Hand Weakness: Causes and Worries

[jane3potter3]

I started having hand weakness a couple of days ago. I went to the neurologist today and she did and EMG on my hand and it was normal. Would this totally rule out ALS or should I be worried yet? Would it be to early for it to pick up? Thanks. Sarah.

 

[DonJose]

Maybe you are having perceived weakness? Lots of us have it. It isn't true weakness. I have felt like that in my one arm. But,I was just at the doctor today and she gave me a clinical and said I had great and equal strength in both arms. If your EMG was normal, you are fine.Linda

 

[NinaC2005]

Hi Sarah--I agree with Linda (as I so often do! ) ). If you had weakness in your hand because of ALS, that means the disease is present. Therefore, it would NOT be too early to have an EMG. In fact, according to my neuro (and those of others here), an EMG can detect signs of ALS in asymptomatic limbs.You are 100% in the clear!!! Mind over matter--you think about it, and you'll feel weak. Take care--Mark

 

[edadoStar]

That EMG has confirmed that nothing nasty is going on with you.BFS may ruin your life, unless you get used to it. As you will have to and you will.Rest reassured that you're fine.

 

[TompeteA]

Sarah, I have weakness in my left hand, I have had three nerve conduction studies done in the last 18 months that showed I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my hands, bad in my left, but I have none of the physical symptoms such as your hands falling asleep, so of course I did not believe them. Instead of getting a simple surgery to relieve the nerve that is compressed and causing the weakness, I would sit and stare at my hand thinking "is this is, is this the start" The mental aspect of this syndrome includes denial of a clean diaganois, which is understandable when the symptoms do not let up, and rationalizing evey symptom in our body as ALS. Your doubts of a clean diagnosis is completely normal and most of us have done the same thing, myself, many times. You donot have ALS, or your neuro would have seen it. If you feel you need a second opinion, do it, easing your mine in the first thing you need to do.