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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Could it be ALS?
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Could it be ALS?
by anna1980, Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM
I'm 26 girl from Poland.Since July 06 I've had a terrible headaches-tightness of face and head muscles.The pain was 24/7 and drugs didt help.During this pain I had dizziness and strange sweet taste in my mouth (I couldnt drink cola,tea and eat chewing gum I couldn even smoke because of that taste.I had my RMI of head and neck and it was ok.In Nov.06 pain had gone but i started to have pain and weakness in my legs muscle also my face muscle and tongue were sensitive to could (feel like numbness).I had some fasciculation till Jan. 07-now they are almoust gone.Since Jan. 07 my tongue became weaker and I feel is shorter than before.Also my jaw is weaker and feet.Ice done my CPK and EMG-1 in Janura only with legs and one of my tongue last week.I still have pain and weakness of my legs and tongue.My neuro doesn't see anything.Im thinking about ALS, because of symptoms I have.Is it possible that my spastic pain of my head and face muscle (7 months) was the begining of ALS?really don't know what to do?Just sit and wait or search for other reason.
P.S I am sorry for my english but Im from Poland.
P.S I am sorry for my english but Im from Poland.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH, Mar 05, 2007 12:00AM
First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.
I do not think the symptoms that you describe are related to motor neuron disease (also called Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS]). ALS presents with painless weakness, atrophy and fasiculations. Numbness and pain are not the major features of an ALS presentation. Your symptoms are concerning and do warrant further testing to determine what is going on. The alteration of taste is frequently seen as a drug side effect when drugs such as topamax or diamox is used. Strange tastes are also encountered in some seizure disorders (as an aura). The headaches that you describe are non-specific, but sound like they could be migraine headaches possibly precipitated by TMJ (tempromandibular joint) issues. I agree with getting the EMGs of your arms/legs and tongue, to help determine if a neuromuscular disease process may underlie your symptoms. I would suggest a trial on migraine prophylaxis medication such as elavil, lyrica, nadolol, etc. I would also suggest some screening blood work including CPK, aldolase, B12, ESR, ANA, TSH, copper/ceruloplasmin and vitamin E level. I would also recommend a repeat MRI of your brain/cervical spine to evaluate for any sign of multiple sclerosis.
I hope this has been helpful.
I do not think the symptoms that you describe are related to motor neuron disease (also called Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS]). ALS presents with painless weakness, atrophy and fasiculations. Numbness and pain are not the major features of an ALS presentation. Your symptoms are concerning and do warrant further testing to determine what is going on. The alteration of taste is frequently seen as a drug side effect when drugs such as topamax or diamox is used. Strange tastes are also encountered in some seizure disorders (as an aura). The headaches that you describe are non-specific, but sound like they could be migraine headaches possibly precipitated by TMJ (tempromandibular joint) issues. I agree with getting the EMGs of your arms/legs and tongue, to help determine if a neuromuscular disease process may underlie your symptoms. I would suggest a trial on migraine prophylaxis medication such as elavil, lyrica, nadolol, etc. I would also suggest some screening blood work including CPK, aldolase, B12, ESR, ANA, TSH, copper/ceruloplasmin and vitamin E level. I would also recommend a repeat MRI of your brain/cervical spine to evaluate for any sign of multiple sclerosis.
I hope this has been helpful.
Please be advised that I am not responding to you as a physician and that I am not advising you and that what I write is not meant to be construed as medical advice or a replacement from the forum neurologist, et al.
With that said please try to rest in one single factor: ALS is rare. The second factor is your sex and your age; making this even more unlikely.
Unfortunately-you are suffering with an unknown neurological problem that needs immediate attention.
These symptoms are non-specific and could be accounted for from benign to severe illnesses. I have nothing elseo offer aside from telling you that ALS seems virtually out of the question.
Good Luck!
JCmcc.
I'm sorry for your problems. Hope the doctor will answer your question soon.
I'm not a doctor, but I myself have been suffering from several non-sepcific neurological symptoms.
I just wanted to add that I think you shouldn't be worried about ALS. As far as I know, there is no pain or any other sensory symptom associated with it. You can do a searc in old posts from this site that might give you some answers.
I hope you all the best,
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I have benn thinking about it myself ( I am from Poland ), although I do have lesions consistent with MS , they still don't know what causes MS in the first place . Currently I am in the process of eliminating everything else .
As of today my doctors have no clue what else to test me for . I do have MS symptoms .
So check with your doctor maybe there are some tests which would lead you in the right direction .