Matt21
Member
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2011
- Messages
- 20
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- CA
- State
- ON
- City
- Toronto
Hello Everyone, I would like to describe my symptoms with the hope of getting some advice from you as to the likelihood of this being ALS.
A little over 2.5 years ago, I played soccer and noticed that I couldn't run as fast as I could before, it felt like my legs didn't have the energy they once did. I didn’t think much of this and just assumed that I was getting older (I was 31 yrs old then). Over the last two years, my legs got progressively weaker, stiffer and I started feeling tired all the time. My legs feel as if I had worked out the day before, despite getting 8 hours of sleep (unrestful
though) and not having done any exercise. Both legs are affected equally. About a month ago my arms started feeling that way too, although not to the same extent as my legs.
Secondly, when I try to work out I cannot lift as much weight as I used to. In addition, my muscles cramp up after I do a small number of lifts or even sit-ups. I also wanted to mention that my muscles are twitching every now and then and that my quads are fasciculating a lot when I hold a squat position. My tongue also twitches a bit and feels
stiff sometimes. Other than that, I am not tripping or dropping things and the neurologist cannot detect any clinical weakness.
Lastly, my muscles feel worse in the morning just after getting out of bed and then they feel better in the afternoon. After a minimal amount of walking, my calves feel very stiff. My body never feels “normal” there is always tightness and heaviness present.
I am being seen by a neurologist to investigate the cause of my problems. I had an MRI that came back normal (cervical and spine), an EMG/NCV last month (right leg and arm) that was clean too…except for some minor MUAPS(?) on the right tricep but the neurologist was not concerned. The neurological exam was normal, perhaps slight hyperreflexia in both knees. I did a lyme test that had some Indeterminate bands and one positive band but overall the Western Blot was negative. CK is normal, CBC normal, TSH normal, Cholesterol high, liver enzyme slightly high, electrolytes normal (done 2 yrs ago). I was also tested 2 yrs ago for the RA factor and the tests came back normal. I would appreciate if you could comment on my symptoms and perhaps let me know from your experience if there are any other tests that could point to a diagnosis.
If anything needs clarification please let me know and I will provide more details. The neurologists are puzzled and cannot give me a diagnosis. Myself, I am losing a lot of sleep fearing that this is ALS. I have been told to "wait and see".
Thank you.
A little over 2.5 years ago, I played soccer and noticed that I couldn't run as fast as I could before, it felt like my legs didn't have the energy they once did. I didn’t think much of this and just assumed that I was getting older (I was 31 yrs old then). Over the last two years, my legs got progressively weaker, stiffer and I started feeling tired all the time. My legs feel as if I had worked out the day before, despite getting 8 hours of sleep (unrestful
though) and not having done any exercise. Both legs are affected equally. About a month ago my arms started feeling that way too, although not to the same extent as my legs.
Secondly, when I try to work out I cannot lift as much weight as I used to. In addition, my muscles cramp up after I do a small number of lifts or even sit-ups. I also wanted to mention that my muscles are twitching every now and then and that my quads are fasciculating a lot when I hold a squat position. My tongue also twitches a bit and feels
stiff sometimes. Other than that, I am not tripping or dropping things and the neurologist cannot detect any clinical weakness.
Lastly, my muscles feel worse in the morning just after getting out of bed and then they feel better in the afternoon. After a minimal amount of walking, my calves feel very stiff. My body never feels “normal” there is always tightness and heaviness present.
I am being seen by a neurologist to investigate the cause of my problems. I had an MRI that came back normal (cervical and spine), an EMG/NCV last month (right leg and arm) that was clean too…except for some minor MUAPS(?) on the right tricep but the neurologist was not concerned. The neurological exam was normal, perhaps slight hyperreflexia in both knees. I did a lyme test that had some Indeterminate bands and one positive band but overall the Western Blot was negative. CK is normal, CBC normal, TSH normal, Cholesterol high, liver enzyme slightly high, electrolytes normal (done 2 yrs ago). I was also tested 2 yrs ago for the RA factor and the tests came back normal. I would appreciate if you could comment on my symptoms and perhaps let me know from your experience if there are any other tests that could point to a diagnosis.
If anything needs clarification please let me know and I will provide more details. The neurologists are puzzled and cannot give me a diagnosis. Myself, I am losing a lot of sleep fearing that this is ALS. I have been told to "wait and see".
Thank you.