giantfan
Member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2011
- Messages
- 10
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- CA
- State
- Ontario
- City
- Erin
Hi All,
Well, I had promised myself for the longest time that I wouldn't make a post here, and just continue to read all the great information and posts made - especially by all of the regulars! Your insight and time spend to answer the hordes of posts from both those dealing with ALS either directly or indirectly, or those concerned with some symptoms they're experiencing. So I'll begin with my sincerest thanks.
Having been a long time anxiety sufferer (and moreso a Health Anxiety nut) I recently had a bout that is likely tied to a panic attack. Result in a numb face, tingling forehead/scalp, fatigue etc. Long story short, ended up in Emerg because of it combined with a leg that just wasn't feeling "right". That was about a month ago.
A week after the initial visit, was back again with some 'seizing' feeling on the right side of my body. Short version - did a CT scan thought they saw something, admitted and did an MRI (which subsequently came back clear).
A day after the MRI went away with wife on vacation and the first night after a day of walking thru the town had terrible insomnia and noticed muscle fasciulations in both legs and sporadically throughout the body (but constant in calves so long as I was laying down or the leg relaxed). Those have continued to this day (now about 2 weeks later). Very possible brought on by chronic insomnia as of late, combined with the anxiety issues (and just started on Citrolpram a few days prior to their onset so who knows).
Anyhow, my question is not so much regarding the fasciulations as there are a host of posts here regarding them but rather the weakness in the leg.
Is there a clinical visible weakness? No. Can do all the funny little tricks of heel walking, toe walking, jumping up stairs, yada yada - yes. And can do exercises that I normally did until a few weeks ago like skater squats (stand on one leg, squat while the other leg extends backwards - like you're speed skating), etc. But I have feel a continued weakness namely in the quad/hamstring namely when I walk (no sign of steppage gait, or drop foot that I can see). But, what Im curious about is that I have a strange 'nerve' sensation radiating within the knee, thru the front of the quad, into my hip and up my lower back. Almost like a sciatica type, but I can also feel it radiate up the front of my quad into my hip.
I suppose my question would be is there much sensory feeling in nerves with a lower limb type of onset - eg back/hip/knee nerve 'pain'? Or is it basically pain/ache free and a slow loss of ability? And I'm not referring to perhaps secondary issues caused by an erratic gait like a high step or some type of compensation for an underfunctioning muscle. I'm watched my gait closely and really can't see an issue, and during individual muscle group activities can't seem to find one that isn't behaving the way I'd expect.
I do have an EMG slated for June 3rd (oh the joys of waiting) lol.
My continued thanks to the wealth of information you folks share here. And should it be something that's in the cards I'm dealt, I'll be grateful to have a place for me and my caregivers to seek/share help.
Well, I had promised myself for the longest time that I wouldn't make a post here, and just continue to read all the great information and posts made - especially by all of the regulars! Your insight and time spend to answer the hordes of posts from both those dealing with ALS either directly or indirectly, or those concerned with some symptoms they're experiencing. So I'll begin with my sincerest thanks.
Having been a long time anxiety sufferer (and moreso a Health Anxiety nut) I recently had a bout that is likely tied to a panic attack. Result in a numb face, tingling forehead/scalp, fatigue etc. Long story short, ended up in Emerg because of it combined with a leg that just wasn't feeling "right". That was about a month ago.
A week after the initial visit, was back again with some 'seizing' feeling on the right side of my body. Short version - did a CT scan thought they saw something, admitted and did an MRI (which subsequently came back clear).
A day after the MRI went away with wife on vacation and the first night after a day of walking thru the town had terrible insomnia and noticed muscle fasciulations in both legs and sporadically throughout the body (but constant in calves so long as I was laying down or the leg relaxed). Those have continued to this day (now about 2 weeks later). Very possible brought on by chronic insomnia as of late, combined with the anxiety issues (and just started on Citrolpram a few days prior to their onset so who knows).
Anyhow, my question is not so much regarding the fasciulations as there are a host of posts here regarding them but rather the weakness in the leg.
Is there a clinical visible weakness? No. Can do all the funny little tricks of heel walking, toe walking, jumping up stairs, yada yada - yes. And can do exercises that I normally did until a few weeks ago like skater squats (stand on one leg, squat while the other leg extends backwards - like you're speed skating), etc. But I have feel a continued weakness namely in the quad/hamstring namely when I walk (no sign of steppage gait, or drop foot that I can see). But, what Im curious about is that I have a strange 'nerve' sensation radiating within the knee, thru the front of the quad, into my hip and up my lower back. Almost like a sciatica type, but I can also feel it radiate up the front of my quad into my hip.
I suppose my question would be is there much sensory feeling in nerves with a lower limb type of onset - eg back/hip/knee nerve 'pain'? Or is it basically pain/ache free and a slow loss of ability? And I'm not referring to perhaps secondary issues caused by an erratic gait like a high step or some type of compensation for an underfunctioning muscle. I'm watched my gait closely and really can't see an issue, and during individual muscle group activities can't seem to find one that isn't behaving the way I'd expect.
I do have an EMG slated for June 3rd (oh the joys of waiting) lol.
My continued thanks to the wealth of information you folks share here. And should it be something that's in the cards I'm dealt, I'll be grateful to have a place for me and my caregivers to seek/share help.