Musings on Pain and Fasciculations

[kellysal]

Kevin.. sorry my EMG in tongue was abnormal. I wish there was a possibility believe me I triple checked! I have been diagnosed at Miami, Holy cross and MGH with bulbar onset. So far speech has been effected no limbs after 2 years of symptom onset. 9 months since diagnosis. That being said I do have muscle waisting in left arm. That is the shoulder that is painful. Lower back seems to be new. Just wondering ALS or me just getting old! Hard to tell

 

[KevinM]

I’m the same way with the lower back. I had noticed a couple months before my real symptoms started (fasciculations) that my lower back was unusually stiff. I had never had back issues, and chalked it up to arthritis. That was more than 2 1/2 years ago, and my lower back bothers me much of the time now.

I still have good core strength and can walk fine, but I do think my back muscles are slowly atrophying so they get sore much easier. All the best, Kevin

 

[kellysal]

Kevin that makes sense. I’m still walking fine. But noticed occasional knee soreness and now back. fasciculations started in my tongue and left arm . Left arm now has visual atrophy but not noticeable weakness just pain when I lift it over my head. Rubbed some CBD cream on the back last night , no pain today..who knows something new every day! Thank you for the input!

 

[kellysal]

So I have one more question.. my functional medicine dr. Recommended I use if a Tens unit on my arm muscles to help with pain , strengthen and retain muscle. Has anyone tried this?

 

[Nikki J]

You can search tens here for some comments. It may help discomfort. It will not restore strength lost due to dead motor neurons. I have concerns about anyone who tells a PALS they can rebuild ALS affected muscles because it indicates they don’t understand the disease process

 

[lisa g]

Yes Kelly I use a tens machine when I'm sore. It gives me relief from pain for awhile. I didn't spend a lot on the machine on Amazon. I bought a tens 7000. It's lightweight, portable and does what I need for temporary relief.

 

[kellysal]

Thank you Nikki and Lisa. I’ll research it on here. I did buy an inexpensive one at CVS. I was skeptical myself this FM Dr was highly recommended. Figured I would try the clean diet gut health route. That’s a whole other thread and multi questions!