Very Worried

[Chad5]

I am a 44 year old man with some worrying symptoms. I have an appointment with an neurologist tomorrow.

Over the past year or so I’ve had spells of utter exhaustion - not just sleep tired - physically unable to function. I have also had sleep issues where I wake abruptly gasping for air. Perhaps obstructive sleep apnea? My throat muscles relaxing so much that they block my airway? I don’t know but it’s very unpleasant.

I have always been very inflexible and suffered from morning stiffness but it seems to be worse than ever and my whole body aches.

I get muscle spasms in my legs, arms and sometimes stomach every night - jerks that I can’t control. They began a year or so ago but got worse in January 2020.

I often wake with totally numb hands and arms and they even go numb with pins and needles during the day when I’m just doing normal things like watching TV.

I have choked on food a few times recently as my throat is sore and uncomfortable. I have a slight hesitancy in food passage for a few seconds.

Finally I have a headache that never goes away no matter how many pills I take.

Has anybody had the same symptoms? Obviously I’m worried it could be MND.

[MNDConnect]

Hi Chad5

I am sorry to hear that you have symptoms which are concerning you. How did you get on at your neurology appointment?

The symptoms that you describe are not typical symptoms of motor neurone disease (MND). Numbness and pins and needles are not caused by MND. These sensations come from the sensory nerves which are not affected by MND.

Muscle stiffness and aches in the morning would not usually be indicative of MND.

The sleep issues that you mention do sound more like sleep apnea than MND. This could also be causing the fatigue that you are experiencing.

Your symptoms could be put down to many different things but would not typically suggest MND. The most common cause would be stress and anxiety.

Please do feel free to give us a call if you would like to discuss your concerns further. We are available on 0808 802 6262 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

Best Wishes

Rachel
MND Connect Adviser