Confused?

[michellelepc]

I am wondering if I may have ALS. I have started twitching all over my body. Today my tounge started twitching visibally twitching. My mom and my husband could see it. I have been having the twitches in my legs in my arms even my back. The only weakness I've noticed has been when walking up the stairs at the courthouse (I'm a paralegal) I'm really scared as I have 3 boys. I'm 33 today and just freaking out. I go to the neurologist next week. Do you guys think it could be ALS?

[crystalkk]

Michelle,

It could be sooooo many different things. (Stress, anxiety, too much caffine, medications, lack of sleep.)
It might be benign fascilation syndrome.
How long have you been twitching?
I would put ALS to the back of my mind.
Try not to stress it will make the twitching 10x worst.

Hang in there,

[michellelepc]

The twitching has been going on for about two months. But it has gotten worse the last couple of weeks. My aunt who is an rn told me to try magnesium and potassium pills so I got those today and started one of each. I also have a feeling in my arms, hands, and sometimes feet of the only way I can describe is like they are half way asleep not completely but like halfway... I know that sounds crazy. Does anyone know of anything else that could cause your tongue to twitch?

[patricia1]

Sorry to hear you have concerns about ALS. It took 5 years for me to get a DX
There is no way we can tell you that you have it. It can be anything. You need alot of test before ALS will be ruled in or out Sorry.


PAt

[judylyne]

When my husband first started twitching it wasn't just twitching you could see, no matter where i touched his body it was like his whole nervous system was on overload. I could feel it under his skin. But he couldn't feel it unless it was visible.

[Jennifer51]

I am wondering if I may have ALS. I have started twitching all over my body. Today my tounge started twitching visibally twitching. My mom and my husband could see it. I have been having the twitches in my legs in my arms even my back. The only weakness I've noticed has been when walking up the stairs at the courthouse (I'm a paralegal) I'm really scared as I have 3 boys. I'm 33 today and just freaking out. I go to the neurologist next week. Do you guys think it could be ALS?

Make sure you get all the tests, no point getting worried before that...PLEASE let us know the outcome.... thinking of you....jennifer

[awieleba]

Hi michelle,

Hang in there! I know how you feel! I have 3 kids also and all the twitching, even on my tongue a little. It is such a strange thing to have develop. I twitched so bad the first 3 months that I never thought it would stop. The last few weeks it has gotten alot better. I dont feel them like I use to at all. they are now random twitches, still there but not to the same degree.

See your neuro and take it from there. He will tell you not to worry about als. (they all do) but for your piece of mind make sure they do an emg/ncv. Just my opinion, I am proactive and hate waiting around for them to run the tests when they feel like it. I needed the peice of mind. I had one done in may and my next one will be in November.

take care and try not to worry.

april

[michellelepc]

I go to the neuro today. I appreciate all of your replies. I will let you know what he decides to do. Thanks again.

[fiddleplayer51]

Good luck, Michelle. Looking forward to what you find out.
All the best,
Jane

[crystalkk]

Michelle,

Good Luck, please keep us posted.

[michellelepc]

Well I went to the neuro and he has ordered an MRI Of the neck, emg and ncv. I will let you know how they all turn out. Thanks!

[michellelepc]

I'm now confused about the cervical mri that my neuro ordered. He acted like to me that it was to determine if I had a pinched nerve but I now see that doing that can show possible als? Am I correct on that?? If so what would show signs of als from that??

[JohnMc]

I don't know that much about it, but when they did my CSpine MRI, I thought that it was to identify something other than ALS that might present some of the symptoms of ALS. Like lesions or a slipped disk or something that might have caused the weakness in my arm.

I don't think that the MRI can really show that you have ALS.

[crystalkk]

Michelle,

Like John said, it is too see if there is anything in your neck causing your problems. They can't tell if you if you have ALS thru a c-spine MRI.

[michellelepc]

Thank you I was confused as ususal.. :-) I go Friday for that. Thanks for the responses!!

[michellelepc]

I am so worried.. I'm trying to be positive and think that all these strange symptoms I'm having are nothing but it's really troublesome. I have been having twitches all day in my right arm and right hand. I was holding the mouse on my computer and my pinky just started twitching it did it 4 times in a row. The upper part of my arm has been twitching and the upper part of the back of my right leg. It all seems to be mainly on the right side. I started having strange things happen a couple of years ago. I was holding my curling iron curling my hair and I couldn't finish my arm felt so heavy. I went to neuro different one than I'm seeing now he did emg/ncv was all normal then and also mri but not with contrast so I don't know how much that would tell re: MS. It seems I have progressively gotten worse. I didn't even know much about ALS until these twitches started and I found it on the computer as a great amount of others have.

[ladyk]

I wish you the best of luck at your mri tomorrow. I just had one of brain and cervical spine myself last Friday. I'm having similar twitching, numbness etc., mine all on the left. The mri showed bone spurs on c4-5 and c5-6 with effacement of spinal cord (guess that means touching spinal cord) as well as narrowing of the ap canal. I now have appointment with neurosurgeon tomorrow because neurologist doesn't think that it's severe enough to be causing all my symptoms. So, I know how anxious you are and what you are going through. It's so hard to stay calm and positive when you just don't know what's going on with your own body and neither do the docs. I hope it goes well for you.

[crystalkk]

Michele,

Did you have any symptoms between the tired arm a couple of years ago until a couple of months ago with
the twitching?
Are you taking anything for anxiety?

[michellelepc]

My Dr. put me on Zoloft and valium last week but I discontinued the Zoloft as it was making me feel strange I have not taken it in three days. She also gave me valium but I only take it as needed. I've taken it twice I think.

[michellelepc]

Oh and the symptoms I've had between are sore muscles. It often feels as though I've exercised a whole lot but haven't. I have also had this strange sensation that I've got a lump in my throat. I've had two cat scans done as well as been to the ent regarding that issue. Nothing has been found. Like I said it's been really strange stuff. That was all last year. My pcp has done every blood test imaginable. I have recently noticed that when climbing stairs I feel as though I've ran a marathon and can barely make it. The twitching stuff just started recently which is what lead me to this site. It seems to be getting worse. Does twitching with als only happen after you've exerted the muscle or can it happen at rest. Mine happens at rest mostly. It seems to be mainly in my upper right arm and today in the right pinky and below the pinky.

[awieleba]

Hi michellepc

I was prescribed somthing that did not work that well either and called my doctor to change. She put me on Lexapro, I think that is more for anxiety. It helped with my crying and fear, also the tight feeling in my throat. I have to take a sleeping pill at night because of the worry. The lexapro helps me alot.

I hope that everything goes OK for you. I had the tired arm thing on and off for 15 years. I remember it was bad 12 years ago, I could not even dry my hair or pump the hair spray bottle with out it making my arm tired. I have had it through out the years but I never went to the docter about it after the one time. My little sister said she has trouble with drying her hair also. She had to change postions at work because her hands would ache with the procedures (she was a dental asst). not to mention one sister cant carry shopping bags for long or her hand hurts and her wrists hurt will typing, my 3rd sister gets horrible cramps for months. MY point is that some of these problems can be normal, so to speak. (my family is getting real sick of my polling them all the time about things!)

Maybe you have carpul tunnel from typing? MY sister has this very bad. Well, I can relate and I wish you well at the doctors. If you fear a neuro proplem and you walking, you will have to be pushy for the tests. And be pushy!!!! I know how hard it is to focus when your twitching, it is a reminder that something just is not right. But my right hand twiched below pinkey for 2-3 weeks and then stopped. I can still use it.

Take care,

April

[awieleba]

I just noticed about the lump, I have that also. It has come and went. And I think that I had that before anything else. Did your ent do any special tests? I am going to the ent on monday for that along with hoarseness. My muscles feel real sore also, and I have a strange feeling in my right leg. I get tired climbing just the stairs in my house, but I can do it. I feel your pain, I have has small strange things and then BAM the twitching and tiredness. Let us hope for anything else.

april

[michellelepc]

I actually went to two ent's the first one did nothing said I was fine. The second looked for nodes on my vocal chords there was none. I had first went to the ER re: the issue and they did a cat scan... nothing. So I don't know it's so fustrating!! I haven't been nearly as concerned until this twitching stuff started. It is really freaking me out!

[awieleba]

ps. bless you with 3 boys! I have 2 boys and a baby girl. The boys are so cute but sooo much work as toddlers. so far the baby girl has been wonderful. I understand your fears with 3 young kids, as I am in the same boat~ I'm 36 with a 6yr old, 4 yr old and a 8 month baby. It is really scary. But I have better days now then I did before in the start of this all. Hug those boys extra tight tonight, I know I do!

[michellelepc]

Well I had an ncv/emg yesterday on the upper extremities which showed nothing so I'm guessing that is great! And today I do the lower. I did stop taking some medication (Zoloft) which my pcp had put me on for anxiety that I believe increased the twitching it was either that or ambien I discontinued them both and have only been getting random twitches as I was before. The neuro also ordered a bunch of blood tests from electrolyte to thryoid so we'll see what is going on I hope!! I'll keep you all informed of the situation. God bless you all!

[crystalkk]

michelle,

Congrats with the upper part being normal....Good luck with with lower part today..... Let us know how it went.

[awieleba]

good luck and great news on the emg.