RUSSELLPM
New member
- Joined
- May 3, 2021
- Messages
- 7
- Reason
- Lost a loved one
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- PA
- City
- Penn Township
Hello, My father had ALS and passed from this horrible disease Nov 2022 at the age of 74. I Watched him struggle every day and fighting. I pray for everyone battling this illness and know what it does to you. I am 52 and have had left hand the arm issues since spring 2020. I have seen and read stories of people who had normal EMG when experiencing the symptoms they had, and a doctor to diagnose the disease.
I remember my fathers hand and what he described he felt early on and it is worrisome that is seems similar.
On my left hand/arm is my issues. I have atrophy between my thumb and index finger coupled with a burning and slight weakness from the same area. Goes from index finger into the back of hand and wrist in the muscle between index finger and thumb. Same burning and weakness is felt in forearm and bicep has a dull burning feeling and weakness. Doctors have said it looks slightly smaller but not atrophy. I have taken pictures over the years and you can see the difference. My hand is not the same and has been digressing over the past few years. When I use it can feel the weird uncomfortable feeling from the atrophy area.
Doctors just tell me arthritis/tendinitis I had several EMG’s on left upper only since Mar 2021. All were normal except the last one a week ago. First time something abnormal but was told not enough to mean anything.
Per the doctor,
ELECTRODIAGNOSTIC IMPRESSION:
1. This is a normal study.
2. There is no evidence of a diffuse neuromuscular disorder such as motor neuron disease.
3. There is no evidence of left cervical radiculopathy.
4. There is no evidence of left median or ulnar mononeuropathy.
COMMENT: These normal findings are unchanged from his prior study approximately 1 year ago.
SUMMARY: All sensory and motor nerve conduction study data are normal. Concentric needle EMG was performed throughout the left arm. The left abductor digiti minimi had one large motor unit potential that by itself is a nonspecific finding. Otherwise, the remaining EMG data are normal as listed in the enclosed table.
Yes, it is comforting to be told nothing is wrong, but something is. I feel it everyday. It’s been getting worst since 2020. All doctors seem to think nothing of what I’m experiencing and I feel lost and ignored.
It scares me that it has just gotten worse and with no answers that leaves ALS as a possibility to me when my father had it and I have no explanation as to what is going on. Feels like it’s just a wait and see what happens next.
Thank you for letting me discuss and write my thoughts. I pray for everyone on this forum.
(prev threads here and here)
I remember my fathers hand and what he described he felt early on and it is worrisome that is seems similar.
On my left hand/arm is my issues. I have atrophy between my thumb and index finger coupled with a burning and slight weakness from the same area. Goes from index finger into the back of hand and wrist in the muscle between index finger and thumb. Same burning and weakness is felt in forearm and bicep has a dull burning feeling and weakness. Doctors have said it looks slightly smaller but not atrophy. I have taken pictures over the years and you can see the difference. My hand is not the same and has been digressing over the past few years. When I use it can feel the weird uncomfortable feeling from the atrophy area.
Doctors just tell me arthritis/tendinitis I had several EMG’s on left upper only since Mar 2021. All were normal except the last one a week ago. First time something abnormal but was told not enough to mean anything.
Per the doctor,
ELECTRODIAGNOSTIC IMPRESSION:
1. This is a normal study.
2. There is no evidence of a diffuse neuromuscular disorder such as motor neuron disease.
3. There is no evidence of left cervical radiculopathy.
4. There is no evidence of left median or ulnar mononeuropathy.
COMMENT: These normal findings are unchanged from his prior study approximately 1 year ago.
SUMMARY: All sensory and motor nerve conduction study data are normal. Concentric needle EMG was performed throughout the left arm. The left abductor digiti minimi had one large motor unit potential that by itself is a nonspecific finding. Otherwise, the remaining EMG data are normal as listed in the enclosed table.
Yes, it is comforting to be told nothing is wrong, but something is. I feel it everyday. It’s been getting worst since 2020. All doctors seem to think nothing of what I’m experiencing and I feel lost and ignored.
It scares me that it has just gotten worse and with no answers that leaves ALS as a possibility to me when my father had it and I have no explanation as to what is going on. Feels like it’s just a wait and see what happens next.
Thank you for letting me discuss and write my thoughts. I pray for everyone on this forum.
(prev threads here and here)
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