FootballNick
New member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2007
- Messages
- 9
- Country
- US
- State
- NJ
- City
- Morris
Hi Everyone,
I applaud you all for fighting on and also for the compassion you share on this forum. I've been reading for a while and thought it was time to post before I lose my mind completely.
I'm 43 (M) and a father of 1 son, with another (son) on the way this May. Live in NJ. Admittedly...I'm far too overweight...but have always been extremely strong and healthy even with the excess.
Starting last September (07) I began feeling cramps in my hands and wrists (similar to a writer's type cramp more progressed in my left hand) when working around the house, at the computer too much or during recreational activities. I also noticed that my left Pinky finger was not quite right...it was bent upward which has made typing slightly more difficult - although not a major inconvenience. I don't remember injuring this finger. The stiffness and dull pain became more pronounced while on vacation in October. I visited a PCP and Neurologist in November - had bloodwork, general reflexes and balance tests, a Brain MRI and an NCV/EMG on my left hand/arm. All came back within normal...except the bloodwork did show my Vitamin B12 was in the low range (250) - more on this later.
After the tests - I began getting random Fasiculations in early December - mainly in my upper arms, stomach and upper legs. Also my left arm and hand began to weaken.....very slightly. It would just get tired quickly from doing things such as writing, washing dishes or holding a phone. After another visit to the Neuro...in which he spent about 5 minutes with me - he told me I had BFS and Anxiety....and prescribed me Xanex and other longer term depression medication. I was unhappy with this prognosis - mainly because he didn't seem to care to believe me in any way..nor spend any time on the visit.
I sought out another Neuro...and got extremely lucky to find one who has been both thorough and diligent with following up on my tests. Had another EMG where he found slight nerve irritation in my left hand. I'm not sure of the clinical terminology...but it was like a slight low hum on the EMG. He immediately checked my Neck and ordered a Neck MRI as well as more specified bloodwork to try and isolate Lyme and Rhumatoid factor among other things. He also ordered a sleep study. He seemed to rule out BFS by tapping on my hands near my thumbs a certain way to try and induce Fasics (unsuccessfully).
Sorry about the long windedness. I wanted to write today because I am scared as hell.....interestingly I'm not scared for me, but more for my wife and kids and the situation / scenarios that might ensue. My left arm has become noticably weaker in the tricep area. My fasics have become more frequent and now appear in my hands, calves and feet as well. They seem to be random. I'm much more fatigued and tired and need to sleep much earlier....which has caused much stress in my family...especially with a 6month pregnant wife. I've also had much more mucus in my throat for the past 3 weeks and constantly have to cough to clear it. My voice is now hoarse and softer when I speak. My calves experience a crampy feeling at night and if I sit too long or sleep without much movement, my muscles become extremely stiff. Admittedly, some of this may be related to increased anxiety and lack of sleep.
The final straw was that this morning I woke up and my right hand between my thumb and index was twitching on and off for about 2 hours. The fasics were fairly rough as they caused my thumb and finger to twitch noticably as well. It's hours later and the hand still twitches a bit.
Besides being scared I also wanted to write to give some people who come here looking for answers some possible other options to consider. These came from consulting with my doctor who is looking at these possibilities as well as a NMD. I'm currently undiagnosed....but there are still several possibilities to think about:
Sleep Apnea or other Sleep disorders - which might limit the amount of oxygen intake or melatonin may cause muscle fatigue and weakeness as well as other neurological symptoms such as Fasiculations.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency - also may cause neurological symptoms.
Celiac Disease - (related to the inability to absorb Gluten) may show certain neurological symptoms which can mimic a NMD in sever forms. I even read a case study where a patient diagnosed with ALS actually had Celiac....he had progressed to the point of muscle atrophy in his leg / hands. After a strict Gluten free diet for 9 months...some (not all) of his muscle function returned.
I will try to keep the forum updated on my status. I have a follow-up next week with the Neuro to go over the latest results.
I applaud you all for fighting on and also for the compassion you share on this forum. I've been reading for a while and thought it was time to post before I lose my mind completely.
I'm 43 (M) and a father of 1 son, with another (son) on the way this May. Live in NJ. Admittedly...I'm far too overweight...but have always been extremely strong and healthy even with the excess.
Starting last September (07) I began feeling cramps in my hands and wrists (similar to a writer's type cramp more progressed in my left hand) when working around the house, at the computer too much or during recreational activities. I also noticed that my left Pinky finger was not quite right...it was bent upward which has made typing slightly more difficult - although not a major inconvenience. I don't remember injuring this finger. The stiffness and dull pain became more pronounced while on vacation in October. I visited a PCP and Neurologist in November - had bloodwork, general reflexes and balance tests, a Brain MRI and an NCV/EMG on my left hand/arm. All came back within normal...except the bloodwork did show my Vitamin B12 was in the low range (250) - more on this later.
After the tests - I began getting random Fasiculations in early December - mainly in my upper arms, stomach and upper legs. Also my left arm and hand began to weaken.....very slightly. It would just get tired quickly from doing things such as writing, washing dishes or holding a phone. After another visit to the Neuro...in which he spent about 5 minutes with me - he told me I had BFS and Anxiety....and prescribed me Xanex and other longer term depression medication. I was unhappy with this prognosis - mainly because he didn't seem to care to believe me in any way..nor spend any time on the visit.
I sought out another Neuro...and got extremely lucky to find one who has been both thorough and diligent with following up on my tests. Had another EMG where he found slight nerve irritation in my left hand. I'm not sure of the clinical terminology...but it was like a slight low hum on the EMG. He immediately checked my Neck and ordered a Neck MRI as well as more specified bloodwork to try and isolate Lyme and Rhumatoid factor among other things. He also ordered a sleep study. He seemed to rule out BFS by tapping on my hands near my thumbs a certain way to try and induce Fasics (unsuccessfully).
Sorry about the long windedness. I wanted to write today because I am scared as hell.....interestingly I'm not scared for me, but more for my wife and kids and the situation / scenarios that might ensue. My left arm has become noticably weaker in the tricep area. My fasics have become more frequent and now appear in my hands, calves and feet as well. They seem to be random. I'm much more fatigued and tired and need to sleep much earlier....which has caused much stress in my family...especially with a 6month pregnant wife. I've also had much more mucus in my throat for the past 3 weeks and constantly have to cough to clear it. My voice is now hoarse and softer when I speak. My calves experience a crampy feeling at night and if I sit too long or sleep without much movement, my muscles become extremely stiff. Admittedly, some of this may be related to increased anxiety and lack of sleep.
The final straw was that this morning I woke up and my right hand between my thumb and index was twitching on and off for about 2 hours. The fasics were fairly rough as they caused my thumb and finger to twitch noticably as well. It's hours later and the hand still twitches a bit.
Besides being scared I also wanted to write to give some people who come here looking for answers some possible other options to consider. These came from consulting with my doctor who is looking at these possibilities as well as a NMD. I'm currently undiagnosed....but there are still several possibilities to think about:
Sleep Apnea or other Sleep disorders - which might limit the amount of oxygen intake or melatonin may cause muscle fatigue and weakeness as well as other neurological symptoms such as Fasiculations.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency - also may cause neurological symptoms.
Celiac Disease - (related to the inability to absorb Gluten) may show certain neurological symptoms which can mimic a NMD in sever forms. I even read a case study where a patient diagnosed with ALS actually had Celiac....he had progressed to the point of muscle atrophy in his leg / hands. After a strict Gluten free diet for 9 months...some (not all) of his muscle function returned.
I will try to keep the forum updated on my status. I have a follow-up next week with the Neuro to go over the latest results.