New Symptoms, questions

[andieg221981]

Hi,

I put a post on yesterday and was graciously answered by Wright and Zaphoon. I am trying to find a way to calm my nerves and am having a VERY hard time. When I walk I feel like my RIGHT knee could buckle at any time, I didn't sleep because it seemed like every muscle in my body was twitching and today even while walking I feel like I am on a cloud and that my muschle twitching is only focused in my right leg/calf. I barely have any strength in my RIGHT hand and the burning sensation is my back and runs down my arms and feet. My RIGHT foot even looks different. Help! Are you sure these are not ALS symptoms? How can I calm my fears?

 

[wright]

Again, those are not symptoms typically associated with ALS, which you were already told in your first post. I'm not sure what else we can do for you to calm your fears.

If you would like me to speculate and give you an opinion as to what it might be, I can do that: that sounds like a radiculopathy of your cervical region; the symptoms are classic for it.

Your leg problems could be due to a change in posture to compensate for the radiculopathy in your neck. Your leg problems could also be due to anxiety (that would actually be my first guess).

It seems you are already in a panic, so I have a feeling no words are going to calm you. What will calm you is an appointment with a neuro, which you have already made.

Relax in the meantime, because you are more than likely going to be just fine. Stop looking at your body and evaluating yourself with a fine-toothed comb and STOP trying to diagnose yourself.

 

[andieg221981]

So I do not need to worry about the right knee and muscle twitching as a sign of ALS? Does it matter is I now have a sore throat, shortened breaths, and cough? Can the injury to the cervical region cause those things? Or do you think that is part of me getting sick for getting myself so worked up?

 

[Markbreton]

Hi, I honestly believe you are getting yourself way to worked up with this. Certainly does not sound like typical ALS symptoms. I would definitely speak to your Dr. as he may want to prescribe something for anxiety.
Mark

 

[fmarino]

A sore throat and a cough? YOU HAVE A COLD! Listen to what some pretty smart people on here are telling you. I'm not one of them but even I can see that your symptoms aren't ALS symptoms. Get off of the internet because it doesn't seem you have any business trying to put symptoms together.

 

[andieg221981]

I wouldn't say that it's a sore throat more I feel like I have something caught in my throat and my doctor said my tonsils are big. He didn't seem concerned. I have noticed some trouble breathing through my nose but there is no obstruction there, i.e. stuffy nose etc. I had a bout today where I would barely open my mouth my jaw hurt so bad and there was burning and numbness. I have continued to notice atrophying in the ride side of my neck, arm, and leg. I understand that it could be anxiety, but I know when I don't feel good, I don't feel good. Does anyone think there is a possibility for Lyme, Menigitis or still a pinched nerve? My doctor is not proactive enough for me it seems.

 

[planningguy]

Let me chime in as a sometimes highstrung person with a highstrung job. With the eternal caveat that I am no physician, the symptoms you describe in your throat and jaw could be problems in your neck region combined with anxiety.

It's hard for us to believe, but my physical therapist (who specializes in necks and backs) said that she has had patients who have complained of neck pain, headaches, sore throats, difficulty swallowing and breathing, and even what they thought was chronic toothache that have been resolved with physical therapy. That's before even diving into the numerous other treatable conditions that could be causing the symptoms you're having.

Why the anxiety angle? It's part of your basic hardwiring... fight or flight response. When you trigger it your body is thinking you that you're supposed to be moving, not swallowing or staring at your leg. A lot of body processes are altered in the anticipation that you are going to be expending a significant amount of energy to react to a specific threat. Problem is, in the modern world of health issues and office jobs, those threats and challenges aren't well defined, or are ever present. Since your mind doesn't see the threat or fear as being gone, your body can get locked into that altered state .

Why is it hard to take the fact that anxiety might be complicating your problem? It's because societal convention has tended to be patronizing towards anxiety (i.e. "don't worry so much" or "you need to just let it go"), and because many doctors react to anxiety with medication, rather than a broader approach that points patients to tools to address their underlying concerns.

You might have a handful of things working together to create a number of symptoms. In the medical world muscle twitching is akin to fever, many causes, most benign. Wright mentioned that your neck trouble might be causing other posture problems. That's something both my neuro and PT have commented on. Don't be afraid to make suggestions to your doctors, tell them exactly what your concerns are, and have them explain to you the "why" or "why not" for specific issues. If you and your Dr. are not clicking, seek a second opinion. Find out from friends and others who is a good listener and explainer, and will readily refer to quality specialists when they don't know the answer.

Look into physical therapy if the mri's and other imaging tests clear it. Anyone that works a desk job can benefit from a good PT reviewing ways to avoid long term chronic health issues that come from poor work environment/habits, as well as stretching and relaxation techniques to combat body strain.

Hopefully you'll get to the bottom of this soon.

Robert