fasciculations in hand

[kristine21]

Hi, everyone,

I have a quick question. As with a lot of people here, I'm sure, I searched the internet for "muscle twitches" and ended up here. Anyway, the last few days, I've had a fairly persistent twitch in my left hand. Actually, if my hand is resting, the twitch occurs a few times a minute. However, if I make my hand into a fist and then open my fist, the small muscles on the outside of my hand (basically in my palm under my little finger) twitch to the point that I can actually see them rolling around. This happens EVERY time I make a fist or use those muscles. Is this something I should be concerned about? I'm a little frightened because I read in a couple of the threads here that twitches that occur locally and upon exertion are more indicative of ALS than twitches that occur at rest. Help, please. I tend to be a bit of a hypochondriac and this is driving me crazy. Thanks!

Kristine

[CindyM]

Hi Kristine. I have the same thing in my right hand and it is due to a trapped ulnar nerve in my elbow. Go find a neurologist and have them run some tests. A lot of things cause twitching and most are treatable. Good luck, Cindy

[kristine21]

Thanks, Cindy! That makes me feel better. I guess I'll wait a few days and if it keeps going I'll make an appointment with my doctor.

Kristine

[healthy93!]

The same symptom just started happening to me. Did yours stop on its own?

[shopathonic]

Kristine--
If these twitches persist for another week or two, the best reassurance you can obtain is to make an appointment with a neurologist who specializes in neuromuscular diseases. You can find such a specialist by seeking a referral from the neurology department of the nearest university teaching hospital. If you're worried about ALS--sometimes twitching can precede other symptoms such as weakness and atrophy, but often those other symptoms accompany the twitching. There's no way to know for sure what's going on apart from a thorough workup by a qualified medical specialist. In the meantime, you can take comfort in the idea that twitching on its own--apart from other ALS-related symptoms--is usually not a sign of ALS. But again--if the symptoms persist, your best bet to clear your mind is an appointment with a neurologist who specializes in this area.

Jeff