firefly34
New member
- Joined
- May 7, 2018
- Messages
- 5
- Reason
- Lost a loved one
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- AL
- City
- Enterprise
Hello all,
First I would like to say my heart goes out to those struggling with this horrible disease.
I’m writing today to ask opinions about my Dad’s situation. I will try to be brief, but thorough.
Nov. 2017 - Dad swears he remembers falling while outside, and then getting up and moving on. He did not tell me about the fall until later.
Dec. 2017 - Christmas shopping, I noticed he tended to veer in one direction while walking - to the left. He would correct himself and do it again.
Jan. 2018 - Dad falls backwards carrying groceries after his left leg buckles on him.
Feb. 2018 - Dad gets very sick but this is because of bad gallstone stuck in his bile duct. We also notice he has a lot of trouble walking, but can walk under his own power. Five day hospital stay results in gallbladder removal, and doctors say weakness will likely go away with time. He walks very well for a few days after leaving hospital.
Late Feb. 2018 - Trips and falls again and has trouble getting up. We take him to urgent care as he has degenerative disc disease and we think it could be related.
March 2018 - MRI on low back. Dad reports pain to touch near inner thigh on left knee. Has to start using crutches to support himself. Notice he has foot drop in left foot, often getting it caught on rugs, etc.
Mid March 2018 - Refered to neuro-spine Specialist. Requests MRI of entire spine and brain. At this point my Dad is in a wheelchair and has lost all ability to move his hips in any direction. Right leg is weak as aell. Arms starting to get weak. MRI is clean. Neuro-spine gives referral to neuro.
Mid April 2018 - Neuro does basic reflex test at first appointment. Remarks that he has good reflexes. Dad demonstrates both legs are weak but weakness more pronounced. Neuro tests coordination by having Dad touch fingers to nose and he does it easily. Only has issues raising hands to head level. Reports it is painful to do so.
Current - Neuro puts in order for home health consultation (not sure why, which scares me). Home health looks at left hip, where Dad reports a lot of pain. She calls in an order for an X-Ray and says his hip could be broken because his leg apparently appears shorter (I don’t see it) and his leg always flops out to the side, uncontrolled. We are awaiting results of X-Ray.
Another Neuro appointment tomorrow and first EMG test Wednesday.
Dad’s symptoms currently are extreme weakness in left leg (stronger in abduction only), inability to move hips, arm weakness and loss of grip strength (has to hold a drink with two hands), inability to sit up from lying down without assistance. He is wheelchair bound. He’s reporting a lot of pain in left hip and lower spine when his left leg is moved (he cannot move it on his own). The most alarming thing, and the reason that I’m here, is I noticed the power of his sneezes has diminished. I asked him to cough for me and he could not muster up a powerful, normal cough. The other day I also noticed muscle twitching in both legs, arms and hands.
I know that breathing issues are related to ALS, and some of the other symptoms I have mentioned, so now I am very worried.
It’s probably worth noting that my Dad is Type 2 Diabetic and has not been monitoring his blood sugar.
I hate to clog this forum with posts such as this, but I’m hoping for at least a discussion. We are growing frustrated because it has been months without an answer.
First I would like to say my heart goes out to those struggling with this horrible disease.
I’m writing today to ask opinions about my Dad’s situation. I will try to be brief, but thorough.
Nov. 2017 - Dad swears he remembers falling while outside, and then getting up and moving on. He did not tell me about the fall until later.
Dec. 2017 - Christmas shopping, I noticed he tended to veer in one direction while walking - to the left. He would correct himself and do it again.
Jan. 2018 - Dad falls backwards carrying groceries after his left leg buckles on him.
Feb. 2018 - Dad gets very sick but this is because of bad gallstone stuck in his bile duct. We also notice he has a lot of trouble walking, but can walk under his own power. Five day hospital stay results in gallbladder removal, and doctors say weakness will likely go away with time. He walks very well for a few days after leaving hospital.
Late Feb. 2018 - Trips and falls again and has trouble getting up. We take him to urgent care as he has degenerative disc disease and we think it could be related.
March 2018 - MRI on low back. Dad reports pain to touch near inner thigh on left knee. Has to start using crutches to support himself. Notice he has foot drop in left foot, often getting it caught on rugs, etc.
Mid March 2018 - Refered to neuro-spine Specialist. Requests MRI of entire spine and brain. At this point my Dad is in a wheelchair and has lost all ability to move his hips in any direction. Right leg is weak as aell. Arms starting to get weak. MRI is clean. Neuro-spine gives referral to neuro.
Mid April 2018 - Neuro does basic reflex test at first appointment. Remarks that he has good reflexes. Dad demonstrates both legs are weak but weakness more pronounced. Neuro tests coordination by having Dad touch fingers to nose and he does it easily. Only has issues raising hands to head level. Reports it is painful to do so.
Current - Neuro puts in order for home health consultation (not sure why, which scares me). Home health looks at left hip, where Dad reports a lot of pain. She calls in an order for an X-Ray and says his hip could be broken because his leg apparently appears shorter (I don’t see it) and his leg always flops out to the side, uncontrolled. We are awaiting results of X-Ray.
Another Neuro appointment tomorrow and first EMG test Wednesday.
Dad’s symptoms currently are extreme weakness in left leg (stronger in abduction only), inability to move hips, arm weakness and loss of grip strength (has to hold a drink with two hands), inability to sit up from lying down without assistance. He is wheelchair bound. He’s reporting a lot of pain in left hip and lower spine when his left leg is moved (he cannot move it on his own). The most alarming thing, and the reason that I’m here, is I noticed the power of his sneezes has diminished. I asked him to cough for me and he could not muster up a powerful, normal cough. The other day I also noticed muscle twitching in both legs, arms and hands.
I know that breathing issues are related to ALS, and some of the other symptoms I have mentioned, so now I am very worried.
It’s probably worth noting that my Dad is Type 2 Diabetic and has not been monitoring his blood sugar.
I hate to clog this forum with posts such as this, but I’m hoping for at least a discussion. We are growing frustrated because it has been months without an answer.