jordan1ad
New member
- Joined
- May 18, 2021
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 05/2021
- Country
- US
- State
- NY
- City
- NY
Hi All,
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this. I had an EMG on May 4th but was not able to get clear information from my 1st Neuro who seemed uncomfortable discussing my condition in terms I could understand. The first time I saw him, I was feeling fine and felt no weakness but we scheduled a follow up EMG and I suspect he was very surprised by the test results.
45yo Male
Approx. 2 years ago I started having regular abdominal cramps. They were always self induced and most often occurred while putting socks on or tying shoes. At the time, I did not realize that they were muscle cramps but instead believed I may have damaged my liver by consuming too much alcohol too regularly. I realize now that I also had trouble squatting or sitting on my knees with my children b/c I would get pain in my hips or the arch of my foot.
After going to PCP I ended up seeing a Gastroenterologist. He advised I reduce my alcohol consumption and focus on staying hydrated and making sure I was getting enough magnesium and potassium in my regular diet.
After Gastro I saw a Cardio who looked at blood and did stress test which I passed with flying colors. I stopped seeking a solution and got used to the cramping while focussing on drinking more water and less alcohol.
In January of this year my PCP noticed elevated CPK levels in my blood. I told her that my cramps persisted but I had gotten used to it. I was consuming less alcohol and less often but I was not drinking much water.
My PCP recommended I see a Rheumatologist who did blood tests and ordered an MRI. It was my understanding that those tests ruled out many autoimmune diseases and stroke or other brain related issues.
Then in early March I was walking slightly up hill when for the first time I experienced a very strange feeling of not being able to walk normally. This strange feeling while walking was not consistent and I associated it with a new pair of sneakers I had started wearing often. I stopped wearing those sneakers but the difficulty walking continued to occur sporadically.
At this point my PCP recommended I see a Neuro. In my first Neuro appt. I was feeling fine and told him that I was not experiencing the walking issues that day. I passed all the 1st exam tests but scheduled a follow up EMG.
In the weeks leading up to the EMG my stress level was through the roof b/c after not working for much of the pandemic my industry opened up fully and I was double and triple booking jobs. I had experienced 2 specific walking episodes that left me really scared b/c it was so difficult to walk on those occasions and by forcing myself to walk I had completely over worked my leg muscles.
I have attached a copy of my EMG from May 4th and am waiting for appointments with other Neuro's who specialize in this area. I am hoping for the best but have been preparing for the worst. My symptoms have progressed and I have difficulty walking all of the time except in the early AM for the first hour or so. I have been getting a lot of hand cramping and have fasciculations all over my body. I believe the fascs are all day everyday but I only really notice them when I sit down to relax in the early evening. I have started paying a lot of attention to walking b/c if/when I am careless I stumble b/c my foot is dropping. Sometimes I can walk on my toes and other times I cannot. I have trouble balancing on one foot (either one).
I left out that I have also in the past month seen a ortho back surgeon who ordered and reviewed MRI's of my entire spine. Though my back has several issues, the ortho does not see any evidence that my peripheral nerves are impacted and my difficulty walking is not related to the condition of my spine.
All thoughts welcome and thank you in advance to taking the time to read my disjointed story.
Sincerely,
JT
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this. I had an EMG on May 4th but was not able to get clear information from my 1st Neuro who seemed uncomfortable discussing my condition in terms I could understand. The first time I saw him, I was feeling fine and felt no weakness but we scheduled a follow up EMG and I suspect he was very surprised by the test results.
45yo Male
Approx. 2 years ago I started having regular abdominal cramps. They were always self induced and most often occurred while putting socks on or tying shoes. At the time, I did not realize that they were muscle cramps but instead believed I may have damaged my liver by consuming too much alcohol too regularly. I realize now that I also had trouble squatting or sitting on my knees with my children b/c I would get pain in my hips or the arch of my foot.
After going to PCP I ended up seeing a Gastroenterologist. He advised I reduce my alcohol consumption and focus on staying hydrated and making sure I was getting enough magnesium and potassium in my regular diet.
After Gastro I saw a Cardio who looked at blood and did stress test which I passed with flying colors. I stopped seeking a solution and got used to the cramping while focussing on drinking more water and less alcohol.
In January of this year my PCP noticed elevated CPK levels in my blood. I told her that my cramps persisted but I had gotten used to it. I was consuming less alcohol and less often but I was not drinking much water.
My PCP recommended I see a Rheumatologist who did blood tests and ordered an MRI. It was my understanding that those tests ruled out many autoimmune diseases and stroke or other brain related issues.
Then in early March I was walking slightly up hill when for the first time I experienced a very strange feeling of not being able to walk normally. This strange feeling while walking was not consistent and I associated it with a new pair of sneakers I had started wearing often. I stopped wearing those sneakers but the difficulty walking continued to occur sporadically.
At this point my PCP recommended I see a Neuro. In my first Neuro appt. I was feeling fine and told him that I was not experiencing the walking issues that day. I passed all the 1st exam tests but scheduled a follow up EMG.
In the weeks leading up to the EMG my stress level was through the roof b/c after not working for much of the pandemic my industry opened up fully and I was double and triple booking jobs. I had experienced 2 specific walking episodes that left me really scared b/c it was so difficult to walk on those occasions and by forcing myself to walk I had completely over worked my leg muscles.
I have attached a copy of my EMG from May 4th and am waiting for appointments with other Neuro's who specialize in this area. I am hoping for the best but have been preparing for the worst. My symptoms have progressed and I have difficulty walking all of the time except in the early AM for the first hour or so. I have been getting a lot of hand cramping and have fasciculations all over my body. I believe the fascs are all day everyday but I only really notice them when I sit down to relax in the early evening. I have started paying a lot of attention to walking b/c if/when I am careless I stumble b/c my foot is dropping. Sometimes I can walk on my toes and other times I cannot. I have trouble balancing on one foot (either one).
I left out that I have also in the past month seen a ortho back surgeon who ordered and reviewed MRI's of my entire spine. Though my back has several issues, the ortho does not see any evidence that my peripheral nerves are impacted and my difficulty walking is not related to the condition of my spine.
All thoughts welcome and thank you in advance to taking the time to read my disjointed story.
Sincerely,
JT