bshavsky
New member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2024
- Messages
- 1
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
My mid 70 yr old mother has been having the following symptoms:
-1.5 years ago she started having balance issues and a tremor in one hand. At that time she did not require a cane or anything, just a little more focus when she walked. --Every 3 months or so, the balance would get a bit worse and the falls would increase. She described this as stiffness and her legs just 'not working'
-Over the last 3-6 months, things have gotten much worse. She has tremors in both hands. She went from needing a cane, to a walker, and now she cannot walk on her own and requires a wheelchair and is pretty much bed ridden. Over the last 1-2 months, her speech has gotten weaker sounding and some mild slurring.
-She is not reporting any weakness in any other extremity or fasciculations anywhere. She has reported off an on leg cramping since onset.
As expected it is not a simple diagnsos. Her pcp is not sure and her neurologist does not think it is Parkinsons, which was the direction they were leaning initially. There was nothing remarkable from her physical exam, just minor weakness noted in her legs. They gave her medication for Parkinsons and based on her response to the meds, they wanted to hold off on the diagnosis of Parkinsons. They have run a battery of tests and bloodwork, which they used to rule out exposure issues, back issues, and brain tumors. They have ordered an EMG which we will have to wait a few months for. When the neurologist said we do not think it is Parkinsons, that immediately made me suspect a more complicated diagnosis process, which would include ALS. I have spent countless hours researching her symptoms, and I cannot rule in or out ALS based on what I have learned. I am not an expert and certainly the neurologist will eventually come to a conclusion with or without the additional information provided by the EMG; however, I was wondering what the folks on this forum think since we have to wait a few months.
-1.5 years ago she started having balance issues and a tremor in one hand. At that time she did not require a cane or anything, just a little more focus when she walked. --Every 3 months or so, the balance would get a bit worse and the falls would increase. She described this as stiffness and her legs just 'not working'
-Over the last 3-6 months, things have gotten much worse. She has tremors in both hands. She went from needing a cane, to a walker, and now she cannot walk on her own and requires a wheelchair and is pretty much bed ridden. Over the last 1-2 months, her speech has gotten weaker sounding and some mild slurring.
-She is not reporting any weakness in any other extremity or fasciculations anywhere. She has reported off an on leg cramping since onset.
As expected it is not a simple diagnsos. Her pcp is not sure and her neurologist does not think it is Parkinsons, which was the direction they were leaning initially. There was nothing remarkable from her physical exam, just minor weakness noted in her legs. They gave her medication for Parkinsons and based on her response to the meds, they wanted to hold off on the diagnosis of Parkinsons. They have run a battery of tests and bloodwork, which they used to rule out exposure issues, back issues, and brain tumors. They have ordered an EMG which we will have to wait a few months for. When the neurologist said we do not think it is Parkinsons, that immediately made me suspect a more complicated diagnosis process, which would include ALS. I have spent countless hours researching her symptoms, and I cannot rule in or out ALS based on what I have learned. I am not an expert and certainly the neurologist will eventually come to a conclusion with or without the additional information provided by the EMG; however, I was wondering what the folks on this forum think since we have to wait a few months.
