Okay going to play the devil's advocate, though I've seen my fair share of ID-10-T doctors and have been on the opposite side of telling them what isn't wrong with me. Like my symptoms weren't caused by diabetes. (my blood sugar actually runs low). My occasional bronchitis wasn't caused by smoking (I wasn't smoking when I was 6 mo. old and scarred the bronchial tubes) My dislocated wrist wasn't caused by playing on a computer (it was caused by a 1200lb animal pinning it to a wall.)

All the same, I have to agree with the neurologist that even without an MRI ALS was likely easy to rule out. It almost always shows symptoms on one side of the body to begin with and only after destroying that side of the body does it progress the rest. There's also a finger flick test that is a rather easy way to all but rule it out.

And most all doctors hate being told what the patient "thinks" it is. It's almost like one of those things of well if you're so smart what do you need me for. Even auto mechanics are the same way, bringing them a car that won't start and telling them you "know" it's the coil. Well then why didn't you change it yourself. And since there's nothing that can be done for ALS, why bother going and telling a doctor it is ALS when your symptoms don't fit and even if it was, if you can diagnose it yourself then you know there's nothing that can be done for it.

My own GP (now that I've found a smart one) hates it when I go into see him and tell him that I "have" strep throat, or I "have" bronchitis, an ear infection etc... And he'll try to prove me wrong and look every which way to explain my symptoms without agreeing with me, until he finally has to give in and agree. And he's asked me many a time, if I know, why am I coming to see him... the answer is simple, I can't get amoxicillin without a prescription, why does he think I never see him when I have a cold, or the flu. Those are viruses, nothing to really be done about them but rest and fluids.

Devil's advocacy done...

All that being said, I would certainly ask either the GP or neurologist to send you for an MRI. If it in any way it possibly could or couldn't be ALS or any other neurological problem, an MRI is an easy enough way to put your own mind at ease. They aren't even that expensive if you're paying out of pocket. Around $500 for piece of mind, if they think it's anxiety why shouldn't they give you the best anxiety medication known as a picture.

ALS has a very distinctive pattern that shows on the MRI, it simply can not be mistaken for anything else. It is what it is and not's anything else at all. MS and a lot of other neurological problems ehhh.... not so much. But your fears of ALS will decidedly be confirmed or denied within an hour of laying inside a tube.

In answer to the question about your symptoms, yes... they could be symptoms of MS, but MS is one of those wonky diseases where pretty much everything is a possible symptom including migraines and epilepsy. There's not a whole lot that rules out MS outside of an MRI and an LP. But it mimics so many other disorders out there.