My muscle atrophy (please respond)

[pmbenb83]

Hi Wright,
My husband also had weight lifting issues. He used to bench 300 lbs and now can barely lift 100 lbs including the bar and can only curl 5 lb dumbbells. After any activity, whether a small chore around the house or working out with light weights, he has to sit with a heating pad on his shoulder and arm the rest of the day and sometimes for a few days afterward. This has been going on for a couple of years and muscle atrophy appeared within the last year. His doctor also told him not to over do it in the gym and not to try to lose weight, because too much weight lifting can damage his nerves further thus kill off more muscle and when you lose weight you not only lose fat, but muscle too.

I want to share with you a coping device that I use that might help you so you aren't overly consumed with worry and heartache.

I once had an unfortunate thing happen to me and it consumed me all day long playing the "what if" game. I sought counseling right away and she gave me a great coping skill that might help a lot of people on the forum who are anxiously awaiting a diagnosis... I also use it now to help me get through the stress of this too.

It goes like this... imagine a box or trash can and put this problem/worry/concern/illness inside of it. Every day, take it out of the imaginary box for 15 minutes 3-4x a day and when done letting yourself worry/think/grieve/cry about it, you put it back in the box and carry on with your day. After a week, you reduce it to 2-3x a day, the next week 1x a day, etc. until life is more managable. By doing this, you gain control back in your life, so your thoughts and worries do not control you thus allowing some peace back into your life and you can function better.

I hope you see a doctor soon and get some answers. Hopefully, what you are experiencing isn't a MND and something that is treatable.

Take care.
Pam B in Va

 

[vmd]

Pam B and some others who have commented on the exercise and nerve damage connection- Considering I still go to the gym and lift weights 3 times per week, I wonder whether I am damaging my muscles needlessly. Going to the gym and lifting weights allows me to track any weakness that develops, so I try to maintain a routine. The routine is fairly extensive and involves all muscle groups, except the legs. I would say I end up lifting hundreds of lbs. total during the workout. I feel I need to go to the gym for my psychological well being, but what if I am accelerating nerve and muscle damage by lifting excessive weights? I am not trying to build muscle, so I don't lift increasing amounts from session to session, just do the same exercises each time I am at the gym.

Whatever I have, I know it's in the early stages because I can still lift large amounts of weight, and I am only about 145-150 pounds. However, I have certainly noticed atrophy in the hands, wrists, and forerarms. My wrists hurt when I try to support my weight. My hands look very skeletal. While I believe I have lost some hand strength as measured by "pinch" strength, I would probably not be perceived as suffering from clinical weakness as I can still do most everything, such as button shirts, etc.

 

[pmbenb83]

Hi vmd,
I would definitely ask your doctor if he/she feels that you should be careful and not to over do your muscles with your workout. I can only comment on what my husband's doctors have told him, which was to do light weights, even though that is all he is capable of.

I hope you will be able to continue with your weight lifting for a very long time!

Take care.
Pam B in Va

 

[vmd]

Pam:

Thank you. I have only seen one neuro, a local one , and not an ALS expert, so I take his advice with some caution. It's a tricky situation. I suppose I should be cautious and stop heavy weight lifting, but then I dislike variations from my usual weight lifting routine.

 

[wright]

To all who gave me comforting words on this thread

It seems that I am always thanking all of the kind people on here for their words. I guess because there are so many wonderful people on here giving of themselves, despite their own problems. I am humbled by all of you and I cannot thank you enough for caring . . . and for caring for someone you don't even know. The world is truly full of good people and

 

[CindyM]

My sentiments exactly, Wright. For a message board that discusses some pretty dire topics, this is a very uplifting group. Cindy

 

[northerngirl]

You may have already read this yeasterday.

opps! I tried to edit it and posted it twice!

 

[northerngirl]

You may have already read this yesterday.

I posted this yesterday, The article did say the only way our body can produce new neurons is thru extensive physical exercise. but how do you do that with out damaging your self or even being able to physically do it?


Scientific American Magazine, November 2007 had a 8 page very informative article called
Save Neurons Possible therapies for Lou Gehrig’s disease. (Pg.85) There where basically 5 potential therapies. (I quote)

Neurotropic factors (proteins such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGH) and Insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGE-1) appear to protect motor neurons

Small Molecules Compounds such as resveratol which is found in the skins of red grapes may be able to protect neurons by stimulating the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). one advantage of the small molecules id that they can pass thru the blood-brain barrier. (I will add one 8 oz. glass of red wine has 640 mg. of resveratol so yes I try to drink a glass ever night while the jury's out on that one! :wink:LOL!)

Stem Cell Grafted stem cells can act as biological pumps for delivering vital growth factors to damaged neurons. Experiments in rodents have shown that the stem cells can actually migrate to the regions where the injured neurons are located.
RNA Interference Synthetic strands of RNA can interfere with the production of toxic proteins in neurons and glial cells. The RNA strands bind to certain messenger RNAs (mobile carriers of genetic information) preventing them from manufacturing their corresponding proteins.

Physical Exercise Studies have shown that putting mice on a regiment of exercise on running wheels can slow the progress of ALS. Combining the exercise with the IGF-1 therapy has a synergistic effect that is more pronounced than that of either treatment alone.

It does go on to say “Turning any of these novel approaches into an effective therapy will be challenging.”

 

[Erica]

Please help with ALS symptoms

I started with pretty severe arm and shoulder pain, two month later discovered that I developed muscle atrophy in the above area plus the neck on the same side.No weakness, more trouble with pain.
Have pain in my throat for a while, feels like a have a constant sore throat, and constantly feel like clearing my throat. Also waiting for an appt with ENT.
Had 2 neg MRIs, negative EMG and now waiting for an appt with neromuscular specialist that my neuro refferred me to. He also wants me to have the muscle biopsy.
I really would appreciate your help with making some sence out of this. I'm really scared...
Do any of you experience any of the above. Your answers would be greatly appreciated.
THANKS.

I am seeing muscle atrophy on one side of my body:
shoulder, bicep, forearm, upper back and lower back (again, all on the right side). . . all of this has happened in a matter of a month. My muscles are still proportinate and they aren't that much smaller, but they are DEFINITELY smaller. I am an avid weight lifter and I know my body very well. Would ALS affect that many muscles at one time and that quickly? I had a negative EMG about a week ago, but I've read on here that sometimes if they're done too early they can be negative. I am so incredibly stressed-out right now!

One other thing . . . I'm not fasciculating in those areas of my body . . . at least that I am aware of.