Possible ALS?

[bline210]

Hello, I have been having strange symptoms recently and I am worried that they could be ALS. I do realize that it is very rare and my age(24yrs) make it even more rare, however I don't think it is impossible.

About 2 months ago my right arm started to feel weak when I was driving, and within the next few days it had spread to my face. This lasted for about a month until the weakness spread to my legs, other arm and hand, and neck. For the past two weeks, my muscles have been twitching primarily in the right knee and shoulder area. Yesterday, my hand and feet started to twitch as well and they've been going ever since.

I have had a CT scan of head, MRI of head, and multiple blood scans. I just took a lyme test today as well. The only thing that was strange was an elevated liver number of some kind. I saw a neurologist about a week ago and he didn't seem to be worried about my symptoms.

Should I be concerned about these symptoms? Could it possibly be ALS? or even a liver issue?

[bline210]

Hi, I went to a neurologist to get an EMG/ NCV about a month ago. He said I have minimal peripheral neuropathy from my shin down. My arms(which I always thought were the weakest) where normal on the tests. Does something like this definitely rule out ALS? My condition has been stable for about a 2 months, I don't feel I've gotten worse. I also had a liver biopsy that showed mild fibrosis and inflammation. I am leaving the country in about 3 months so I hope to be sure about my health before I leave. Nearly every test I have done has been negative apart from elevated liver enzymes. Any thoughts on what this could be?

Thanks

[bline210]

Thank you very much, that was helpful. I am due to the neurologist for an EMG which should help give me some answers.

[FreddyTeddy]

Excellent, concise but comprehensive and very helpful reply. Thank you

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
It is very difficult to comment whether your have ALS or not. To confirm that a doctor has to find signs of both upper (muscle weakness, decreased motor control, inability to perform fine movements, increased spinal reflexes, and positive Babinski sign—great toe going up) and lower motor (muscle weakness, abnormal EMG etc) neuron signs in one limb. Symptoms of many of these diseases do mimic ALS. Symptoms in one half of body as you are facing could be due to due to fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, severe anemia, spinal nerve compression high up in the cervical spine, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritic changes of the vertebrae, calcium deficiency, low Vit D, electrolyte disturbance, peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes or hypothyroidism or due to bad posture. Lyme and lupus are the other possibilities.
Some of these tests have been done and possibilities ruled out. The other possibilities need to be looked at. Electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction velocity (NCV), muscle biopsy, etc are done to confirm diagnosis or rule out ALS. Do discuss this with your doctor and get yourself examined. Take care!