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Neurology (Expert Forum)
could this be ALS or something else?
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could this be ALS or something else?
by lori g, Feb 13, 2004 12:00AM
I guess I should start with a brief history. I am a 30 year old female. About a year ago I went to the doctor for a stiff neck and swollen lymphnode behind my ear. I also had a spot on my leg that was tingling and muscle twitching. My GP said it was anxiety, but he sent me to a neurologist. The neuro did a brief EMG on my arms a nerve conduction on my arms and an EEG. All were normal including blood tests.
This summer i noticed that my right calf and thigh are a little smaller than my left, i still have twitching in various spots including legs and face (sometimes my jaw). I have ringing in my ears and shakey vision. I also have leg pain, muscular and joint in both legs and chronic headaches. I started to look up symptoms of twitching on the internet in august and ALS came up. so of course i looked for atrophy and noticed the size difference. My question is if I had atrophy in my right leg would there be profound weakness? would I be able to walk or run or go up on my toes and heels? I dont think i have weakness, but my muscle do fatigue after exertion like stairs or bending. Could the size differenc just be asymmetry or just a difference in muscle bulk? I am so scared right now. Sorry this is so long but I could use some input!! thank you.
Lori
I think I should mention that i do have cervical buldging disks and lower back pain often.
This summer i noticed that my right calf and thigh are a little smaller than my left, i still have twitching in various spots including legs and face (sometimes my jaw). I have ringing in my ears and shakey vision. I also have leg pain, muscular and joint in both legs and chronic headaches. I started to look up symptoms of twitching on the internet in august and ALS came up. so of course i looked for atrophy and noticed the size difference. My question is if I had atrophy in my right leg would there be profound weakness? would I be able to walk or run or go up on my toes and heels? I dont think i have weakness, but my muscle do fatigue after exertion like stairs or bending. Could the size differenc just be asymmetry or just a difference in muscle bulk? I am so scared right now. Sorry this is so long but I could use some input!! thank you.
Lori
I think I should mention that i do have cervical buldging disks and lower back pain often.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Feb 14, 2004 12:00AM
The symptoms you have described are not typical for ALS. The size difference in your calf may simply be that your right leg is dominant. Patients with ALS after one year typically have significant weakness. If you are concerned about these findings, then perhaps you should see the neurologist again who can re-investigate this issue. Good luck.
Member Comments (3)
by kwag, Feb 13, 2004 12:00AM
I feel i have to comment to you also. I recognize and can appreciate your fear. I do not believe from what you have described that you have ALS. I am a nurse and not a doctor but what you describe is just not what i have typically seen in someone with ALS. First, calm down and take a deep breath. Fascultations are very common and you are at the age where you are starting to notice your health. Next, a cervical problem can cause compression and nerve entrapment which leads to host of symptoms like you describe. It is important that you feed your body food that it can use to heal itself. Go to your locak health food store and get a book by jordin rubin about colon health and a book by Elaine Gottschall about colon health and read them and try very hard to clean up your diet. Our diets are so horrible that many people are suffering from chronic problems from toxicity and malnutrition. Worry can kill your health. You are wondering why i tell you to get books about colon health? Much of your immune system that fight off disease is in your colon. Therefore health begins there. God bless
by Craig, Feb 13, 2004 12:00AM
http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Neuromuscular+(in+memory+of+Rose+Marie)&number=65&DaysPrune=1000&LastLogin=