Status
Not open for further replies.

SpringOwl

Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2010
Messages
20
Reason
Learn about ALS
Country
US
State
MI
City
Sterling Heights
I have a positive babinski reflex on the left side as well as a drop foot on the same side.

If babinski is upper motor and foot drop is lower motor would this be ALS because it involves both upper and lower?

I keep getting put off by doctors and my sister demanded an emg by my doctor on Monday.

I have tested negative for lyme, vitamin b12. All mri's of brain and spine are normal.

I have had no new symptoms for over a year but now twitching has starter.

I am heavily sedated right now and have not slept for a month.

part of me thinks why get the emg because whatever will be will be.

everyone I feel a muscle twitch my anxiety goes through the roof.

I am trying to get a grip but I keep thinking of my kids and end up curled up in a ball on my bed.

Up until a couple of months ago I never heard of ALS.
Now I am consumed in terror.

Please give me your opinion on the test and wether I should bother. Again, with all the other clinical signs and everything else ruled out, what do I do.

Please help
 
Yes, you should bother with the EMG. It's awfully early in the neurological diagnostic process to write yourself off. There are many conditions or combinations of conditions that can cause your symptoms. Let your doctors do their job and find out what you really have instead of trying to do their job for them.

Good luck.
 
I agree with trfogey. Get the EMG done as it is a very useful tool in the hands of the neurologist. Wouldn't you like to know you don't have ALS? Best way to find out is to get the EMG done.

Many things can cause foot drop. Why not rule out ALS?

"Foot drop is a deceptively simple name for a potentially complex problem. Foot drop can be associated with a variety of conditions such as dorsiflexor injuries, peripheral nerve injuries, stroke, neuropathies, drug toxicities, or diabetes." (copied from Dr. Google)
 
Last edited:
Thanks for your replies. Unfortunatel those other things have been ruled out by other tests and I car barely walk and my left hand foes not work. I am profoundly depresses and am trying hard to see my way out of this depression.

I can't believe this is happening. This has been such a rollercoaster of emotions.

If I could sleep I would be more level headed but I know I will never sleep well again.

Sorry for the spelling errors.

I have no support system and two small children. I need to get a handle on things.

I keep telling myself there is nothing I can do about this anyway so I should pit it out of my head nut it is so hard.
 
Please please try ! You dont want your children to see you and/or think of you in this way. I had a mother who was severly depressed for years. It was a dark and gloomy life for myself and my brothers. Fortunately we were strong enough to pull away from the pain but it is a childhood we will never ever forget. It was such a dark time for us as children. Please pull yourself out of this. You can do this . Try to dismiss the sadness and worry. No matter what your future may bring, you CAN and WILL find the strength for you and your children to handle whatever may come your way ! Take your life back and give them their mama back...................they need you and want you so much. May you find peace...............CATE
 
SpringOwl,

What has the Dr told you thusfar? What is his reason for a drop foot & positive babinski? You say the Drs keep putting you off? I dont understand.

Have you seen a neurologist or just your primary Dr? Has anyone suggested an EMG?

I agree with Zaphoon. Get an emg done (Can not understand why the Dr did not perform one). You shouldnt have to ask for one, unless there is reason for him to believe you do not need one.

Im in the same boat but I did have an emg.
 
I have been to 2 neurologists who have both focused on the wait and see approach. Because. Of my age (44) syptoms at (41) they both tested for ms and spinal cord impingement. Neither one said anything about my drop foot and one even suggested I walk more.

I can barely walk 100 feet without having to rest. I have foot drop but basically my left legs just drags along.

I can't lift my left arm over my head and can't hold anything in my left hand.

As far as I know all conservative measures have been taken and I have seen so many posts with people having clean emgs with ALS anyway I don't know if I want the totter of the anxiety of another test.

I just went along with the pinched nerve thing for a couple of years and now I am devasted.

I can't stand the thought of my kids seeing me sick and incapacitated.

I hate pain and suffering and have gone through millions of scenarios.

I am not brave or a hero. I want to die as quickly and painlessly as possible when the time comes.

I am sorry to say I didn'T even know what this disease was until a month ago.

As they say for now, it is what it is but I feel why something with no cure or treatment. Why the worst thing ever.

i realize this is a lot of whinig and self pity but that's just the place I'm in right now.
 
I dont know about people with clean emgs and still having als. I think someone else can post about that. Im still in the research process myself but have been told by the generous people here (Who do know more than I) that that is not possibile.

Still, it doesnt sound right that the Dr did NOT suggest one. Perhaps wait & see after an emg but it doesnt take much to perform one. It almost seems standard, especially if you've done all other testing.
To my knowledge & again, I may be wrong but the Emg is a VERY IMPORTANT diagnostic tool for als & WILL show if you have it. (With footdrop being a LMN symptom).

Hope someone can give you more insight. Im sorry I dont have the answers.

Joe
 
Stop wasting time and get the EMG done. It's as simple as that. Not wanting to find-out the reason you have particular symptoms is baffling to me, especially if there is a treatment for them and you can get better both physically and mentally. Stop thinking about yourself and think about your children in all of this. Your symptoms can be caused by a gazillion different things and further tests will help determine what condition it is. Please get the help you need. I wish you well.

P.S. You cannot have ALS with a clean EMG. That is 100% incorrect.
 
Sorry wright but I don't buy the clean EMG is nog ALS thing. That's rubbish and you know it. I've read at least 20 cases here of people with clean emg's ended up with ALS. Even clean emg when fasics are in it. They don't know a thing about this disease. It's just a waiting came that can take on for YEARS!

Springowl, like others said your symptoms can be caused buy a lot of things.
are you having symptoms for 3 years that haven't progressed? I think that could be a good sign, but I'm not an expert
 
Yes whatsgoing on, I have read those posts too. I will get the emg tomorrow. I think I need a diagnosis for life planning purposes.

I Am surpised it takes so much to diagnosed ALS. Again, I already know I have an umm and lmn problem. No strokes or ataxia.

My very first symptom was around 3-2007 with weak left leg. I have been dragging it around ever since. No power in left arm or hand for over a year.

Leg spasticity began 1-2009.

I get fatigued easily and although I am tired I only sleep about 2-3 hours a night. This does not help with my weakness and fatiuge.

Muscle twitching began 3-2010
 
Sorry wright but I don't buy the clean EMG is nog ALS thing. That's rubbish and you know it. I've read at least 20 cases here of people with clean emg's ended up with ALS. Even clean emg when fasics are in it. They don't know a thing about this disease. It's just a waiting came that can take on for YEARS!

I see this claim made on this forum fairly regularly, so I'd appreciate some links to these cases that you folks claim are there. All I need is the member's name -- I'll be happy to look up their posts for myself.

Let's start with a small sample -- how about 5 cases?
 
Sorry wright but I don't buy the clean EMG is nog ALS thing. That's rubbish and you know it. I've read at least 20 cases here of people with clean emg's ended up with ALS. Even clean emg when fasics are in it. They don't know a thing about this disease. It's just a waiting came that can take on for YEARS!


I've been on this forum for almost a year now, and can honestly say I've never seen a post where someone with a clean EMG ended up with ALS. My husband is still in the "MND-Unspecified" category, and I thank God daily that we've not been given an ALS diagnosis. I know it may happen one day, but...I'm not looking to borrow trouble. And, just an aside-my husband's EMG is dirtly, and still no ALS diagnosis. It does take more than just a dirty EMG.

You are right, though, there is very little known about this disease. It's a very stressful road all around. Please share the posts you've found that had clean EMG's and diagnosed with ALS. I'd be curious to the road that led them there.

Peace,
 
whatsgoingon:
"Sorry wright but I don't buy the clean EMG is nog ALS thing. That's rubbish and you know it. I've read at least 20 cases here of people with clean emg's ended up with ALS. Even clean emg when fasics are in it. They don't know a thing about this disease. It's just a waiting came that can take on for YEARS!"

I think that unless you are an ALS specialist/neurologist, wright would be much more qualified to give advice regarding the EMG. Use the search at top and look up wright+teach. This what you will find - (quoting wright)
I co-direct and teach an Anatomy & Physiology course in the College of Science and Math and also teach Physiology in the medical school at a university.

You need to read about the EMG process and what it measures, so to speak. Please quit scaring people.
 
Whatsgoingon

It's MORONS LIKE YOU that cause so much misinformation on the internet. Shut your "internet mouth" unless you know what the hell you're talking about . . . and given it appears you don't know what the hell you're talking about . . . you won't have too much to say. It also appears that the only thing you know about ALS and EMG's, is how to spell them.

You don't buy the "clean EMG means no ALS" . . . who cares what you don't buy. Go shop somewhere else.

Just to clarify something in case someone runs across this thread while doing an internet search: If ALS starts with upper motor neuron death, then the EMG will be clean (the EMG does not detect upper motor neuron problems) . . . but as soon as the lower motor neurons are affected . . . the EMG will be dirty. End of story.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top