CAN anyone help me???

If anyone could give me any advice I would really appreciate it.  I am 31 yrs old I have 3 children,2 yrs old being the youngest.  I have worked myself up for about 5 mts now terrified I could ahve ALS.  It started with slight pains in my left leg and arms and  my leg would feel a little fatiuged but I still have strength in it.  The left side is the side I hold my daughter on.   Then I wasn't sure if it was from reading the symptoms of ALS but now I have had some cramping in my legs and spasams and the warm sensations I have began to feel in my left leg and arm sometimes.  My back has been hurting through this whole thing as well..I guess I am hoping to fins some comfort that maybe this could be a pinched nerve or something in my back.  

I have been refered to a neurologist but now I have lost my insurance : ( and can not get anything for a while because I have a thyroid condition so its really expensive.  If anyone can help me I would really appreciate it!Thanks in advance..Nikki

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Symptoms of pain are not prominent as an early feature of ALS; muscle cramps can occur late in ALS, but this occurs after other more generalized symptoms are apparent and spasticity (stiffness) has occurred. Therefore, while again I can not make a specific diagnosis or rule it out without being able to take a history and examine you, ALS seems less likely based on the description above. Thyroid disorders can lead to what is termed myopathy, or involvement of muscle, which can lead to cramping (and treatment of the thyroid disorder helps treatment of the muscle).

If your symptoms occur mainly with movement, causes could be musculoskeletal (just cramping due to muscle strain). If you have burning in your feet and a sensation of warmth, there is the possibility you could have neuropathy, which is a generic term for nerve dysfunction, of which there are several causes. Thyroid disorders can sometimes lead to neuropathy.

If you have weakness on one side of the body (for example, left arm and left leg only without involvement of right arm or leg) then a problem in the brain or spinal cord needs to be excluded, depending on the exact symptoms.

Discussion of your symptoms with your primary doctor (internist, family physician is recommended), with evaluation by a neurologist when possible.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.