arm/leg weakness

[pfish]

roughly 6 months ago i started feeling a general weakness or heaviness in my left arm.  it just felt weak but was not really functioning weak as i continued to lift weights without any loss of strength.  the weakness has not intensified in the 6 months but now i'm noticing a similar sensation in my left leg.  it feels heavy but i do not sense a loss in function.  it seems to sporadically feel better and then worse.  i also occasionally feel some slight twitching or spasming in the arm and leg but it is not constant (maybe a couple of times a day).  i have not been tripping or dropping things but i am still terrified that it could be the early symptoms of als.  i am 33 years old.  would i be having more problems by now since i noticed the symptoms 6 months ago?  is there any reason to think that since so much time has passed that i can write off als as a possibility?  also, since the symptoms seem to come and go, is that a good sign that it isn't als?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Sorry to hear about your symptoms. They are concerning for a neurological problem, but I would not put ALS at the top of the list. Problems in the cervical (neck) spinal cord like a herniated disc or something going on in the right side of the brain are more likely possiblities. FOr symptoms such as this, go to your family doc (sooner rather than later-especially if you start to note progression of symptoms such as the extension into your leg) and have them check you out, then consider a referral to a neurologist for a formal exam to see if there is any objective signs of weakness. An MRI of the brain and cervical cord may also be helpful in trying to figure out what this is. Good luck.

[Gilgamesh]

I've had something similar. About six months ago I began to notice that after extended exertion (say using a chainsaw or building a fence) I'd have trembling and and a feeling of weakness in my right hand. The trembling would last for about an hour but the feeling of weakness lingered.

Now, the feeling of weakness has extended into my right bicep and shoulder. There is no trembling associated with the arm weakness. The feeling is always with me and gets neither better nor worse with exercise.

I've tried to assess the weakness but I can curl as many pounds with my right arm as with my left. I can squeeze a grip exercise device as many times and as quickly with my right hand as with my left.

All I'm left with is an ominous feeling of advancing weakness without impairment. I haven't been to a doctor as I'm not sure it's something I need to worry about.

PS I have no sensation of tingling nor of numbness.

[pfish]

if i am facing a herniated disk or something happening in the right side of my brain, what are the potential treatments?  can i change how i sleep or something like that for the disk?  are there prescriptions that i could get or am i facing surgery?

[mama2boysjj]

pfish,
The doctor will not answer your question after the first post.  I believe herniated disc can be treated medically or surgically depending on the severity of herniation and symptoms.  As for something in your brain once again it depends on what is found.  Sleeping positions usually do not effect these things. Try asking your questions on the spinal board at MGH site:
www.braintalk.org

Best of Luck!!

[JohanMA]

Wonders of information from this web page..!

Over 6 weeks ago I had the most terrifying incident when I was driving, shortness of breath 80% loss of feeling to my left leg and arm with the most horrible feeling in the right side of my head, obviously being 40 years old I instantly thought it was a heart attack.

I was minutes away from a hospital where they checked for a heart attack (clear result), then for a stroke or TIA with a MRI of the brain (clear result). With working internationally and doing 2 long hall flights and 2 to 4 short hall flights a month the next test was for DVT, which was (clear result).

Since then I have had 3 MRI’s of the brain and test for endless tropical disease’s, MS, neurological tests of my left and right side of the body, 3 further MRI's of the Brain, MRA of the Brain, MRA of the complete vascular system, and finally after all being (clear results), a MRI of the neck, only after all the doctors gave up.

The symptoms come and go on a regular basis from day to day with a constant numb feeling at the base of the skull and to define this I would say some days are 20% good and 80% bad but on others it can vary 80-20 to 60-40, but a bad day feels like death.. The results from the MRI show central disc osteophyte complexes at C3C4, C4C5 and C5C6, which Indents the anterior theca.

My problem is I have seen two doctors one a neurologist and a neurosurgeon and both have said that the MRI results only warrant physiotherapy only, but the MRI was taken on an 80-20 day. Could the osteophyte complexes be more severe when I am experiencing a 20-80 day that would warrant further investigation?

[stew]

I have been having pain in my left leg and pain in the nerves in my limbs with occasional headaches. Can you tell me what these symptoms mean?

stew

[stew]

I have been having pain in my left leg and pain in the nerves in my limbs with occasional headaches. Can you tell me what these symptoms mean?

stew

[ratchet jaw]

i have leg and ankel pain and back it has to do with nerve damage they are going to burn my nerves in L5 .i don"t know what efect it will have on me because they haven"t told me.

[corkygriff]

I have been having pain in my right arm muscle, it comes on every so often, like sore spots around the arm and then becomes a lump,  sometimes is is very difficult to lift that arm due to the fact the arm is too sore......also lymph glands under arm are sometimes involved......this really worries me......corkygriff

[kd re: longstanding MR]

I had similar symptoms for years and no one came up with a diagnosis.  Did you have your carotid arteries checked?  These are prime conveyers of blood to the head from the heart.  When they start to clog up, you may start to get TIAs or other neurological symptoms.  In my case, they couldn't find the reason for the symptoms so they kept attributing it to stress.  I finally (multiple TIAs and several strokes later) found the cause to be antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.  This is a blood clotting disorder and can be found by a blood test of the IgG, IgM, and IgA factors.
Good luck,
kd

[look]

iam having symptoms like that but there in my leg ive have a footdrop in my left leg i have know back pain but the dr. thinks thats were it is ive had seizure in the pass iam takeing neurontin hes got me out of work because of it it scared me i dont know what to do heip

[archer33]

hi my name is joe im 33. for about two months i have had muscle weakness on my legs and numbness and slight tingling in my hands with numbness in my finger tips. the weakness in my legs is constasnt it does not go away. and example of where my weakness is if i try to tippy toe it is to hard to do. i have bad balance and its hard to walk long distances. there is no pain just weakness. people say i look like im limping when i walk. im worried and would like to know what is wrong with me? can someone help? my email address is ***@****.  i need help and advice as soon as possible as this is a real problem for me.

[Deebs]

I have been experiencing leg and buttock weakness. Sometimes I feel as if my legs are going to collapse. I have NO pain whatsoever. It has been three straight days so far. About 4 months ago I experienced numbness in right arm and pins and needles for about a month. Had CT, MRI, Blood work-up. All of  it came out normal, with no diagnosis. WHat do ya think?

[benneali]

Hello everyonr........My husband is having severe weakness in his leggs (calf area) and his arms.  He can hardly stand up by himself.  HE get's short of breath easily and sweats alot.  He does have high bloob pressure, but I don't know if this is the cause of his roblems.  He says it is hard for him to stand on his tippytoes.  I just need some suggestions as to what this may be.  Thank-you

[benneali]

Hello everyonr........My husband is having severe weakness in his leggs (calf area) and his arms.  He can hardly stand up by himself.  HE get's short of breath easily and sweats alot.  He does have high bloob pressure, but I don't know if this is the cause of his roblems.  He says it is hard for him to stand on his tippytoes.  I just need some suggestions as to what this may be.