abal115
New member
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2022
- Messages
- 6
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- VA
Hi everyone. I'm a white 24M. No history of ALS in my family. A few weeks ago I started noticing what seemed to be symptoms of ALS. I actually had a brain MRI done for unrelated symptoms that showed up normal. Then a day or two later I first noticed it was getting tough to keep hold my hands up to the touchscreen computers at Lowe's where I work, and I felt what seemed more like tingling in my shoulders. In the next few days I noticed my movements becoming very rigid like when sitting, bending, leaning, etc. Just not smooth at all. And just two days after that it seemed like my leg muscles had shrunken significantly very suddenly. Like my pants that usually fit quite tight looked a bit baggier on me. That's right around when I started noticing leg twitching as well and a few upper body twitches. I know they say ALS usually starts in one part of the body or one limb so seems weird that this would be all over. I went on a weekend trip in those same few days and walking suddenly seemed a bit tougher. Then after that trip it seemed like my arms, wrists, and neck were suddenly smaller as well.
A little over a week after this sudden onset of symptoms I went to my neurologist who set up an EMG and nerve conduction test for me. The doctor who conducted it has over 20 years of experience and is highly regarded so I assume he's seen ALS to have diagnosed it before. He did it on my right arm and right leg. I wasn't twitching nearly as much during it as I am now. But he had me do basic movements while the needle was stuck in different points. He said it looks normal but that he'd have my neurologist call me with official results later. They called me and said they didn't detect any neuropathy or ALS.
At this point I'm still having more frequent and visible leg twitches as well as twitches in my hands, arms, shoulders, butt, back, etc but definitely most frequent and aggressive in legs. Walking is still awkward but I wouldn't say it has necessarily worsened from a couple weeks ago. Can still run if I want to. I don't think I've atrophied further but I'm afraid to measure and find out that I actually have. But most worrisome to me is my hands feeling weaker. They haven't really felt like my own hands. I've dropped a few things but not like constantly and repeatedly, as I can still turn door knobs, button my pants, carried in several six packs of sodas with one hand, etc. But seems like smaller things are tougher to grip like my fingers were shaking when I grabbed some french fries (does ALS cause shakiness?) But I can still do that, pick up full bottles, cans, coffee mugs, etc. I hope it stays that way. Obviously I'm still very scared but should I really be worrying if the EMG came back looking ok? This onset is strange but doesn't exactly line up with what people say ALS starts out like.
Thanks for any input you can provide!
A little over a week after this sudden onset of symptoms I went to my neurologist who set up an EMG and nerve conduction test for me. The doctor who conducted it has over 20 years of experience and is highly regarded so I assume he's seen ALS to have diagnosed it before. He did it on my right arm and right leg. I wasn't twitching nearly as much during it as I am now. But he had me do basic movements while the needle was stuck in different points. He said it looks normal but that he'd have my neurologist call me with official results later. They called me and said they didn't detect any neuropathy or ALS.
At this point I'm still having more frequent and visible leg twitches as well as twitches in my hands, arms, shoulders, butt, back, etc but definitely most frequent and aggressive in legs. Walking is still awkward but I wouldn't say it has necessarily worsened from a couple weeks ago. Can still run if I want to. I don't think I've atrophied further but I'm afraid to measure and find out that I actually have. But most worrisome to me is my hands feeling weaker. They haven't really felt like my own hands. I've dropped a few things but not like constantly and repeatedly, as I can still turn door knobs, button my pants, carried in several six packs of sodas with one hand, etc. But seems like smaller things are tougher to grip like my fingers were shaking when I grabbed some french fries (does ALS cause shakiness?) But I can still do that, pick up full bottles, cans, coffee mugs, etc. I hope it stays that way. Obviously I'm still very scared but should I really be worrying if the EMG came back looking ok? This onset is strange but doesn't exactly line up with what people say ALS starts out like.
Thanks for any input you can provide!