dnkwillard
New member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2007
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- illinois
- City
- bloomington
I could use some advice on how to help my wife cope with fear of having ALS. Here is a brief recap of where we are:
My wife (36, mother of three) has had various symproms since May of 2004. Symptoms include twitching, muscle cramps, perceived weakness (muscles feel tired), jaw pain and others. She has seen a couple of different neoros and had 2 emg's (the most recent was Oct. 2006), several MRI's, nerve conduction tests and a couple of other tests that I can't remember. She believes her hands have atrophied over the last couple of years. Other than brisk reflexes, all tests and exams have been normal. Her neuros do not think she has ALS.
One recent symptom has her concerned about ALS again. She has regular cramps in one of her legs and in one of her hands/arms. In her leg, her calf muscle tightens and her foot points with her big toe curling up and the four others curl down. She can feel when the cramp is coming on. In her arm, her forearm tightens and her pinky and ring finger curl in to the palm. With both of these cramps she is able to stop them by opening her hand and/or lifting her toes/foot. Babinski is negative.
She has not been to her doctor since the last emg and refuses to go because of her fear of what she might hear. I am thinking she might have BFS, but the neoros around here haven't said much about that. What can I tell her to help her deal with the fear?
Thanks in advance for any advice. Obvioulsy, this has been stressful on our marriage in part because I don't know how to react to what she is dealing with.
My wife (36, mother of three) has had various symproms since May of 2004. Symptoms include twitching, muscle cramps, perceived weakness (muscles feel tired), jaw pain and others. She has seen a couple of different neoros and had 2 emg's (the most recent was Oct. 2006), several MRI's, nerve conduction tests and a couple of other tests that I can't remember. She believes her hands have atrophied over the last couple of years. Other than brisk reflexes, all tests and exams have been normal. Her neuros do not think she has ALS.
One recent symptom has her concerned about ALS again. She has regular cramps in one of her legs and in one of her hands/arms. In her leg, her calf muscle tightens and her foot points with her big toe curling up and the four others curl down. She can feel when the cramp is coming on. In her arm, her forearm tightens and her pinky and ring finger curl in to the palm. With both of these cramps she is able to stop them by opening her hand and/or lifting her toes/foot. Babinski is negative.
She has not been to her doctor since the last emg and refuses to go because of her fear of what she might hear. I am thinking she might have BFS, but the neoros around here haven't said much about that. What can I tell her to help her deal with the fear?
Thanks in advance for any advice. Obvioulsy, this has been stressful on our marriage in part because I don't know how to react to what she is dealing with.