Husband may have PMA or ALS
Larry was an active, extremely healthy man until last fall. He had retired from the fire department where he was a captain, then worked to improve our 70 acres. After being retired for several years he decided to seek a job in Alaska. This was more of an adventure than a need for a job. He worked there for over 2 years (working two weeks and home two weeks) at a gas well site. He started having some difficulty with extreme fatigue, stumbling, slurring of speech and his voice was weak, and he was choking at night. He saw his PCP who referred him to an ENT. The ENT gave him an inhaler and referred him to a Gastroenterologist who diagnosed him with GERD and he was given Nexium which helped.
Last summer he had a yard work day. It was very hot, and he worked extremely hard, and got too hot. When he went back to Alaska he notice a round raised area on his leg. He continued to feel crummy. He notice that his muscles were getting weak and smaller, he was still dropping things and stumbling. His PCP referred him to a neurologist who did an EMG on his arms and declared that "Your problem begins and ends at your wrists. You have severe carpal tunnel syndrome and it's in both wrists." We thought that was a little strange, but hoping that his problem was that simple. I've read some posts that mentioned doctors' EGOs. This doctor had pooh-poohed my husband's questions, would become irritated if questioned, and generally treated him like he was a hypochodriac. I urged my husband to get a second opinion, but he didn't right away. Only after surgery on both wrists after which he continued to have other symptoms did the neurologist order another EMG at which time his arms as well as his legs were checked. We then were told that he had motor and sensory atrophy and "It is all over". Then, I insisted that we see someone else. I had had it!
Our new neuro. referred us to an infectious disease doctor who ran every conceivable test. All were negative. My husband's twitching, burning muscles continue to get worse. They have spread from his right arm to his left leg and now to his left arm. He gets tired very easily. Activity seems to worsen the twitching and burning. He suffers from bouts of anxiety for which the doctor has prescribed Zanax, and it helps.
The new neuro has referred him to the University of Kansas Medical Center for further tests and (we hope) a diagnosis. We'll be going on the 19th. I've read everything I can find that I think is legitimate, and have tried to learn as much as possible.
I'd be grateful for any insite you could give us.
Connie