08, I went on my nightly walk with my wife and not more than one minute out my calf cramped up. We immediately returned home and when I sat down I noticed fasciculation developing. Within less than 24 hours I had diffuse fasciculations everywhere. The cramping mellowed and didn't restrict me from walking. I saw my doctor the week before for lower back problems I've been dealing with for two years now. He issued an x-ray in the lumbar area that returned normal. After the fasciculations developed my dr issued an MRI of the lumbar area, which again returned normal. This is where it gets interesting...
The night before Christmas I was packing for a trip to visit family and my foot locked up; keep in mind the diffuse fasciculations were still present. I immediately called my doctor who told me to go to the ER b/c I probably had a slipped disk. While on the way to the ER my arm on the same side as the foot started hurting (dual pain). The ER doctor didn't know what was wrong so he sent me home with steroids and percocet.
We had to catch a cab at 4am to the airport, and when i jumped into the cab I began feeling ill, confused, and started to loose feeling in my hands and feet (bi-lateral). I called me doctor again and he said go back to the ER, something is not right. Again, the ER doctor said he couldn't identify what I was dealing with but that it wasn't MS or ALS given the waxing and waning nature of things. Over the next few days I experienced the worst burning pain in the spinal column, arm, groin, legs, etc, and it was accompanied by extreme fatigue. The only thing that helped was the percocet.
I eventually made my way to the neuro's office. At that time he ordered and EMG, NCS, a series of blood work, and an MRI of my brain and C-spine. Everything has returned completely NORMAL, albeit I'm still waiting on more blood work results. I’m getting tested for Lyme disease and other less common things.
The pain, cramping (which was mostly in my foot) and spasms (again, in foot) are more or less gone but I'm still dealing with diffuse fasciculations with much less intensity and frequency than when they first started. All my neuro exams have been normal i.e., reflexes, walking on toes, etc. I have no loss of coordination, muscle strength, balance, etc.
I know people say ALS doesn't exhibit "pain" but from reading other posting on the forum, that's obviously not true. My question: does pain manifest in the early symptoms of ALS? Does my situation sound anything like ALS? Yes, I have read a lot about it ALS and it's typical manifestations, but because I am still dealing with residual spasms, pain and fasciculations, I'm concerned. My neuro said, "you don't see diffuse fasciculations in MS, but you do with ALS." I should have asked him if he was implying that I may have ALS, or if he was just making a point.
Your input and analysis of my condition is appreciated. I have found that people with neurological conditions are generally more helpful and knowledgeable than neurologists, so I'd really appreciate your feedback.
I hope you all are in good spirit.
Best,
MangiPNG