← Return to Brachial Amyotrophic Diplegia / Bilateral Monomelic Amyotrophy

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@wheels34

I'll jump in with a remarkably similar tale!

I noticed a similar drop in August, after a month of what I thought was back problems or peroneal nerve damage. A trip to the orthopedist, some xrays and MRI's, and a visit to the neourologist landed me in the OR with a surgery in the L5-S1 spinal region. The foot drop was thought to be caused by nerve compression, and that the surgery would help improve what was thought to be spinal stenosis. Less than 3 mojnths later, I have lost an additional 20 lbs, and have had the "we think you have ALS" speech from 3 doctors in the past few weeks.

I can now walk (barely) with the aid of a Rollator; I have had any number of internal tests (upper GI, colonoscopy) and lab work, showing all functions normal, including thyroid, glucose, liver, kidney, and no celiac or malabsorption issues. I have lost nearly 50 lbs since Nov 2010, now tipping the scales at 155 lbs (6'0", 48 yo) - and have been told to eat whatever I want.

The fasciculations race across my torso and thighs- but not in my effected foot (interestingly).or above the neck.(thankfully). Like TOMMEL (below), my job is understanding and not physically challenging. Like DJK, I get a lot of shrugs, inconclusive diagnosis, and "There IS something going on - I'm not sure WHAT." I joke that I have a crack medical team, headed up by Scooby-Doo.

I meet with the Gehrig ALS Center at Columbia later this week, and am hoping they may be able to come up with more conclusive info and (optimistically) about how to treat it. I wonder if there is some connection between the OPs condition and my predicament........

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Replies to "I'll jump in with a remarkably similar tale! I noticed a similar drop in August, after..."

Thanks for sharing your story. I wish you well, and good luck, with hopefully an answer or two at the ALS Center.

Thank you! My meeting was......inconclusive! "I can't say definiteively that you HAVE ALS. But, I can't say that you DON'T have ALS, either" said the doctor. I am now going to attend their "open clinic" next month, and meet with their team (cardiologist, social workers, etc.).

They said that some of my sympoms are consistent with ALS; others are not. While not necessarily positive, at least they are taking a "wait and see" approach. It seems that there is defintiely some form of neuromuscular disease - they just don't know which one, or if there will be any recovery.

I hope for the best.

Wow. We are definitely in the same boat. Started with L5-S1 surgery and is progressing with inconclusive ALS-like symptoms. All the testing I've had seems to show only lower motor neuron "involvement". The inclusion of "upper motor neuron involvement" would be ALS by definition, or so they say.......

Please post any updates as more tests and opinions roll in. Thanks!