Seeking Help: Leg Issues

[Snowball001]

Hey all, this is only my second post. If you want my entire story you can see the post "Acry for help." The short version is that I have a smaller right leg (unsure if its always been that way or not) and I'm right leg dominant. Fasics started in my right leg calf, arch, butt (and are in some other places but much less). I have no clinical weakness per my neuro exam, but physical therapy found weakness of my butt musles on my right (which they tested a year ago when I had left knee pain and they were symmetric at that time). Now, my very first symptom was pain in my right butt, stated early 8/2011 and then fsics started mid-8/2011. My Thing is that I have heard some ALS stories where they had some more subtle weakness early on which lead to those weak musles to cause trapped nerve syndromes like sciatia (which seems like this). I am 31 yo and had 1 EMG with fasics in my Right leg like one week and one twitch into this. I am scared that I have fasics that started in a smaller leg after a nere being affected because I first had weakening of my muscles in that area. Would appreciate input especially from longtimers. Thanks all.

 

[Gloria123]

Oh my gosh, you really are over thinking this. You have no clinical weakness and a clean EMG. You couldn't ask for anything more, really. If you have sciatica, it's likely just sciatica. And weakness diagnosed in physical therapy wouldn't be the same thing as weakness diagnosed by a neurologist. Heck, if you go to a physical therapist it's usually to analyze and rebuild weaker muscles -- that's why you're there.Please try not to worry. Don't read stories on other boards, either. It's doing you no good.Mitra

 

[Gloria123]

PS: They would have caught sciatica or a pinched nerve in your nerve conductivity test. And sciatica usually presents with shooting pains down your leg. Not sure if you have that or not. My orthopedic was very clear about sciatica being "shooting" pains and almost always down your leg.

 

[DesertKnight]

Mitra is absolutely correct. Sciatic pain is an overwhelming, nauseating type of pain. Mine goes from my lower back )around my SI joint all the way down the back of my leg into my toes. It feels like an electrical current shooting down your leg. It makes your leg hurt to the touch with just the slightest pressure. That said, never once have I considered my sciatic pain to have anything to do with a fatal disease. I'm 33 and I've had continuous problems with it for at least ten years. AND regarding the weakness...every time I've been to PT it has been for one sided weakness. My 15 year old is in PT right now to correct weakness in her right thigh. Her left thigh is noticeably larger than the right, only because a knee problem makes her bear weight more on the left side. My left arm is way more muscular than my right arm and I'm right handed. My legs are just the opposite. Hell, I'm pretty sure my left boob is a little bigger than my right one. Lol! If noticeable size discrepancy is a bad sign I think I'm screwed!I refuse to read the ALS boards. There's nothing but worry and panic there for me. Hang in there and don't freak out! You're in good company!~Frances

 

[yodaiguy]

Clean EMG with fascilitation already present means you 100% don't have ALS and 99.99999% won't get ALS. If you have fascilations and a CLEAN EMG you are good, end of story. Fascilations only occur LATE in ALS and would 100% show on a EMG. Contrary to what a lot of people say you do not need the best Neurologist in the world to do an accurate EMG, it is a very simple test.

 

[Gloria123]

NorthernDave,Can you come live in my house and tell me this over and over again? Mitra