hbyrd42005
New member
- Joined
- May 2, 2025
- Messages
- 2
- Reason
- Lost a loved one
- Diagnosis
- 04/2006
- Country
- US
38F. My dad passed from ALS in 2007. We weren't close so I don't remember much about his symptoms other than him telling me his legs would just give out. And then he progressively got worse. I have dealt with anxiety for whole life starting as a young child. I went through a point in my 20s worrying about having ALS and now here I am again in my 30's on a spiral. I have always experienced muscle twitching.
About 14 months ago, my calves got real stiff and it never went away. Some days its better than others. I also get shooting pains throughout my body, arms, legs, chest, feet, hands, even arm pits. While it's not a bring me to tears hurt, it definitely gets my attention. Within the past month, my hands just ache, the right one more than the left. I can feel this dull pain in my shoulder, bicep, elbow, forearm and finally hand. This past weekend I got a cramp in the side of my ankle/leg, first time for that. And I have been spiraling ever since. I also have suffered from a stiff neck since early 20s, that's what actually started the first spiral. Seen a chiropractor for some adjustments but x rays show no bone issues, a MRI was never done. I have no weakness that I have noticed in any limbs. Last year when the stiffness started I saw a new PCP and when I mentioned the stiffness and she saw my dad passed away, she immediately said you are at risk, you need to see a neurologist. It scared me so bad, I never went. Fast forward to today. I saw a new PCP yesterday for this health anxiety that is consuming my life. I told her my dad's history, my symptoms and she never mentioned it. I then explained my bad experience with the previous PCP and her exact words were "ALS isn't genetic is it?". I knew at that moment she had never little knowledge of it. She even had to google the symptoms of ALS in front of me. She said well it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a work up at some point when you are ready. I am so confused. She prescribed me a SSRI to help with my anxiety and I am really hoping it helps with these spirals because it's truly affecting my life. I spend hours googling, doing things to prove to myself I don't have weakness, and researching. I just want my life back.
Can anyone shed some light, input or advice?
About 14 months ago, my calves got real stiff and it never went away. Some days its better than others. I also get shooting pains throughout my body, arms, legs, chest, feet, hands, even arm pits. While it's not a bring me to tears hurt, it definitely gets my attention. Within the past month, my hands just ache, the right one more than the left. I can feel this dull pain in my shoulder, bicep, elbow, forearm and finally hand. This past weekend I got a cramp in the side of my ankle/leg, first time for that. And I have been spiraling ever since. I also have suffered from a stiff neck since early 20s, that's what actually started the first spiral. Seen a chiropractor for some adjustments but x rays show no bone issues, a MRI was never done. I have no weakness that I have noticed in any limbs. Last year when the stiffness started I saw a new PCP and when I mentioned the stiffness and she saw my dad passed away, she immediately said you are at risk, you need to see a neurologist. It scared me so bad, I never went. Fast forward to today. I saw a new PCP yesterday for this health anxiety that is consuming my life. I told her my dad's history, my symptoms and she never mentioned it. I then explained my bad experience with the previous PCP and her exact words were "ALS isn't genetic is it?". I knew at that moment she had never little knowledge of it. She even had to google the symptoms of ALS in front of me. She said well it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a work up at some point when you are ready. I am so confused. She prescribed me a SSRI to help with my anxiety and I am really hoping it helps with these spirals because it's truly affecting my life. I spend hours googling, doing things to prove to myself I don't have weakness, and researching. I just want my life back.
Can anyone shed some light, input or advice?
