davidshadwell
New member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2022
- Messages
- 9
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- CO
- City
- Colorado Springs
MY name is David I'm 34 years old. I'm wanting to know if anyone has experienced a lot of these symptoms and if they have had a problem attaining a diagnosis.
Since I was 11 I played guitar for 3 hours a day until the age of 32. My left hand became stiff, I couldn't play certain cords anymore. I had to use more strength on the strings of the guitar, so it would play a cord. I went from playing from 30 minutes,to 15 minutes, to 5 minutes. 1 year ago I was lifting weights for 6 months, I gained muscle and was able to lift 20LBS with bicep curls. Two weeks later, I could only lift 17LBS. The next week it went down to 15LBS, a week after it was 12LBS.
6 months ago, I started having muscle cramps in my left foot once a month while I was sitting down.6 months ago, I've been choking on green peas, rice, and saliva. One month ago, I've been stumbling, almost falling, especially going upstairs, which I refuse to do anymore. I cant lift my arms above my head, can't lift my left foot. One month ago, I've been dropping objects like car keys, papers, my phone, my cigarette vape, and dishes. It's happening from weakness, not tremors. lately, in the past week I have difficulty buttoning my shirt.
The doctors have found I have weakness in both of my hands. They found I have an abnormal gait with dragging my left foot. Hyperreflexia in both of my knees, both of my ankles, and the babinski sign in both feet. The doctors found that I have muscle wasting in my left calf, left hand in between my index finger and thumb. They found I have an inability to contract the muscles on the left side of my neck. They found that I have ulnar claws in both of my hands. They found that I have tongue fasciculations in my tongue. All of my labs are normal.
My mri of my brain and spine is normal. I don't have dizziness, problems with vision, nor memory. I don't have pain, tingling, or numbness. I don't have any fatigue. Has anyone experienced a lot of these symptoms? If an EMG comes out normal does that mean that there's an enormous chance that I don't have ALS?
Since I was 11 I played guitar for 3 hours a day until the age of 32. My left hand became stiff, I couldn't play certain cords anymore. I had to use more strength on the strings of the guitar, so it would play a cord. I went from playing from 30 minutes,to 15 minutes, to 5 minutes. 1 year ago I was lifting weights for 6 months, I gained muscle and was able to lift 20LBS with bicep curls. Two weeks later, I could only lift 17LBS. The next week it went down to 15LBS, a week after it was 12LBS.
6 months ago, I started having muscle cramps in my left foot once a month while I was sitting down.6 months ago, I've been choking on green peas, rice, and saliva. One month ago, I've been stumbling, almost falling, especially going upstairs, which I refuse to do anymore. I cant lift my arms above my head, can't lift my left foot. One month ago, I've been dropping objects like car keys, papers, my phone, my cigarette vape, and dishes. It's happening from weakness, not tremors. lately, in the past week I have difficulty buttoning my shirt.
The doctors have found I have weakness in both of my hands. They found I have an abnormal gait with dragging my left foot. Hyperreflexia in both of my knees, both of my ankles, and the babinski sign in both feet. The doctors found that I have muscle wasting in my left calf, left hand in between my index finger and thumb. They found I have an inability to contract the muscles on the left side of my neck. They found that I have ulnar claws in both of my hands. They found that I have tongue fasciculations in my tongue. All of my labs are normal.
My mri of my brain and spine is normal. I don't have dizziness, problems with vision, nor memory. I don't have pain, tingling, or numbness. I don't have any fatigue. Has anyone experienced a lot of these symptoms? If an EMG comes out normal does that mean that there's an enormous chance that I don't have ALS?
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