Re: ALS - Should I be worried ?
Re: ALS - Should I be worried ?
Posted by CCF Neuro MD *!* on November 24, 1997 at 20:09:33:
In Reply to: ALS - Should I be worried ? posted by Worried on November 22, 1997 at 07:50:04:
:
I'm a 25 yr old male vegetarian, and I'm worried about ALS.
I've felt tired & fatigued for quite a while, and about a
month ago I developed tremors / fascics throughout my body.
If I stretch out a finger I get a vibrating sensation which is
just visible. Then when I relax it jumps back to a resting
position in two or three big jerks (not at all smoothly).
I get the same effect everywhere, whether it's a finger or leg
or foot etc. At night I feel vibrations from within which keep
me awake.
My muscles all feel very tired after a minimum of exertion, but don't
seem to be short on strength - I feel tiredness in my arms &
legs after a few miles of driving, but I have the strength to
do a few push-ups, run up stairs etc. as well as ever - but
the tremors get worse after exercise, If I carry something heavy arms
shake like leaves afterwards. I shiver very badly when I'm cold. I've had thyroid / blood tests (all OK) but I'm getting really worried that I might be seeing the first signs of ALS, despite my age.
I'm going to ask for a neuro refer next week, but can anyone reassure me
in the meantime ?
I'm a 25 yr old male vegetarian, and I'm worried about ALS.
I've felt tired & fatigued for quite a while, and about a
month ago I developed tremors / fascics throughout my body.
If I stretch out a finger I get a vibrating sensation which is
just visible. Then when I relax it jumps back to a resting
position in two or three big jerks (not at all smoothly).
I get the same effect everywhere, whether it's a finger or leg
or foot etc. At night I feel vibrations from within which keep
me awake.
My muscles all feel very tired after a minimum of exertion, but don't
seem to be short on strength - I feel tiredness in my arms &
legs after a few miles of driving, but I have the strength to
do a few push-ups, run up stairs etc. as well as ever - but
the tremors get worse after exercise, If I carry something heavy arms
shake like leaves afterwards. I shiver very badly when I'm cold. I've had thyroid / blood tests (all OK) but I'm getting really worried
that I might be seeing the first signs of ALS, despite my age.
I'm going to ask for a neuro refer next week, but can anyone reassure me
in the meantime ? I'm a 25 yr old male vegetarian, and I'm worried about ALS.
I've felt tired & fatigued for quite a while, and about a
month ago I developed tremors / fascics throughout my body.
If I stretch out a finger I get a vibrating sensation which is
just visible. Then when I relax it jumps back to a resting
position in two or three big jerks (not at all smoothly).
I get the same effect everywhere, whether it's a finger or leg
or foot etc. At night I feel vibrations from within which keep
me awake.
My muscles all feel very tired after a minimum of exertion, but don't
seem to be short on strength - I feel tiredness in my arms &
legs after a few miles of driving, but I have the strength to
do a few push-ups, run up stairs etc. as well as ever - but
the tremors get worse after exercise, If I carry something heavy arms
shake like leaves afterwards. I shiver very badly when I'm cold. I've had thyroid / blood tests (all OK) but I'm getting really worried
that I might be seeing the first signs of ALS, despite my age.
I'm going to ask for a neuro refer next week, but can anyone reassure me
in the meantime ?
I'm a 25 yr old male vegetarian, and I'm worried about ALS.
I've felt tired & fatigued for quite a while, and about a
month ago I developed tremors / fascics throughout my body.
If I stretch out a finger I get a vibrating sensation which is
just visible. Then when I relax it jumps back to a resting
position in two or three big jerks (not at all smoothly).
I get the same effect everywhere, whether it's a finger or leg
or foot etc. At night I feel vibrations from within which keep
me awake.
My muscles all feel very tired after a minimum of exertion, but don't
seem to be short on strength - I feel tiredness in my arms &
legs after a few miles of driving, but I have the strength to
do a few push-ups, run up stairs etc. as well as ever - but
the tremors get worse after exercise, If I carry something heavy arms
shake like leaves afterwards. I shiver very badly when I'm cold.
I've had thyroid / blood tests (all OK) but I'm getting really worried
that I might be seeing the first signs of ALS, despite my age.
I'm going to ask for a neuro refer next week, but can anyone reassure me
in the meantime ?
I'm a 25 yr old male vegetarian, and I'm worried about ALS.
I've felt tired & fatigued for quite a while, and about a
month ago I developed tremors / fascics throughout my body.
If I stretch out a finger I get a vibrating sensation which is
just visible. Then when I relax it jumps back to a resting
position in two or three big jerks (not at all smoothly).
I get the same effect everywhere, whether it's a finger or leg
or foot etc. At night I feel vibrations from within which keep
me awake.
My muscles all feel very tired after a minimum of exertion, but don't
seem to be short on strength - I feel tiredness in my arms &
legs after a few miles of driving, but I have the strength to
do a few push-ups, run up stairs etc. as well as ever - but
the tremors get worse after exercise, If I carry something heavy arms
shake like leaves afterwards. I shiver very badly when I'm cold. I've had thyroid / blood tests (all OK) but I'm getting really worried
that I might be seeing the first signs of ALS, despite my age.
I'm going to ask for a neuro refer next week, but can anyone reassure me
in the meantime ?
=
A number of possibilities spring to mind from your description , but ALS is certainly not high on the list, obviously it is not possible to discount any possibility however remote on the basis of a brief description, thence I think you really should see a Neurologist to put your mind at rest.
First a few facts about ALS which may put your problems in perspective,
In someone your age ALS , while it has been described, is extremely rare.
ALS is a pure motor disorder, i.e. it only affects nerves which control movement and prominent sensory symptoms such as you describe are not a feature of the presentation.
One of the main presenting symptoms of ALS is very prominent and definite muscular weakness usually starting in one extremity, While you do report a subjective sense of fatigue you are quite clear on the fact that your muscular strength is fully preserved.
I also wonder whether you are confusing the terms Tremors and Fasics ( fasiculations) as you seem to use the terms interchangeably, tremors are not a feature of ALS while fasics are a symptom of a number of disorders including being a normal finding after exercise. They are found in ALS but are usually accompanied by frequent, severe muscle cramps.
As regards the possibilities thyroid disease would still be high on my list of possibilities and you should be sure that your tests included a complete thyroid profile, not just a screening test, also in a vegetarian the possibility of Vitamin B, especially B12 deficiency should be considered.
To put your mind completely at rest I would strongly recommend a visit with a neurologist an if necessary an EM test.
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