NYGolfer
New member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2022
- Messages
- 5
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- NY
Hi all,
I want to say in advance that your time, input, and patience with my nervous self are very much appreciated.
To give a little background, I am a married 31 year old male. Since about January I have been experiencing bad back pain that tends to occur in multiple parts of the back (lower, upper, or mid) that is at its worst when laying down. I would also often wake up with numb and tingly feet, sometimes pain would radiate down to them as well. In early September I went to see an Orthopedic Dr. who started me on physical therapy. The physical therapist noted that my right leg is weaker than my left. Overall it didn't help much with the back pain in itself. Last week my wife and I took a trip and the pain in my back, legs, ankles, and even arms were pretty bad and I had to use ibuprofen much of the time.
After returning home this past Sunday, the pain is almost completely gone at this point for no apparent reason. Since then however, in it's place I noticed that my arms feel weaker, particularly my right arm. It's noticeable different when gripping something with my right vs left and generally seems to take more effort to do anything with the right arm or hand. I've also noticed that my right arm looks a bit thinner than my left, and my wife confirmed the same. I am feeling a constant sensation in my right arm, especially in the forearm and wrist. I wouldn't say it's painful exactly but it's a constant feeling, with the forearm and wrist both being cold to the touch.
At the same time as all of the above beginning on Sunday, I've also been experiencing muscle twitches throughout my body. Legs, elbows, face, fingers. My pectoral muscles will also get very tight and uncomfortable from doing very minor things such as closing a car door. Muscle spams have been an occasional issue for me for a while though, such as a very painful spasm in my abs when doing physical therapy, or in the pectorals when I would do pushups.
A bit of an side, but I also started having oral thrush, which I am taking treatment for. Tongue and throat were feeling a bit numb, but this is likely the cause.
My main areas of concerns with all of this are with the sudden weakness in my arms, particularly the right, the right arm being visibly smaller than the left, and that this is weakness is occurring with very little pain and coincides with muscle twitching and spasms.
I have a follow-up scheduled with my orthopedic Dr. this Friday as a follow up to see how physical therapy is going. I've also scheduled an appointment with my PCP to talk specifically about all of these symptoms I am having as well.
As far as my question, does this all seem at all pointing toward ALS as a possibility? I've definitely been extremely anxious and not myself the past few days and losing my appetite especially as I keep consulting Dr. Google with all of these symptoms so I apologize if this comes across as a bit rambling and verbose. Thank you again.
I want to say in advance that your time, input, and patience with my nervous self are very much appreciated.
To give a little background, I am a married 31 year old male. Since about January I have been experiencing bad back pain that tends to occur in multiple parts of the back (lower, upper, or mid) that is at its worst when laying down. I would also often wake up with numb and tingly feet, sometimes pain would radiate down to them as well. In early September I went to see an Orthopedic Dr. who started me on physical therapy. The physical therapist noted that my right leg is weaker than my left. Overall it didn't help much with the back pain in itself. Last week my wife and I took a trip and the pain in my back, legs, ankles, and even arms were pretty bad and I had to use ibuprofen much of the time.
After returning home this past Sunday, the pain is almost completely gone at this point for no apparent reason. Since then however, in it's place I noticed that my arms feel weaker, particularly my right arm. It's noticeable different when gripping something with my right vs left and generally seems to take more effort to do anything with the right arm or hand. I've also noticed that my right arm looks a bit thinner than my left, and my wife confirmed the same. I am feeling a constant sensation in my right arm, especially in the forearm and wrist. I wouldn't say it's painful exactly but it's a constant feeling, with the forearm and wrist both being cold to the touch.
At the same time as all of the above beginning on Sunday, I've also been experiencing muscle twitches throughout my body. Legs, elbows, face, fingers. My pectoral muscles will also get very tight and uncomfortable from doing very minor things such as closing a car door. Muscle spams have been an occasional issue for me for a while though, such as a very painful spasm in my abs when doing physical therapy, or in the pectorals when I would do pushups.
A bit of an side, but I also started having oral thrush, which I am taking treatment for. Tongue and throat were feeling a bit numb, but this is likely the cause.
My main areas of concerns with all of this are with the sudden weakness in my arms, particularly the right, the right arm being visibly smaller than the left, and that this is weakness is occurring with very little pain and coincides with muscle twitching and spasms.
I have a follow-up scheduled with my orthopedic Dr. this Friday as a follow up to see how physical therapy is going. I've also scheduled an appointment with my PCP to talk specifically about all of these symptoms I am having as well.
As far as my question, does this all seem at all pointing toward ALS as a possibility? I've definitely been extremely anxious and not myself the past few days and losing my appetite especially as I keep consulting Dr. Google with all of these symptoms so I apologize if this comes across as a bit rambling and verbose. Thank you again.