Worried about symptoms

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tea1000

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Learn about ALS
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Hello,
I have some concerns regarding my symptoms which, from what I've read, mimic ALS.
A month and a half ago, I woke up one morning with my right hand paralyzed. I shrugged it a bit and the function came back, but it felt as if I had muscle cramps, that people often have during the night. I thought I had probably slept on the hand and caused it to temporarily paralyze, so I didn't worry much at the time. However, one function that remained kinda off, opening my hand from a fist causes a stiff feeling in the hand muscles. Again, I didn't worry much about it until about 2 weeks later, I started feeling weakness in my whole right arm, and shortly after that my left foot. They hadn't lost any functions, only felt a bit weak and weird. I got scared and visited a neurologist, who performed a neurological exam and said I have a slight right-sided weakness. She ordered a MRI of the head, which came back clean. She said that maybe scoliosis is causing my symptoms and that they'll probably go away on their own.
However, they sort of progressed. Now my left leg and hand feel weak too, mostly at night when I'm trying to sleep, or during the day my fingers get weak when I'm using phone, or legs feel slightly weak when walking or sitting. Or, my jaw getting tired after I speak for a few minutes, when holding a presentation for example. And also, opening right hand from a fist stiffness hasn't improved at all. I've read the first post on this forum, saying ALS isn't about the feeling, it's the loss of function, but I'm afraid that, since my symptoms seem to be progressing, they might lead to the loss of function. Also I'm 20 years old and aware that chances of having ALS are small for me, but still I'd like an opinion of what I'm experiencing and how much it can be related to ALS.
 
We don’t get warning of our first loss of function. anyway, you are reporting symptoms legs, arms and jaw in the space of 1.5 months. Only the most aggressive forms of ALS move that fast but those people are PARALYZED in the initial area by this time. Since you can move your arm this isn’t you. Continue to work with your doctor
 
Thank you so much for clarifying!!
 
I have a few more questions if that's alright, but they're more general ones. How fast do initial symptoms usually spread? Is it possible with als for symptoms to start in one limb and then spread to all 4 in a month or so?? And does a feeling of weakness come before a terminal loss of function?? Id appreciate if you could respond because the info on the internet is so conflicting about this, and I'd like to know, as a future doctor (hopefully a neurologist). Thank you so much anyway
 
I believe asked and answered re feeling and possible rapid spread. There is no usual as you will see should you become a neuromuscular specialist
 
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