Monarch528
New member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2021
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
Thank you to all who contribute and post in this forum.
I started with atrophy in my left lateral calf muscle about 8 months ago. I noticed a dimple there while shaving that got deeper and deeper. A few months later I was sick with a cold and had fasciculations in my left quad muscle for 3 hours straight. Three months later and there is evidence of muscle atrophy in this quad with a hollowing just above my knee. I now have consistent fasciculations in both calves and feet at rest but also have them in my abs, back, quads, butt, shoulder, triceps randomly. My left arm now feels weak more proximally. My right thenar eminence appears slightly atrophied. Both hand fatigue quickly with repetitive tasks. I have generalized muscle fatigue with exercise and some activities like stairs but not weakness because functionally I can do everything I want to do. My balance and coordination is good and my reflexes were normal when I saw the neurologist so I don't have any evidence of upper motor neuron stuff going on (yet?). I've had many labs done to rule out many things, autoimmune, lymes,
I had an MRI to rule out spinal stenosis or any type of nerve compression. I do have mild degenerative changes through mid to lower lumbar spine and moderate atrophy of my lumbar paraspinals (which I was told can be normal for women with degenerative changes there). I don't have any sensory changes or pain in my left leg so I don't think it's peripheral neuropathy.
I have neck pain that started around the time the muscle atrophy started. Now I have intermittent headaches all day every day.
I saw a neurologist and clearly I need an EMG which I am scheduling.
My questions:
1. What is considered a good quality EMG for MND? From what I've read on here some people have EMGs that aren't thorough enough. They plan to do it on all four limbs. Is there anything else I should be asking the neurologist to be looking at during the EMG? Tongue? Neck? And any advice for someone about to get an EMG? I'm freaked out that they will be sticking all my limbs with needles, dreading this test, please tell me it's tolerably painful and I'll do fine.
2. I've read some PALS posts that say inability to move an arm or leg precedes the atrophy. Has anyone with a known diagnosis of ALS had onset of atrophy and muscle twitches preceding loss of function?
3. Are neck pain and headaches common with ALS?
4. Can onset of symptoms be in all four limbs at once? And (putting the cart ahead of the horse here but...) has rate of progression been linked to any "type" of onset?
Thank you thank you to anyone who has any words of wisdom for me.
I started with atrophy in my left lateral calf muscle about 8 months ago. I noticed a dimple there while shaving that got deeper and deeper. A few months later I was sick with a cold and had fasciculations in my left quad muscle for 3 hours straight. Three months later and there is evidence of muscle atrophy in this quad with a hollowing just above my knee. I now have consistent fasciculations in both calves and feet at rest but also have them in my abs, back, quads, butt, shoulder, triceps randomly. My left arm now feels weak more proximally. My right thenar eminence appears slightly atrophied. Both hand fatigue quickly with repetitive tasks. I have generalized muscle fatigue with exercise and some activities like stairs but not weakness because functionally I can do everything I want to do. My balance and coordination is good and my reflexes were normal when I saw the neurologist so I don't have any evidence of upper motor neuron stuff going on (yet?). I've had many labs done to rule out many things, autoimmune, lymes,
I had an MRI to rule out spinal stenosis or any type of nerve compression. I do have mild degenerative changes through mid to lower lumbar spine and moderate atrophy of my lumbar paraspinals (which I was told can be normal for women with degenerative changes there). I don't have any sensory changes or pain in my left leg so I don't think it's peripheral neuropathy.
I have neck pain that started around the time the muscle atrophy started. Now I have intermittent headaches all day every day.
I saw a neurologist and clearly I need an EMG which I am scheduling.
My questions:
1. What is considered a good quality EMG for MND? From what I've read on here some people have EMGs that aren't thorough enough. They plan to do it on all four limbs. Is there anything else I should be asking the neurologist to be looking at during the EMG? Tongue? Neck? And any advice for someone about to get an EMG? I'm freaked out that they will be sticking all my limbs with needles, dreading this test, please tell me it's tolerably painful and I'll do fine.
2. I've read some PALS posts that say inability to move an arm or leg precedes the atrophy. Has anyone with a known diagnosis of ALS had onset of atrophy and muscle twitches preceding loss of function?
3. Are neck pain and headaches common with ALS?
4. Can onset of symptoms be in all four limbs at once? And (putting the cart ahead of the horse here but...) has rate of progression been linked to any "type" of onset?
Thank you thank you to anyone who has any words of wisdom for me.