weakness in right arm & hand

[Brian30]

I am currently 32 years old, 5 ft 11 in, 175 lbs.

About 5 months ago, I started noticing that my hands would cramp up when working with small things, like threading a screw or a bolt. I didn't really think a whole lot about it at the time. The cramping may not have a thing to do with what you're about to read. I just thought that I would include that in case it is a symptom.
As time went on, I started noticing weakness in my right arm (only in a curling motion). As time went by, it got to the point that I was having a hard time buttoning my pants when getting ready for work & even turning the ignition in my truck. I don't have what I would call pain. It's kind of a numb feeling that starts from my shoulder & goes all the way down to my thumb (primarily in my bicep & hand). At this point (Oct. 23, 2007) I can barely curl a loaf of bread. I have noticed some atrophy in my right hand & in my bicep/forearm area. I do have fascilations, but have had them for as long as I can remember. I have been to an Orthopedic Doctor who looked at me for about 10 minutes & said that he thought it was nerve related. I went to a Neurologist & have had a nerve conduction study performed on my leg & both arms as well as an EMG. I have also had an MRI of my neck & spine. I have had blood work done. Nothing was found abnormal. And this past Friday, I had a myelogram & a catscan performed. I am awaiting the results of those tests, but I did speak with the Doctor who performed the myelogram & I asked him if he saw anything & he said that he looked at the xrays briefly & they looked okay, but that my Neurologist would have to give me the official results.
I am only having weakness in my right arm & hand. I fear that this test will come back okay (no pinched nerve, bone spur, etc.) & that I may be facing something like a motor neuron disease like ALS. ALS or any motor neuron disease does not run in my family.

A few questions:
1) Is it possible that all of these tests can come back okay, but there is in fact a pinched nerve or a bone spur that the Doctor is not seeing?
2) Can a Chiropractor fix something like what I am going through?
3) Is it possible that I have something going on in my arm itself? I have not had an MRI of my arm.
4) Do I fit the symptoms of someone with ALS?
5) Is ALS detectable through any kind of test or are you just diagnosed with it when nothing surfaces from other tests?

[ltljulian]

Do you use a computer extensively? Reason I ask is I have the same symptoms as yours. They started when I landed a job using a computer nearly nonstop for seven hours a day. I'm right-handed. My left arm is not affected.

[staceyatch]

I have the same symptoms. Except I don't have the numbness in my right arm I have sharp shooting pains. My right arm is the dominant one and yet the weak one. I failed the muscle test but past the nerve test. My neurologist keeps tripling the dose of neurontin but doesn't help. The physical therapist told me to start training my left arm to perform fine motor skills. To this day I have no answers, they just keep upping the meds which I do not want. It is very upsetting. My pointer finger can no longer can go straight and the knuckle close to palm of my hand is becoming deformed. I drop things a lot now.  I wish u the best in finding an answer.

[Dr Rajgopal]

Hi,
I would suggest you to go for MRI of the arm. It may give a conclusion. You have a problem in one arm so your symptoms do not fit in the criteria for ALS. Please do not consult a chiropractor. The symptoms may worsen. ALS is difficult to diagnose by a single test. Diagnosis may be made by a combination of tests like EMG and nerve conduction velocity( NCV), blood and urine tests, spinal tap, myelogram of spine, and muscle and /or nerve biopsy. You have had most of these tests and if you had ALS, some of these tests may have shown it. Please consult a neurologist. Hope this helps you. Take care and regards!