Petrified it's ALS

[alexsop]

Hi.
I am extremely anxious about my health, it is literally ruining my life, mainly because I fear it is ALS or some other serious neurological condition. I don't even know where to start... I have been having muscle twitching for a number of months now (approx 11 months), muscle weakness, fatigue, stiffness in muscles and joints, and my muscles are smaller than they used to be (not sure if that's medically termed as atrophy or not but my legs and left arm are smaller than they used to be. In my legs it's most smaller from half way down my thigh all the way to my ankle, and in my arms it's smaller mainly in the left forearm and around the wrist). Also when I walk i feel as though my right leg is weak as my left foot steps forward which affects the confidence in my walking. I don't lose balance as such, but i feel more clumsy and weak when walking. My grip/strength in my left hand has weakened significantly too. Sometimes I also feel numbness in my left wrist. I really fear that I might have ALS.

It should be noted that last summer I had a swollen foot which the doctor said was a suspected acute gout attack. I took NSAIDs (Arcoxia) for a couple of months as well as the steroid Prednisolone (?) for about a month. I was also found to have low vitamin D levels and was given a vitamin D injection and supplements. Although the swelling has gone I have had continued joint pain, which has now spread to my knees - which are the worst affected - and elbows). I also have high cholesterol. I written this for information purposes but I don't think the muscle problems I have had are linked with this, I believe the onset of his occured at a different time and has progressed independently. The one link i would say exists is that the cramping I spoke about earlier happens mostly in the lower thigh (just above the knee) and the upper shin (just below the knee).

I have had a brain, cervical spine and spince mri scans in December 2010 that came back as normal. I also had an EMG in October 2010 that was normal but since then the twitching has spread to other parts of my body and my right leg feels weaker than it did back then. Initially the twitching was mainly at the back of my leg (below the calfs and above the ankles) and in the thighs. Now it's also in my left shoulder, the calfs, thighs, hamstrings, and occassionally in my back and right eye lid. I have also read that ALS doesn't necessarily show up in EMG tests or MRIs so the fact that they have been normal is only slightly reassuring because I fear that i could still have ALS and it didn't show up on those tests.

The worry is ruining my life, I am now in a constant state of panic. One doctor i spoke to suggest it could be anxiety bringing all this on, but I had these symptoms before I began to get anxious. I began to get really anxious when the symptoms persisted and I learned what ALS is just prior to the EMG. What are the chances that i have ALS?

[MG (Admin)]

Have you had a full neurological exam?
If so what was found?

[alexsop]

Have you had a full neurological exam?
If so what was found?

Hello, thank you very much for taking the time to reply.
I'm not sure if what constitutes a full neurological exam. I've seen a neurologist who asked me to do some physical exams, like hopping on one leg, closing my eyes and touching my nose, etc. He also ran a metal rod up the base of my foot, checked my reflexes by tapping the tendons and he touched various parts of my body with the metal rod to see if it felt the same on both left and right sides. This was in February 2011.
Apart from that i've had an mri scan on my brain, cervical spine and spine which came back normal. This was in December 2010. I also had an EMG in November 2010 which also came back normal. However many of my symptoms have become worse and i have been unable to work since November 2010. Because of that i'm worried that maybe it's the early stages of ALS so the tests i've done haven't picked it up.

[RhiannonsMoon]

Hi alexsop,

Have you heard anything yet from your doctor? You know the inflamed joints can cause swelling to go from one to the other. Have you been tested for rheumatoid arthritis? That can cause a reduction in muscle tone and swelling in the joints, along with weakness etc.

I hope you get answers soon. Don't worry until you have the diagnosis, then go for the treatment and stick with it.

Best of luck,

Rhian

[RhiannonsMoon]

Ooops! Meant to ask if you have had an eeg? I have muscle twitches (myoclonus) that go from a tiny twitch to getting very violent at times; I get thrown forward my body bent in two and my arms straight out in front and my hands bent inward and my feet downward. I'm pretty sure this is epilepsy and so far they are uncontrolled.

Never think the worst until it is given you.

Good luck,
Rhian