tmasters
Senior member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2008
- Messages
- 532
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 08/2008
- Country
- US
- State
- California
- City
- Anaheim
Hi Everyone,
I'm a 51 year old male undergoing DX for ALS. Currently I'm undergoing a series of IVIg infusions for a differential DX of MMN, but so far this isn't showing any improvement.
I have only LMN signs presently: Muscle weakness started in the right calf a year ago, has progressed to both legs, thighs and calves, and now more recently in the right arm. I also have the fascics and cramping everywhere below my shoulders but most often in the legs.
So far I've had an ultrasound to check my leg circulation, an extensive blood workup, and 2 EMGs: one by my neurologist and one by Dr. Graves @ UCLA.
I've never had an MRI, a muscle biopsy, or a lumbar puncture. I've asked my doctors about whether these should be done but given a "no reason to do that" answer twice. It seems odd to me, because it seems like most of you with a confirmed DX have had most of this done. I'm seeing my neuro again on July 1 and want to prompt him again to more aggressively diagnose me if it's warranted. And I want to be informed before I talk to him.
So my question is:
What specific things can be ruled out by each of these 3 procedures?
- MRI
- Muscle Biopsy
- Lumbar Puncture
BTW: for some reason, a search on "MRI" in this forum produces no hits! Software bug?
Thanks,
Tom
I'm a 51 year old male undergoing DX for ALS. Currently I'm undergoing a series of IVIg infusions for a differential DX of MMN, but so far this isn't showing any improvement.
I have only LMN signs presently: Muscle weakness started in the right calf a year ago, has progressed to both legs, thighs and calves, and now more recently in the right arm. I also have the fascics and cramping everywhere below my shoulders but most often in the legs.
So far I've had an ultrasound to check my leg circulation, an extensive blood workup, and 2 EMGs: one by my neurologist and one by Dr. Graves @ UCLA.
I've never had an MRI, a muscle biopsy, or a lumbar puncture. I've asked my doctors about whether these should be done but given a "no reason to do that" answer twice. It seems odd to me, because it seems like most of you with a confirmed DX have had most of this done. I'm seeing my neuro again on July 1 and want to prompt him again to more aggressively diagnose me if it's warranted. And I want to be informed before I talk to him.
So my question is:
What specific things can be ruled out by each of these 3 procedures?
- MRI
- Muscle Biopsy
- Lumbar Puncture
BTW: for some reason, a search on "MRI" in this forum produces no hits! Software bug?
Thanks,
Tom