Skyek
New member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2024
- Messages
- 1
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- AU
- State
- NS
- City
- Sydney
Hi, I am a 43 year old male who is very worried that I have undiagnosed ALS (limb onset).
Back in November 2023 I noticed that when I was holding a battery operated drill to put up a curtain rod, that I couldn’t hold the drill up for more then 20seconds using my right arm without getting fatigued, I didn’t think much of it and went about my business. However, later in December I was doing a similar task and had the same experience. A week later I noticed that I had a persistent twitch accompanied by what looked like a shaking bicep in my bicep area and in my shoulder.
In January I went and saw my neurologist (I had a previous decompression surgery done C2/3 in 2020) to talk about my bicep/should weakness. He did an examination and didn’t find any neuro weakness. However, spoke of hyper reflex or very brisk reflex’s, and said that I have always had brisk reflex’s and he expected this finding. We did an EMG couple weeks later (mid Jan 2024). The EMG was positive in both deltoid and bicep of right arm. +1 for both.
I then went and had an MRI of cervical spine. The report read :
At C5/6 a broadbased disc bulge with bilateral facet joint hypertrophy is noted.
There is considerable narrowing of the right neural exit foramina with likely irritation or impingement on the exiting right C6 nerve root.
The neurologist, past my muscle twitching, weakness, reflexes and positive EMG off as the above.
It’s now 9months on and I recently noticed that my tongue has a persistent twitch (always there). I also have twitching that is visable on both my calf muscles. A significant increase in twitching of my right bicep/shoulder along with a frequent twitch in my abdomen and random muscle pulling in my buttocks and quads. My neurologist said that he is not worried and stated that he doesn’t loose sleep thinking of have ALS, I am worried that he does not know much about the disease though, as he keeps saying that I don’t have a ‘Spilt hand’ issue or any atrophy. Which worries me that he hasn’t experienced patients with ALS before.
Should by right side bicep and shoulder gotten weaker by now and atrophy kicked in? I suggested to my wife that I should get another opinion from an ALS specialist, however, she has stated that she trusts my neuro and has out my symptoms down to anxiety and the likely nerve root impingement.
Any thoughts, help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Back in November 2023 I noticed that when I was holding a battery operated drill to put up a curtain rod, that I couldn’t hold the drill up for more then 20seconds using my right arm without getting fatigued, I didn’t think much of it and went about my business. However, later in December I was doing a similar task and had the same experience. A week later I noticed that I had a persistent twitch accompanied by what looked like a shaking bicep in my bicep area and in my shoulder.
In January I went and saw my neurologist (I had a previous decompression surgery done C2/3 in 2020) to talk about my bicep/should weakness. He did an examination and didn’t find any neuro weakness. However, spoke of hyper reflex or very brisk reflex’s, and said that I have always had brisk reflex’s and he expected this finding. We did an EMG couple weeks later (mid Jan 2024). The EMG was positive in both deltoid and bicep of right arm. +1 for both.
I then went and had an MRI of cervical spine. The report read :
At C5/6 a broadbased disc bulge with bilateral facet joint hypertrophy is noted.
There is considerable narrowing of the right neural exit foramina with likely irritation or impingement on the exiting right C6 nerve root.
The neurologist, past my muscle twitching, weakness, reflexes and positive EMG off as the above.
It’s now 9months on and I recently noticed that my tongue has a persistent twitch (always there). I also have twitching that is visable on both my calf muscles. A significant increase in twitching of my right bicep/shoulder along with a frequent twitch in my abdomen and random muscle pulling in my buttocks and quads. My neurologist said that he is not worried and stated that he doesn’t loose sleep thinking of have ALS, I am worried that he does not know much about the disease though, as he keeps saying that I don’t have a ‘Spilt hand’ issue or any atrophy. Which worries me that he hasn’t experienced patients with ALS before.
Should by right side bicep and shoulder gotten weaker by now and atrophy kicked in? I suggested to my wife that I should get another opinion from an ALS specialist, however, she has stated that she trusts my neuro and has out my symptoms down to anxiety and the likely nerve root impingement.
Any thoughts, help is appreciated.
Thanks,
