ShiftKicker
Moderator
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2015
- Messages
- 8,378
- Reason
- DX UMND/PLS
- Diagnosis
- 06/2015
- Country
- CA
- State
- BC
- City
- Vancouver
Hello-
I have read your sticky on what to post, and have viewed many of your past threads. There is a huge amount of information within this forum, and I am full of admiration for those of you who are struggling with your MND and are still keeping patience with those of us who have not yet been diagnosed with a particular condition or disease.
I am in the position of having upper motor neuron symptoms with no visible atrophy of any muscles. My gp held off on referring me to a neurologist thinking I was possibly suffering from the effects of a bad flu when I went to her with left leg dragging/foot drop. When the leg became progressively more spastic, she referred me to a neuro ophthalmologist with the thoughts that perhaps I had MS. At our initial exam she flat out told me she was not convinced it was MS and ordered many blood tests to rule out a variety of conditions. All came back clean. She also ordered an MRI of my neck and head- which came back with no signs of demylenation. Again, no MS signs. I have an appointment with her again this Friday to discuss what to do next.
I was an extremely fit athlete- 18 hours a heavy exercise weekly in training for my sport. I am 42 years of age with no past health issues other than sports injuries- strictly mechanical and all resolved with physio. I went to my physio last week to ask for some exercises/stretches to help me with the leg spasticity and gait issues I am encountering. I feel my uneven gait has thrown my whole alignment off and my shoulders and neck are now cramping as a result. When my physio gave me his assessment, he was concerned about marked hyper reflexes on my entire left side, and the "brisk" reflexes on my right. He noted weakness on my left (upper and lower) limbs in relation to my right. I was also unable to lift my left heel up into tip toe position no matter how hard I tried. He also mentioned the was a general loss of condition that was not normal for me in his experience. This guy knows my history and knows what I am capable of, and his concern was strong. He also ruled out MS as a potential due to my normal skin sensation and lack of tingling or pins and needles. As I had had no actual incident of injury, he ruled out impact injury to the spine.
My concern, at this time, is that my core is getting progressively weaker and I am having to rest my chin in my hand while at my desk to support my upper body if I am leaning forward. Combined with the slowly increasing leg spasticity (5 months now), and "slow" hands, and with constant rippling under the skin on both my legs, I wonder at possible MND. What questions do those of you with experience in the MND medical/testing period recommend I ask the specialist when I visit her on Friday to ensure I have all possible knowledge and to assure myself this is not motor neuron disease based, or to help narrow things down further? All I know at this time is what it is NOT, and I would like to ensure I am doing everything I can to make sure I get quick answers.
Thank you
I have read your sticky on what to post, and have viewed many of your past threads. There is a huge amount of information within this forum, and I am full of admiration for those of you who are struggling with your MND and are still keeping patience with those of us who have not yet been diagnosed with a particular condition or disease.
I am in the position of having upper motor neuron symptoms with no visible atrophy of any muscles. My gp held off on referring me to a neurologist thinking I was possibly suffering from the effects of a bad flu when I went to her with left leg dragging/foot drop. When the leg became progressively more spastic, she referred me to a neuro ophthalmologist with the thoughts that perhaps I had MS. At our initial exam she flat out told me she was not convinced it was MS and ordered many blood tests to rule out a variety of conditions. All came back clean. She also ordered an MRI of my neck and head- which came back with no signs of demylenation. Again, no MS signs. I have an appointment with her again this Friday to discuss what to do next.
I was an extremely fit athlete- 18 hours a heavy exercise weekly in training for my sport. I am 42 years of age with no past health issues other than sports injuries- strictly mechanical and all resolved with physio. I went to my physio last week to ask for some exercises/stretches to help me with the leg spasticity and gait issues I am encountering. I feel my uneven gait has thrown my whole alignment off and my shoulders and neck are now cramping as a result. When my physio gave me his assessment, he was concerned about marked hyper reflexes on my entire left side, and the "brisk" reflexes on my right. He noted weakness on my left (upper and lower) limbs in relation to my right. I was also unable to lift my left heel up into tip toe position no matter how hard I tried. He also mentioned the was a general loss of condition that was not normal for me in his experience. This guy knows my history and knows what I am capable of, and his concern was strong. He also ruled out MS as a potential due to my normal skin sensation and lack of tingling or pins and needles. As I had had no actual incident of injury, he ruled out impact injury to the spine.
My concern, at this time, is that my core is getting progressively weaker and I am having to rest my chin in my hand while at my desk to support my upper body if I am leaning forward. Combined with the slowly increasing leg spasticity (5 months now), and "slow" hands, and with constant rippling under the skin on both my legs, I wonder at possible MND. What questions do those of you with experience in the MND medical/testing period recommend I ask the specialist when I visit her on Friday to ensure I have all possible knowledge and to assure myself this is not motor neuron disease based, or to help narrow things down further? All I know at this time is what it is NOT, and I would like to ensure I am doing everything I can to make sure I get quick answers.
Thank you