duplinwino
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
- Messages
- 101
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Diagnosis
- N/A
- Country
- US
- State
- NC
- City
- Pittsboro
Hi :-D I found this forum searching for articles on PMA (I didn't find too many).
My husband is 31 years old, we will be married 10 years this year and have a seven year old daughter. In August/September 2006, he started noticing loss of strength in his right thumb and a "mushy feeling" in the thenar muscles of his hand. We kind of blew it off; he works as a mechanic and uses his hands all day, so thought it may be something nerve related. I mentioned his symptoms to a neurologist at the hospital I work for and he felt the same and deferred us to a hand clinic. We didn't go.
By October, his entire grip was weaker in his right hand and we noticed definite atrophy of his triceps muscle of his right arm. I will never forget the day he stood in front of me and said "Look at this". He could barely raise up on his right toes or flex back on his heel. I got him in for an appointment immediately (it pays to work with the neurologists I guess).
He went thru an EMG/NCVS (4 hours worth), tons of blood work, urine tests, etc. The EMG was abnormal and all the blood work came back negative. The only oddity is that all of his symptoms and findings are right sided only ("asymmetrical with patchy distribution"). He was given the diagnosis of motor neuron disease and we were told to prepare for the worst. Ok, wel, that WAS the worst. We were in total disbelief and frustrated with everything we read, that everyone progresses differently and no one can tell you what will happen next, etc. etc. etc.
We went last month for a second opinion at an ALS Center. They did another EMG which was consistent with the first. We were told he has predominately lower motor neuron signs with no upper motor signs (he did have two abnormal reflexes) - so here we are with a diagnosis of PMA. His respiratory function test was 93% (?)
His weakness/wasting has continued to progress in his hand, arm and shoulder (only on the right side) and he does most tasks with his left. His leg has gotten weaker and two weeks ago he turned his ankle in the yard and fractured his leg in two places (fibula). I'm afraid this is a setback for him, because any healthy 31 year old's muscle will atrophy being casted for 6 weeks... but I'm afraid what he loses, he won't get back and we'll be looking at a brace sooner rather than later. (We tried to talk with ortho about an electrical stimulator for those muscles but we got a deer in the headlights look. We go back in two weeks for (hopefully) an air cast and plan to discuss this again.
Anyway, I'm glad I found this place. I hope to learn a great deal talking with all of you (especially if there is anyone with stubborn/hard headed spouses!)
Ashley
My husband is 31 years old, we will be married 10 years this year and have a seven year old daughter. In August/September 2006, he started noticing loss of strength in his right thumb and a "mushy feeling" in the thenar muscles of his hand. We kind of blew it off; he works as a mechanic and uses his hands all day, so thought it may be something nerve related. I mentioned his symptoms to a neurologist at the hospital I work for and he felt the same and deferred us to a hand clinic. We didn't go.
By October, his entire grip was weaker in his right hand and we noticed definite atrophy of his triceps muscle of his right arm. I will never forget the day he stood in front of me and said "Look at this". He could barely raise up on his right toes or flex back on his heel. I got him in for an appointment immediately (it pays to work with the neurologists I guess).
He went thru an EMG/NCVS (4 hours worth), tons of blood work, urine tests, etc. The EMG was abnormal and all the blood work came back negative. The only oddity is that all of his symptoms and findings are right sided only ("asymmetrical with patchy distribution"). He was given the diagnosis of motor neuron disease and we were told to prepare for the worst. Ok, wel, that WAS the worst. We were in total disbelief and frustrated with everything we read, that everyone progresses differently and no one can tell you what will happen next, etc. etc. etc.
We went last month for a second opinion at an ALS Center. They did another EMG which was consistent with the first. We were told he has predominately lower motor neuron signs with no upper motor signs (he did have two abnormal reflexes) - so here we are with a diagnosis of PMA. His respiratory function test was 93% (?)
His weakness/wasting has continued to progress in his hand, arm and shoulder (only on the right side) and he does most tasks with his left. His leg has gotten weaker and two weeks ago he turned his ankle in the yard and fractured his leg in two places (fibula). I'm afraid this is a setback for him, because any healthy 31 year old's muscle will atrophy being casted for 6 weeks... but I'm afraid what he loses, he won't get back and we'll be looking at a brace sooner rather than later. (We tried to talk with ortho about an electrical stimulator for those muscles but we got a deer in the headlights look. We go back in two weeks for (hopefully) an air cast and plan to discuss this again.
Anyway, I'm glad I found this place. I hope to learn a great deal talking with all of you (especially if there is anyone with stubborn/hard headed spouses!)
Ashley