I know that many have been diagnosed with ALS because every other possibility had been exhausted. What other things do doctors look for that could be causing ALSish symptoms? I know that ALS ultimately is not a subtle disease to say the least, but it is in the beginning it can be.
I started twitching 2.5 years ago and show minor (possible) atrophy in my right thenar thumb muscle and inner left foot. I also show intense muscle fatigue after exertion and catch my foot quite often (but don't trip.) My right hand is stiff in the morning and I often wake up with the ulnar nerve on one or both hands causing my pinkie or ring finger to be asleep/paralyzed. My right thenar and hypothenar have been facisculating like crazy lately. But I've also have other symptoms such as flickering vision, tingling, sore spots, etc. And I've had 2 clean EMGs and doctors saying they don't think it's ALS.
What else could it be? What causes fasciculations, weakness, fatigue, cramps, stiffness, minor atrophy, etc? I've heard of:
CIDP
Lyme Disease
Kennedy's Disease
some cancers/paraneoplastic syndromes
radiation damage
spinal muscular atrophy
benign fasciculation cramp syndrome
I know there are many people on this site who are undiagnosed and looking for answers. I think ALS is a relatively well known condition; I've recently seen two features on television that discussed it. Because of this, Google University tends to suggest ALS but many of the individuals who come here should be investigating other possibilities with their doctors. What are some of the other ones?
Thanks,
Andy
I started twitching 2.5 years ago and show minor (possible) atrophy in my right thenar thumb muscle and inner left foot. I also show intense muscle fatigue after exertion and catch my foot quite often (but don't trip.) My right hand is stiff in the morning and I often wake up with the ulnar nerve on one or both hands causing my pinkie or ring finger to be asleep/paralyzed. My right thenar and hypothenar have been facisculating like crazy lately. But I've also have other symptoms such as flickering vision, tingling, sore spots, etc. And I've had 2 clean EMGs and doctors saying they don't think it's ALS.
What else could it be? What causes fasciculations, weakness, fatigue, cramps, stiffness, minor atrophy, etc? I've heard of:
CIDP
Lyme Disease
Kennedy's Disease
some cancers/paraneoplastic syndromes
radiation damage
spinal muscular atrophy
benign fasciculation cramp syndrome
I know there are many people on this site who are undiagnosed and looking for answers. I think ALS is a relatively well known condition; I've recently seen two features on television that discussed it. Because of this, Google University tends to suggest ALS but many of the individuals who come here should be investigating other possibilities with their doctors. What are some of the other ones?
Thanks,
Andy