- Joined
- Aug 20, 2022
- Messages
- 6
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 10/2022
- Country
- US
- State
- VA
- City
- Madison
Hello all, and a heartfelt thank you for all that you do on this forum. I have been lurking for a few months now as I go through my odyssey. 60 year old male - otherwise very healthy competitive road racer. It started 9 months ago with painless left hand weakness/clumsiness in fingers. Didn't think much about it, Physical Therapist recommended my GP for possible rotator-cuff tear. GP x-rayed and found minor rotator-cuff tear, referred to Orthopedic Spine Surgeon.
After MRIs of C-spine, T-spine, shoulder, brachial plexus and elbow... other than looking like a normal 60 year old (some arthritis and degeneration of discs), found really nothing that would explain hand weakness. Fast forward, progressed to left wrist-drop. Referred to a Hand Surgeon who was convinced that he could do a tendon transfer to recover the wrist action. Had an EMG that was abnormal and Neurologist that performed it reported it as C-7 radiculopathy.
Still no pain anywhere but twitching started in left forearm/wrist. Fast forward, left hand and wrist are completely flaccid - I cannot make them work. Went back to Hand Surgeon to schedule surgery and he stated that he would not perform it because he couldn't find a 'healthy tendon' to transfer to. GP did full blood workup and all came back normal.
So, here we are at 9 months;
GP, Hand Surgeon and Spine Surgeon have all referred me to Neuromuscular Clinic for evaluation. Unfortunately, around here, it takes awhile to get in. Its been 4 weeks since the referral and I am now noticing a pretty obvious left foot drop and legs are like walking through wet cement. Twitches have now started in legs and back.
Fatigue and shortness of breath are starting to kick in. Finally have Neuromuscular appointment coming up in 4 days. As a lifelong athlete, I find myself in uncharted waters. Whenever I've been injured or overworked something, there was always pain associated. Does this sound like anything that might be ALS? Again thank you and I apologize for the long thread.
After MRIs of C-spine, T-spine, shoulder, brachial plexus and elbow... other than looking like a normal 60 year old (some arthritis and degeneration of discs), found really nothing that would explain hand weakness. Fast forward, progressed to left wrist-drop. Referred to a Hand Surgeon who was convinced that he could do a tendon transfer to recover the wrist action. Had an EMG that was abnormal and Neurologist that performed it reported it as C-7 radiculopathy.
Still no pain anywhere but twitching started in left forearm/wrist. Fast forward, left hand and wrist are completely flaccid - I cannot make them work. Went back to Hand Surgeon to schedule surgery and he stated that he would not perform it because he couldn't find a 'healthy tendon' to transfer to. GP did full blood workup and all came back normal.
So, here we are at 9 months;
GP, Hand Surgeon and Spine Surgeon have all referred me to Neuromuscular Clinic for evaluation. Unfortunately, around here, it takes awhile to get in. Its been 4 weeks since the referral and I am now noticing a pretty obvious left foot drop and legs are like walking through wet cement. Twitches have now started in legs and back.
Fatigue and shortness of breath are starting to kick in. Finally have Neuromuscular appointment coming up in 4 days. As a lifelong athlete, I find myself in uncharted waters. Whenever I've been injured or overworked something, there was always pain associated. Does this sound like anything that might be ALS? Again thank you and I apologize for the long thread.
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