I was told by my neurologist that ALS is about weakness not numbness. I have read where there are similarities for some. I was tested for ALS about 10 months ago and had a clean EMG, but my nerve conduction test showed some slow velocities on my right side. I was given the useless diagnosis of mild sensory axonal polyneuropathy. I’m 56, so the right age, and I have played a lot of baseball which also puts me at a higher risk due to repetitive motions that seem to damage the same nerves over and over. However, my strength has never really totally left me. I have read stories of ALS patients who couldn’t keep their arm up when lifted by the doctor. ALS seems to work pretty fast as far as losing one’s strength. I like many others didn’t totally belive my doctor when he smirked and dismissed my ALS worries, but the longer I go without losing strength, the better I feel about my future. I still am dealing with neuropathy in my feet, and a few other weird symptoms including fatigue that comes and goes, and brain fog with it.
I have an appointment next week to see if my neurologist can look at the possibility of some kind of vagus nerve impingement in my neck, and I have an appointment inna couple of months for thoracic outlet syndrome testing which is a common basball player diagnosis.
Unfortunately, our medical professionals have a long way to go with the central nervous system. ALS is very tough to identify as is many neurological disorders. Keep reading those studies. It’s what lead me to vagus nerve compression and thoracic outlet syndrome as a possibility. Most doctors never consider these rare afflictions. Also look up the relationship between spinal stenosis or cmpression and neuropathy. Most doctors disregard that as a possibility too. Good luck, I hope you find some answers. I still haven’t.