Worried about symptoms

[worried89]

Hi all, thank you for any responses in advance. I am extremely anxious and appreciate anyone who takes the time to respond.

About 4/5 weeks ago after just 2 days of performing a new home workout involving lifting dumb bells overhead I developed a pins and needles sensation in just my right hand and arm. from hand all the way up to the shoulder. This lasted a couple of weeks and since I have had intermittent 'tingling' which has got less and less frequent. Felt more like a crawling sensation at times.

I called my GP for a telephone appointment who was unconcerned and put it down probably to the exercise, maybe something like carpel tunnel or pinched nerve.

The tingling has now all but stopped. The past few days however my arm has felt weak. My movement or grip is not affected, but I have a constant sensation, almost 'tickly' especially in my upper arm/bicep area. It’s hard to explain, feels weird.

After googling my symptoms they have all led me to MND and now I have convinced myself I have it. I've read how hard it is to diagnose early etc so worry my doctor is wrong to be unconcerned.

I called my GP again today as a follow up and to discuss change in symptoms. I specifically mentioned MND and she said she wasn't concerned after what I had described. She advised to keep an eye on symptoms and if it has not subsided within 2-3 weeks call back and she will refer me for nerve conduction testing.

I know you aren't able to offer any diagnosis or fully relieve my worries, but I just wanted your thoughts on whether I should be concerned.

[Ellie]

Sorry you're anxious about this but the good news for you is that pins & needles and tingling are NOT presenting symptoms of MND - IDK what sites you Googled that suggested these are symptoms of MND, but sensory issues expressly point away from MND. You say your grip is not affected, more good news!

Please believe your GP and yes, do keep an eye on it.

Love Ellie.

[worried89]

Hi Ellie,

Thank you so much for your message and reassurance.

Am I correct to assume that if my arm feels weak already, my grip or strength would already be affected or could it be delayed?

I have relayed my fears to my fiancé tonight, and feel better for talking about it.

He noticed that my bicep, which is one area that feels affected, my bicep feels raised like it’s tensed, but not. I hadn’t noticed. Is this a worry, or consistent with my doctors theory.

Worried x

[Ellie]

In ALS/MND, muscles don't feel any different, they simply fail to function - if it starts in the arm, the fine motor skills would be first to fail.

You're not describing MND, keep working with your GP and hope you get answers soon or it repairs itself.

Best wishes.

[Tess]

Hi Worried,
My partner first noticed his symptoms at the gym while lifting, but like Ellie said it was nothing to do with tingling and more general weakness in one arm and especially loosened grip. He first thought it was a pulled muscle then they checked for a pinched nerve in the neck, there was a lumber puncture at one point and even considered a spider bite since we had been abroad previously.
We then noticed a twitch in his upper arm/shoulder area...which was very obvious when we went to bed.
I hope they find out for you what it is, there are so many possibilities, but the pins and needles etc doesn't ring a bell.

Tess x

[worried89]

Thank you Ellie & Tess for your messages. You have provided great information & insight.

I am going to stop posting now, as I feel this forum isn't really a place for me to gain continuous reassurance for symptoms.

I have to accept that my symptoms are not MND/ALS related and move on and stop over thinking, worrying & googling.

As previously said, it started with tingling & pins and needles after exercise. This has all but stopped & progressed to my arm feeling weak, but not affecting any motor skills. I have accepted thanks to Ellie that if this was MND my motor skills would fail without any pain/weakness feeling or sensations.

Finally thanks again for your support and reassurance, it is better to speak to people in the know rather than trail websites.

I wish you both well.

Worried.

[worried89]

Hi Ellie,

Can I please ask you one last question whilst I am waiting forever an appointment with my GP.

my bicep. I touched on the issue previously. It constantly feels raised like When you’re tensing it, like it’s quite prominent. It hasn’t affected my arm movement but it aches.

I have read online that muscle stiffness/rigidity or spasticity is a symptom or sign of MND/neurological problem. I have no idea if that’s even what I’m describing.

Could MND start in the bicep and a swollen/tense/protruding bicep be an initial symptom?

Beyond myself with worry. Keep testing that I can do up buttons, turn keys in locks and grip things.

[Ellie]

Not to the best of my knowledge, no.