So, I have read about the difference between clinical weakness and perceived weakness. I wanted to put it in my own words as I understand it to see if I am on the right track:Clinical weakness is the inability to do something, i.e...lift coffee cup, button something, rather than a feeling, while perceived weakness is the feeling that you are weak, but no loss of actual ability to do daily activities. Is this a fair assessment? I have been twitching for about 13 months, but the sort of weak feeling is new to me.Thanks in advance!
Understanding Clinical vs. Perceived Weakness
- Thread starter saralyn
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MarioMasher
Well-known member
This isn't me being flippant, it is an explanation that was given to me back in my early BFS days which I always found helpful. Here it goes:If you have to ask if something is weakness, it's not weakness.
JohnnyRocket
Well-known member
Excuse Mario for being flippant 
, although I agree with him.And yes, your understanding is pretty darn accurate. I always think of the difference in these terms; "ALS is about failing, not feeling".By the way, I heard that quote from an ALS victim who knows clinical weakness all too well.
, although I agree with him.And yes, your understanding is pretty darn accurate. I always think of the difference in these terms; "ALS is about failing, not feeling".By the way, I heard that quote from an ALS victim who knows clinical weakness all too well.Yes, and there is something in "BFS in a Nutshell" which I always found comforting, which says, "even actual 'weak' feelings where your arm feels like lead and you have to rest it constantly", is "perceived weakness." I always felt that I could barely walk, button my shirt, feed myself, or stand from a seated position. In fact, if I'd been sitting on the floor, there was no way I'd have been able to get onto my feet without assistance. So yes, BFS can cause that significant of a perception of weakness. Clinical weakness is something your neuro picks up on exam, and isn't subtle. I pushed against my neuro's hands with my feet when I was feeling especially incapacitated and felt certain that he would notice how "weak" I was. In fact, he said my strength was good, much to my surprise. Blessings, Sue
christinasgirl123
Well-known member
Basically: you cannot feel weakness. You also cannot feel strength. You do not sit around feeling stronger after you have done weight training and are able to lift 20lbs more. Strength is not a question of sensation, but only a question of whether you can do things or not. It is as simple as that. When I had stopped working out quite long for an infection, I felt absolutely the same as before. But when I got back to the gym and tried to lift the weights I had lifted 1,5 months ago, well...big surprise: I could not even get close to it. This is all about strength. It is absolute.
