arm weakness both sides

[kilamangiro]

Hi,

Over the last couple of months i have been experiencing a slight tingling sensation in my right arm, usually when i'm in bed at night. However over the last couple of days my right arm has felt weaker than usual, it's hard to describe, i've just been really aware of my arm being there, whereas usually i'd pay no mind if that makes any sense. This has gotten a bit better but now my left arm felt that way today but that too has now stopped and my left hand feels fine. There is a mild pain in my right hand when i clench my fist.

I'm 22 years old and male.

Does anyone know what this could be? I'm terrified of Motor Neuron Disease. I've been really anxious all day, don't know if that's contributing to any of the feelings.

Thank you.

[Al]

Hi there. First of all your age is a plus. I'd bet on carpal tunnel but you should see a doctor rather than freaking yourself out on the internet.
AL.

[kilamangiro]

thanks for your reply.
But i woke up this morning and i have some weird feelings/weakness in my right foot. Going to try and get an EMG appointment today with a doctor in town.
Does this progression (3 areas in 3 days) seem very quick?

[kilamangiro]

Update:

I visited my GP who done a neuro exam on arms/hands, legs/feet - strength and reflex tests and said everything was normal. The pain in my leg has completely gone away for now though my left hand is now a little stiff. She prescribed me Xanax for a week to ease my anxiety which she said may be behind some of my complaints.

[Al]

She sounds like a smart doc. 3 Areas in 3 days is not average in any way.
AL.

[kilamangiro]

This morning and last night my left hand, particularly the base of my fingers has been very stiff. Had some pain in it yesterday. Eased with application of ice last night. But i'm starting to worry again. My right hand isn't as bad but is a little stiff.

Does Ice typically help stiffness in ALS, and do the symptoms tend to ease off and come back on?

[CindyM]

You are going to be fine, according to Mamma Cindy. Of course, we are not doctors areound here but this one is easy, IMO. Ice will not help the stiffness in ALS. I bet this is related to some daily activity. Sounds much like the trapped nerve I had a few years ago. Which is treatable. Annoying and sometimes painful but highly treatable. You do need a neurologist, though.

[kilamangiro]

I'm starting to freak out again, i've started to get some twitching on my upper left arm and leg. Not constant by any means, maybe one twitch every 15 minutes so far this morning. The muscle stiffness in my hands comes and goes. It was better at the weekend, but got worse yesterday at work.
I've had a cold/flu over the weekend and it's still lingering so i'm generally not feeling great and i'm tired.

Also, i have a question about weakness. Am i right in saying that actual weakness is an inability to perform a certain task with a muscle whereas your muscle getting tired easily after repeating tasks is fatigue? My doctor didn't find any weakness even though my hands felt stiff especially around my finger joints.

[kilamangiro]

today I've had twitches in my shoulders and upper arm (these 2 places mostly), neck, back, chest, soles of my feet, insteps and thighs. Is this normal for them to be in so many places at once? They feel like little tickles on my skin

[kilamangiro]

i went to the doctor again today, due to chest infection. I mentioned the twitching as well. She has ordered blood tests for next tuesday. She tested my arm strength and it was fine.
Does my pattern of twitching sound like it fits with ALS? I'm worried sick.

[kilamangiro]

sorry to be such a pest, but does anyone have any opinion on my symptoms? My twitches continued today, mainly on my left arm. I'm driving myself mad with worrying.

[mozman]

How did you get on at the doctors? I seem to have the same symptoms and am beginning 2 worry myself

[kilamangiro]

my twitches are still pretty much the same. My hand seems a bit better.
But just this evening i'm starting to get really worried again. I think i've found atrophy in the shoulder where a lot of my fasciculations are. When i flex it there seems to be more of an indentation than in my other arm. I'm really panicking now.

[wright]

Hey kilamangiro

I'm going to have to agree with Cindy and Al: I think you're going to be just fine. If you already have atrophy, that shoulder would be weak and your neuro said you're fine. I'd believe her. The symptoms you're presenting with are not typical of ALS. ALS is a progressive disease and you aren't progressing at all. The twitches you're having are most likely due to your anxiety and you also said you just got over the flu, which is something else that can cause twitching.
You've been to your neuro twice and both times you passed with flying colors and you are being told by very experienced and smart people on here that your symptoms are not at all typical of ALS. I would run with that and enjoy life.

[kilamangiro]

thanks wright.

I haven't actually been to a neuro yet. My Doctor ran some blood tests along with a neurological exam and i'm awaiting the results. If they are normal she'll refer me to a neurologist. I think i'll go see one anyway. The more i compared my two shoulders last night (and i did it obsessively) the more i think i was perhaps overreacting. The same dent is in both shoulders it's just harder to see in my right one because when i look in any mirror in my house my right shoulder is in shadow and i have to abduct it a certain way to see it. I have no noticeable weakness in my shoulder.

[kilamangiro]

just got my blood test results back today. All normal. I'm not sure if i'm happy about that in a weird way. I'm being referred to a Neurologist but i'll have a couple of months to wait at least.

[wright]

OK buddy, listen

The odds of getting ALS is 1/100,000, which translates into a 0.001% chance. Now let's take into account your age (you're only 22). Only 5% of ALS diagnoses are prior to the age of 30 and the further away from 30 you get , the better your odds. That puts your chance of being diagnosed with ALS at the very least, 1/2,000,000, so now we're at a 0.00005% of you being diagnosed with ALS. Then let's couple that to the fact that you're only symptom so far is a little bit of twitching. Now can I sit here and tell you with certainty you don't have ALS or will never get it? Absolutely not, I cannot do that. However, I'm fairly confident you are going to be fine. Relax . . . enjoy life . . . go to your neuro and then accept what he/she says.

[kilamangiro]

thanks for your reassurances Wright. I just have one more symptom i'm going to annoy you with.

I have been doing some basic neurological tests of strength on myself (i know i shouldn't bother) and a few weeks ago i noticed when testing finger abduction that the muscle between my middle and ring fingers on my right hand are a lot easier to push together than the same fingers on my other hand. They are the only pair that appear to be weak. When i pinch them together they tend to go together easier but then spring back. i know it seems trivial, but can this be a sign of ALS? I wish i didn't have such a wait to see a neuro.

[wright]

You're going to drive yourself nuts. I really think you're fine. Do what young guys do and relax. Leave it to your neuro to do those tests on your, because they are simply too difficult to do on yourself. Leave it to the professionals. Again, I can't tell you that you absolutely don't have ALS, but I have a very good feeling that you don't. Now go relax. :-D

[kilamangiro]

thanks again. Doing my best to relax. I'm sick to death of reading medical jargon on the net, but i can't seem to help myself. Everyone on this forum has been great though, so helpful and reassuring. i just have minor outbursts of anxiety now and again.

[kilamangiro]

can someone please answer a couple of questions about atrophy?

1. Does it usually come before or after weakness?
2. Can you have atrophy without noticeable weakness?
3. On biceps, is a difference in circumference of 1 cm ,give or take, between right and left sides significant?

4. I have another strange symptom i was hoping someone can help me with. My left arm (i'm not 100% sure if it has always been like this) is much easier to tense if you know what i mean. On my right arm (dominant) i need to strain my hand to tense my entire arm, whereas on the left side i can achieve this much easier and can tense/relax/tense/relax continuously. I don't even know if this is a significant symptom but i thought i'd get some opinions. The left side is the smaller side.

I apologise for my constant questioning and apparent refusal to listen to reason (i really appreciate all the support and reassurances)

[kilamangiro]

does anyone have an answer for the questions above. Sorry for being a pest.
Is everyone's dominant arm supposed to be bigger?

[crystalkk]

Yes, your dominant arm is usually bigger and stronger because you use it more.