lhagsjr
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2007
- Messages
- 173
- Country
- US
- State
- PA
- City
- Philadelphia
Hi All,
Soon my wait will be over as I finally get my appointment with a NeuroMuscular specialist on Tuesday. Personally Im l100% sure I have ALS. The fasiculations are horrendous. They are on the bottom of my feet, the side of my feet, above my ankes on the side, calves, hamstrings, under my ribs, hands, forearms, biceps, triceps, neck(rarely), shoulder. They are sometimes very violent and sometimes subtle. This has been going on for 7 months. Also my facial muscles dont necessarily twitch but they spasm.
My understanding of the words muscle atrophy is the decrease in muscle mass. This is definitely the case in my biceps, triceps. I also think my shoulder muscles have decreased but that I cant guarantee you. I know for sure my arms have lost a significant amount of mass.
These 2 symptoms combined point directly to ALS is what I understood. However, people on here continually say it could be 1000 other diseases. Can someone give me maybe 5 other things it could be? I just want some hope that its not ALS.
Another odd symptom is all my joints now "crackle" horribly. My shoulders, wrist, elbows, ankles. They crack very loud when moved.
I do have a few positive things to say that gives me some hope that I do not have ALS.
1.) I really do not have any noticeable weakness. I have no problem walking, holding things in my hands, carrying things, etc.
2.) I have no bulbar symptoms. I can eat and breath without any problem. Actually, I was in the hospital in October for another reason(appendix) and they checked my respiratory values. I had like 98 capacity.
3.) Im 28. I know its not impossible to have ALS at this age, but its very rare.
4.) I had a Nerve Conduction Study done which came back completely clean.
4.) I had an EMG done of my right side only(because I had twitching everywhere) by a regular neurologist and it came back mostly clean. 7 of 8 muscles where 100% clean. One muscle, gastroc, showed increased insertational activity which the neuro said was non-diagnostic alone. Does anyone know what this means? He basically said its nothing if this is the only slightly abnormal finding. This was in March.
I just want to believe in my heart I dont have ALS but it doesnt look good. I know anyone who has ALS that it is terrible but this is truely a tragic story. I was married last June('06) and this all started in October. Newlyweds. This is just terrible. I have thought about suicide once. I use to be the happiest person in the world, just one year ago.
Please give your opinions.
Thanks,
Lou
Soon my wait will be over as I finally get my appointment with a NeuroMuscular specialist on Tuesday. Personally Im l100% sure I have ALS. The fasiculations are horrendous. They are on the bottom of my feet, the side of my feet, above my ankes on the side, calves, hamstrings, under my ribs, hands, forearms, biceps, triceps, neck(rarely), shoulder. They are sometimes very violent and sometimes subtle. This has been going on for 7 months. Also my facial muscles dont necessarily twitch but they spasm.
My understanding of the words muscle atrophy is the decrease in muscle mass. This is definitely the case in my biceps, triceps. I also think my shoulder muscles have decreased but that I cant guarantee you. I know for sure my arms have lost a significant amount of mass.
These 2 symptoms combined point directly to ALS is what I understood. However, people on here continually say it could be 1000 other diseases. Can someone give me maybe 5 other things it could be? I just want some hope that its not ALS.
Another odd symptom is all my joints now "crackle" horribly. My shoulders, wrist, elbows, ankles. They crack very loud when moved.
I do have a few positive things to say that gives me some hope that I do not have ALS.
1.) I really do not have any noticeable weakness. I have no problem walking, holding things in my hands, carrying things, etc.
2.) I have no bulbar symptoms. I can eat and breath without any problem. Actually, I was in the hospital in October for another reason(appendix) and they checked my respiratory values. I had like 98 capacity.
3.) Im 28. I know its not impossible to have ALS at this age, but its very rare.
4.) I had a Nerve Conduction Study done which came back completely clean.
4.) I had an EMG done of my right side only(because I had twitching everywhere) by a regular neurologist and it came back mostly clean. 7 of 8 muscles where 100% clean. One muscle, gastroc, showed increased insertational activity which the neuro said was non-diagnostic alone. Does anyone know what this means? He basically said its nothing if this is the only slightly abnormal finding. This was in March.
I just want to believe in my heart I dont have ALS but it doesnt look good. I know anyone who has ALS that it is terrible but this is truely a tragic story. I was married last June('06) and this all started in October. Newlyweds. This is just terrible. I have thought about suicide once. I use to be the happiest person in the world, just one year ago.
Please give your opinions.
Thanks,
Lou