Weakness

[Linda Davis]

I have been having Muscle fasciculations and weakness for almost 8 months.  I first noticed it in my hands.  They get very tired when I grip things or use them a lot.  I find opening packages, petting the dog make them feel really fatigued.  My legs also get tired, making it difficult to exercise.  I can barely hold my arm up to brush my teeth or hair.  My calf muscles and feet cramp up all the time.  I'm a female, 39 years old.  I have been to a neurologist who said the only thing he could find was that when he put the tunning fork on my ankle, I should of heard it longer.  My MRI of my head was neg, which he said rules out MS.  My blood test were neg.  I do have a herniated disc at C5-C6.  Because of my neck muscles, I am visually depandant for balance and the right side of my face twitches 24/7.  He said nerve irritation.  I try really hard not to worry but I'm starting to notice that my hands are getting really skinny.  I am seeing a second neuro next week.  To date the only thing found is the disc.  Two neurosurgeon's said it wasn't the problem.  I realized it's not impiging? any nerves but could it be causing these other problems?  What tests should I ask for?  Thank you for help.

[Don E]

Jenna

Have almost the exact symptoms and timeframe without the balance problem.  EMG was normal a few months back, along with all the med tests.  Interested to hear of your next visit and test results

Don

[Patti]

Is this the mall syndrome my cousin was diagnosed with?  She went to John Hopkins where she lives in Baltimore.  Too much stimulus coming to the brain.  My siblings and I and my cousins in Baltimore are diagnosed w/ fibromyalgia and this is a consequence.

[shannon]

Hello Jenna
I wonder what do you mean by "Because of my neck muscles, I am visually depandant for balance"?

[jenna]

I was told that I am visually depandent for balance because my brain has shut off all information coming from my neck and inner ears.  I was told that the nerves that come up your neck connect with the nerves that come out of the inner ear.  When you suffer from dizziness and vertigo, your brain is still trying to use this information but it gets confused.  Then it just shuts it off.  Your brain will not go backwards, you have to train it.  I have tried vest. rehab 3 times and for me it's not working.  My neuro said permanent nerve damage from severe muscle spasms.  Learn to cope.  When I'm in places with a lot of visual stimulus or moving objects my brain has to work very hard to balance me.  Sometimes I just sway a little, other times if it's really busy, like during x-mas at the mall, it is aweful.  My eyes also pick up movement from flurescent lights which sends a constant signal to my brain that I'm in motion and my brain uses my neck muscles to compensate.  It's a viscious cycle and I have yet to find anyone who can treat this successfully.  If anyone knows of anyone in the Northeast who can treat this condition, I would love to have their name.  All the PT's I've been to just seem to make it worse.  I hope this answered your question.

[jenna]

Thank you CCF Neuro for responding.  I know you can't reply but I needed to add one more thing.  The weakness is mostly in my hands not my arms and shoulders.  Maybe it's just because I use my hands more.  When my neck goes into spasm (about once a month) then the pain does radiate down my arms.  The MRI report said " There is reversal of the normal cervical lordosis associated with a relatively large disc hernation to the left of midline at the c5-c6 level.  It does indent the anterolateral aspect of the cervical cord at this level."  I was told by the neurosurgeon 50/50 chance of improvement.  At first these odds sounded horrible, today they are sounding pretty good.  I will ask for an EMG because everytime I try to figure it out myself, ALS keeps coming up and it's scary but I  try not to think about it.  Thank you for your info.  It was very helpful.  Keep up the good work.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Jenna:

Sorry to hear about your fasciculations and weakness.  Yes, your problem could be related to the herniated disc, it is in the correct location.  Since I haven't seen the MRI I can't make a comment about the degree of impingement.  If the weakness also includes both legs then this might not be the total diagnosis, but from what I gather, the only weakness is in the shoulder/arm area.  An EMG might help clear up things alittle.  If your cramping and fasciculations in your lower extremities have a normal neurologica exam and EMG is normal, then likely the problem is not ALS but the herniation.  Without doing the exam and seeing the MRI I can't tell you for sure.

Therefore, an EMG would be appropriate.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD