A dad-of-two who thought the tingling in his thumb might be down to a trapped nerve was in a wheelchair just months later after getting the devastating news that he has a terminal illness.
Steve Parry, from Prestatyn, developed a limp after the cramp in his thumb, and was eventually told he had motor neurone disease.
Along with his wife Tracey and sons Josh and Jordan, the community has rallied around the 52-year-old since his diagnosis in August, with businesses building wheelchair ramps so he can continue to visit and a fundraising fishing competition planned in honour of the keen fisherman.
Mr Parry, who used to work as a skipper on a boat ferrying workers to off-shore wind farms, said: "I went to the doctor last June as I started to get cramp in my thumb, and this led to me dropping things on the floor, like cutlery and so on.
"The doctor at first thought I had a trapped nerve, and I had to wait weeks for a scan.
"A CT scan didn't show up anything but, after being admitted to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd for further tests, a consultant from Walton Hospital suggested I should have an electromyography (EMG) test after he saw me.
"An EMG is a test for someone who is showing symptoms of a muscle or nerve disorder."
With his wife at his side, Mr Parry was later told that he had motor neurone disease (MND).
"I hardly knew anything about MND," he said.
"I remember Tracey saying to the consultant at the time that she wished I had a brain tumour instead, because at least then there was a possibility of treatment. With MND, there is no possibility of a cure."
By October, Mr Parry needed a wheelchair, and he now uses a ventilator in the evenings to help with his breathing, which is deteriorating.
Feeding and breathing tubes are being fitted to help him, and he has been recording a list of phrases for the Voice Banking service, which will be converted to create a personal synthetic voice when Mr Parry is no longer able to speak himself.
"I take eight tablets a day," he said.
"Most of them are to try to stop my muscles from twitching, and with one there is a 50% chance of extending my life by just two months."
The disease affects the brain and spinal cord, and attacks the nerves so that the muscles no longer work. MND kills a third of people in the first year of diagnosis and 50% of people in two years.
Since his diagnosis, Mr Parry said a team of "brilliant" palliative care nurses have looked after him along with his family, and the local community has been "incredibly kind".
Prestatyn Sailing Club and the Red Lion in Meliden have built ramps so that he can still go for a pint, and friends have raised thousands of pounds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association .
"I'm quite a driven person and I'm trying to get on with my life as much as I can," said Mr Parry.
"I go out for a pint or lunch, and I'm so grateful to Prestatyn Sailing Club and the Red Lion for installing ramps so that I can still go there. People have been incredibly kind."
A fundraising fishing competition has been organised on April 13 at Holyhead breakwater, with part of the proceeds going to the MND Association. For more details, call Gordon on 07572983389.
