barbadosslim93
New member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2013
- Messages
- 6
- Reason
- PALS
- Country
- US
- State
- Michigan
- City
- Midland
Hi everybody, I wanted to take the time to introduce myself to you because I am being personally affected by this PLS stuff. I figured I would tell you a little about my backstory and let you know where I am coming from with all of this. I hope in the future to get to know all of you and maybe find some new information on this disease.
I am a 28 year old guy from Michigan who has been having back pain for about a year and a half. Recently it started getting worse, and I began having some issues with balance and other motor skills.
As an example, I have fallen twice in my driveway this past winter when it wasn't icy out, I stumble and trip up and down the stairs, I will be walking and lose my balance and fall into things like the wall or fridge, and just overall have a clumsy feeling with my legs. I often times get a weak feeling in my legs that cause me to go down a tad before I recover.
I have also been dropping things an awful lot. My keys and dishes are my most frequent victims, but I often times have issues with other stuff as well.
I ended up being referred to a neurologist who gave me a series of MRIs (brain and neck, with and without contrast), and ran me through the nerve conduction test as well as the standard hit you with the hammer reflex deal.
I went for my follow up visit this week and he said he believes I may have PLS. My reflexes are what he calls VERY brisk, my MRIs don't show much of anything, and my balance and speed of some motor function tests are sub par to what he is expecting.
He is sending me down to U of M in Ann Arbor, Michigan to be seen by another doctor, but he says he has only seen 2 other cases of PLS since he began practicing. I am led to believe this is quite rare.
This is where I am at right now: I don't know too much about PLS because there isn't really a lot of information about it. I want to get to know you guys and see if maybe our experiences mash up.
Is it true that PLS is diagnosed by a process of elimination? If so, does that mean that if they can't find anything else that I will be officially diagnosed with it? I hear it can take a long time to be diagnosed, and I am really in the dark here.
What am I looking at in terms of life with this thing? Its a lot for me to take in, and I am really just looking for some information.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my novel! Sorry that it is so long.
I look forward to getting to know all of you.
I am a 28 year old guy from Michigan who has been having back pain for about a year and a half. Recently it started getting worse, and I began having some issues with balance and other motor skills.
As an example, I have fallen twice in my driveway this past winter when it wasn't icy out, I stumble and trip up and down the stairs, I will be walking and lose my balance and fall into things like the wall or fridge, and just overall have a clumsy feeling with my legs. I often times get a weak feeling in my legs that cause me to go down a tad before I recover.
I have also been dropping things an awful lot. My keys and dishes are my most frequent victims, but I often times have issues with other stuff as well.
I ended up being referred to a neurologist who gave me a series of MRIs (brain and neck, with and without contrast), and ran me through the nerve conduction test as well as the standard hit you with the hammer reflex deal.
I went for my follow up visit this week and he said he believes I may have PLS. My reflexes are what he calls VERY brisk, my MRIs don't show much of anything, and my balance and speed of some motor function tests are sub par to what he is expecting.
He is sending me down to U of M in Ann Arbor, Michigan to be seen by another doctor, but he says he has only seen 2 other cases of PLS since he began practicing. I am led to believe this is quite rare.
This is where I am at right now: I don't know too much about PLS because there isn't really a lot of information about it. I want to get to know you guys and see if maybe our experiences mash up.
Is it true that PLS is diagnosed by a process of elimination? If so, does that mean that if they can't find anything else that I will be officially diagnosed with it? I hear it can take a long time to be diagnosed, and I am really in the dark here.
What am I looking at in terms of life with this thing? Its a lot for me to take in, and I am really just looking for some information.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my novel! Sorry that it is so long.
I look forward to getting to know all of you.