dh6367
New member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2021
- Messages
- 3
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
I am 22 years old, male, with no immediate family members suffering from a neurological disorder. Starting last week, I began waking up with numb ring and pinky fingers, and occasionally the entire hand completely numb. This would diminish upon getting up. On my drive to work, I noticed that my grip on the wheel felt weak, but I had no trouble actually holding on. This effected both hands, and sometimes one more pronounced than the other but never extremely so.
This general feeling of sluggish fingers and hand weakness have persisted for the last week. In fact, the main finger sluggishness is in my index finger and thumb, but this is likely because they are used the most. The feeling is present in all fingers. It should be noted that I can still grip heavy objects. I can also manipulate things like keys and buttons, but my fingers feel slow and awkward, so I need to concentrate more when doing these activities. Twirling a fork at dinner last night was more difficult than normal, but I couldn’t tell if I was imagining that to be the case. Same goes for handwriting and typing. It feels like my coordination is worse, similar to how your fingers feel untying laces in the cold.
My arms up to the shoulders have at times and now generally feel weak, but their strength is still normal. I also have felt a bit awkward with my balance at times, as well as perceived dragging of my feet, but again I couldn’t notice any significant loss of ability.
I haven’t had any fasciculations anywhere at any point. My primary concern is over the sluggish/weak feeling in both sets of my fingers, hands and arms. Does ALS present with sluggishness and lack of coordination in the digits of your hand? In both hands at once?
I understand it is exceedingly rare for someone of my age to be affected by this disease, yet I am struggling to put it out of my mind.
Any and all opinions are greatly appreciated.
This general feeling of sluggish fingers and hand weakness have persisted for the last week. In fact, the main finger sluggishness is in my index finger and thumb, but this is likely because they are used the most. The feeling is present in all fingers. It should be noted that I can still grip heavy objects. I can also manipulate things like keys and buttons, but my fingers feel slow and awkward, so I need to concentrate more when doing these activities. Twirling a fork at dinner last night was more difficult than normal, but I couldn’t tell if I was imagining that to be the case. Same goes for handwriting and typing. It feels like my coordination is worse, similar to how your fingers feel untying laces in the cold.
My arms up to the shoulders have at times and now generally feel weak, but their strength is still normal. I also have felt a bit awkward with my balance at times, as well as perceived dragging of my feet, but again I couldn’t notice any significant loss of ability.
I haven’t had any fasciculations anywhere at any point. My primary concern is over the sluggish/weak feeling in both sets of my fingers, hands and arms. Does ALS present with sluggishness and lack of coordination in the digits of your hand? In both hands at once?
I understand it is exceedingly rare for someone of my age to be affected by this disease, yet I am struggling to put it out of my mind.
Any and all opinions are greatly appreciated.