Thoughts on my symptoms

[eec]

Hello,

On February 17,18 2023 I went to the ER twice with tingling that spread from my right arm to all my limbs. I was told to check if it was MS there on the first night. The tingling stayed with me for about a month in all limbs and tingling stayed on my right foot/ankle which comes and goes.

In late march/april my fingers seem to be losing strength. My right thumb can no longer squeeze things as it once could. It still usable but often when I use it with force it will twitch and I will feel pain. The left thumb is in a similar position but tends to have more spams and twitching when using force and less pain then the right thumb. When I type my arms begin to feel tired and I can feel pain in them.

In April my arms began to feel very heavy and noticed that everything I picked up felt heavier.

In April I began to feel lightheaded and started having tinnitus. That has been persistent since April to this day.

My legs feel weaker as well but I am not clinically weak in anyway so far. I can still walk and still pass the tests the Neurologist put you through. Sometimes when I walk I get a lot of pain in my knees, usually in the inner portion.

My Neurologist was sure everything would resolve itself but it has not. He ordered an MRI and the results were normal for my brain and neck. He has not reviewed it but I got the results myself. Initial blood test was clean.

He thinks the issues with my hands are carpel tunnel. A hand specialist told its either not carpel tunnel or very mild.

I am worried I have ALS specifically because the issue with my thumbs/hands. They are progressively worse day by day. Every doctor has said they want to wait on the EMG. Should I push for it? Should I be worried about ALS? I am truly losing it over this and not sure what to do.

 

[ShiftKicker]

Hello-

Sorry you find yourself here. We do ask that people read here first before posting, as it answers many of the questions people have. You report sensory issues primarily, which point away from ALS/MND. It is up to you how you wish to proceed with your doctors, but pushing for an EMG specifically because of a worry about ALS is likely a waste of your time and pull focus from exploring in the right direction- you do not report anything that would cause a doctor concern about ALS. What it might be that causing your symptoms would be something to keep working with your doctors to discover.

All the best.

 

[lgelb]

The EMG would be helpful in confirming or ruling out carpal tunnel issues or related problems, so you shouldn't have to push for it.

The tinnitus and dizziness might or might be related, but should be evaluated. I would see an ENT for that.

I agree that ALS is unlikely.

 

[eec]

Thank you both for your replies. No doctor has mentioned anything about ALS. My primary care doctor told me "You better hope this is anxiety" in Feb after my two visits to the ER. I was curious what he was referring to, and was scared by it so I began to google, saw ALS come up and began to spiral.

Some other symptoms I left out: strange popping in my throat when swallowing and feeling like I choke on my spit. I can still chew and eat fine. I had muscles twitches all over my body for a few months but those are less frequent but still occur occasionally - randomly, all over my body.

I have a potentially very dumb question. Would pain be considered a sensory issue?

Thanks again for the replies.

 

[ShiftKicker]

Yes. If you "feel" something, it's sensory. Please make sure to read the link provided you above. It really does address your questions.

From that link:

Pain
If you have pain, aches, tingling, soreness, etc. as a presenting symptom,these point away from ALS. ALS is a disease of the motor nerves, not the sensory nerves. There can be pain in ALS, but it is almost always well into the disease process, when the muscles can no longer hold the joints together or when immobility has caused frozen joints, bedsores, etc.