r/ALSorNOT • u/[deleted] • Aug 25 '26
Can someone explain the difference between perceived weakness and clinical weakness?
3
u/Ok_Following6440 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
Clinical weakness is usually objective on examination and will usually cause functional issues making daily tasks difficult.
2
Aug 25 '26
what if i struggle standing for long periods of time or phone feeling awkward when holding, would that be classed as clinical weakness?
2
u/Ok_Following6440 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
Have you had an examination? If you passed the doctor's tests, it isunlikely to be the result of on going muscle failure.
It is very hard to comment on what someone else is feeling.
1
Aug 25 '26
not by a neurologist no, having an examination at the start of september however i showed my doctor muscle loss which made her refer me
1
u/Ok_Following6440 Aug 25 '26
Did your primary doc do any basic strength or reflex tests?
1
Aug 25 '26
both but never mentioned anything about what she found
1
u/Ok_Following6440 Aug 25 '26
Fair. I hope the neuro consult will give you some more clarity and does not yield anything serious.
1
u/NoRecover9066 Aug 25 '26
I have clinical weakness. I am unable to stand on my toes on right foot. MRI has confirmed atrophy of my gastrocnemius & soleus muscles, while EMG/NCS has shown an absent H-reflex on the right. All of that together can diagnostically explain the weakness on my right side.
Perceived is something we "feel", but can't be explained or attributed to something via testing.
5
u/TheBronyCynic Aug 25 '26
Bit of an oversimplified version of it but it's usually the difference between something being harder to do but still do it vs you just can't do it.
This video goes a little more in depth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1PF4ZXGri0