1sunday
New member
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2019
- Messages
- 6
- Reason
- Other
- Country
- Uni
- State
- Arkansas
- City
- Jonesboro
So glad I have found this group. I have some serious symptoms and questions about tests that I hope someone can answer for me. In April of 2017 I started falling for no reason. My knees would just buckle and down I would go. I fell at least once a week thmonth of April. Then I would go about three for four months and fall again. I have always been ckumsy, even as a kid and didn't think much about the falls because I have had surgery in my left knee twice and once on my right knee. My right knee has no cartledge or ligaments on its right side,so it has always had a tendency to give out on me. had surgery on it when I was 16 and am now 58. Went to the doctor and I have osteoarthritis really bad in both knees.
In the fall of 2017 my lower back began to hurt. I went to neurosurgeon and had MRI which showed three bulging discs, Bone spurs and lots if osteoarthritis. Said no surgery needed and to just take a steroid shot or arthritis medicine. The middle of October of 2017 I had an arthritis flare up in my hips that lasted til the middle of January. Took steroid shots and predinose, pain pills and muscle relaxers. In Feb of 2018, I went to physical therapy for a month and felt much better. I had not been able to climb steps since the arthritis attack and the physical therapy help me to be able to walk up steps again.
Everything was fine e u til around the end of June 2018 when I noticed I had difficulty getting up from a chair occasionally. Neurosurgeon sent me to pain management and I had a steroid injection in my lower back. One week later my right knee gave out on me while walking down two steps and I fell catching myself with both arms. Went to doctor, no broken bones and prescribed a brace. and 4 weeks later I had a bilateral cortisone injection tion into my hips. Two weeks after the fall and one week after the injections, I am emptying the dishwasher and realized I couldn't put a plate on the bottom cabinet. In fact I couldn't raise either of my arms above my head while standing or sitting, however when I am in bed at night I can raise the above my head.
Doctor sent me to neurologist and I had brain, cervical, and thoracic MRIs. Nothing showed on Brain, cervical showed problems with C 4-6 and some narrowing on both sides . Thoracic showed small tumor at T10 and protruding disc at T12 L1. Doctors said none of what showed on MRIs would cause my muscle weakness. I had a lumbar puncture which turned up nothing. He did an EMG and nerve conduction test which showed peripheral neuropathy and carpel tunnel in my right wrist. Blood test showed muscles are alive and not leaking.
On my last visit in December 2018, after about 45 minutes of having me bend, walk, touching muscles, checking reflexes and checking strength, he turns to me and says, I have no idea what is wrong. Your muscles are ok and nerves are not compressed. You don't fit in any box. This is kind of like limb girdle but you don't have the markers for it. Whatever this is I feel certain will resolve itself on its own and it may take up to two years.. I am going to have to do some research and dig deep to figure this out. A week later his nurse calls and tells me that he wants me to give blood for a genetics test. It has been five weeks and tests results are not back and I am freaking out.
I have been going to occupational therapy three days a week. Also, I forgot to mention that about a month after my arms went limp, I could no longer get out of a chair. I have been sitting and sleeping in my lift chair since the 10th of October. My arms have very little strength and my range of motion is better some days than others. Oh, and around April I had a sharp pain on the left side of my stomach. Had a stress test and echo and heart checked out fine. Did notice that I had weakness in my left arm shortly after the pain but it went away after about a month. Then in October I had a sharp electrical pain shoot from around my backbone down my left arm into my hand making my left arm much weaker. I am a type II diabetic and take 130 mg of insulin a night.
I am not sure what is happening to me. My shoulder blades hurt and upper arms hurt periodically and because the cortisone shot has worn off,. My hips some days hurt so that I stoop over. I am under a great deal of stress.
I am sorry this post is so long but I felt I needed to give background information. Is this anything like ALS? I can still drive.i have no problems with my legs in regards to being able to lift for working the gas pedal or brakes. Arms are pretty stiff when I first started using the steering wheel but after a little bit they loosen up. Please excuse typos.
In the fall of 2017 my lower back began to hurt. I went to neurosurgeon and had MRI which showed three bulging discs, Bone spurs and lots if osteoarthritis. Said no surgery needed and to just take a steroid shot or arthritis medicine. The middle of October of 2017 I had an arthritis flare up in my hips that lasted til the middle of January. Took steroid shots and predinose, pain pills and muscle relaxers. In Feb of 2018, I went to physical therapy for a month and felt much better. I had not been able to climb steps since the arthritis attack and the physical therapy help me to be able to walk up steps again.
Everything was fine e u til around the end of June 2018 when I noticed I had difficulty getting up from a chair occasionally. Neurosurgeon sent me to pain management and I had a steroid injection in my lower back. One week later my right knee gave out on me while walking down two steps and I fell catching myself with both arms. Went to doctor, no broken bones and prescribed a brace. and 4 weeks later I had a bilateral cortisone injection tion into my hips. Two weeks after the fall and one week after the injections, I am emptying the dishwasher and realized I couldn't put a plate on the bottom cabinet. In fact I couldn't raise either of my arms above my head while standing or sitting, however when I am in bed at night I can raise the above my head.
Doctor sent me to neurologist and I had brain, cervical, and thoracic MRIs. Nothing showed on Brain, cervical showed problems with C 4-6 and some narrowing on both sides . Thoracic showed small tumor at T10 and protruding disc at T12 L1. Doctors said none of what showed on MRIs would cause my muscle weakness. I had a lumbar puncture which turned up nothing. He did an EMG and nerve conduction test which showed peripheral neuropathy and carpel tunnel in my right wrist. Blood test showed muscles are alive and not leaking.
On my last visit in December 2018, after about 45 minutes of having me bend, walk, touching muscles, checking reflexes and checking strength, he turns to me and says, I have no idea what is wrong. Your muscles are ok and nerves are not compressed. You don't fit in any box. This is kind of like limb girdle but you don't have the markers for it. Whatever this is I feel certain will resolve itself on its own and it may take up to two years.. I am going to have to do some research and dig deep to figure this out. A week later his nurse calls and tells me that he wants me to give blood for a genetics test. It has been five weeks and tests results are not back and I am freaking out.
I have been going to occupational therapy three days a week. Also, I forgot to mention that about a month after my arms went limp, I could no longer get out of a chair. I have been sitting and sleeping in my lift chair since the 10th of October. My arms have very little strength and my range of motion is better some days than others. Oh, and around April I had a sharp pain on the left side of my stomach. Had a stress test and echo and heart checked out fine. Did notice that I had weakness in my left arm shortly after the pain but it went away after about a month. Then in October I had a sharp electrical pain shoot from around my backbone down my left arm into my hand making my left arm much weaker. I am a type II diabetic and take 130 mg of insulin a night.
I am not sure what is happening to me. My shoulder blades hurt and upper arms hurt periodically and because the cortisone shot has worn off,. My hips some days hurt so that I stoop over. I am under a great deal of stress.
I am sorry this post is so long but I felt I needed to give background information. Is this anything like ALS? I can still drive.i have no problems with my legs in regards to being able to lift for working the gas pedal or brakes. Arms are pretty stiff when I first started using the steering wheel but after a little bit they loosen up. Please excuse typos.
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