Do ALS fasciculations usually start widespread or isolated?

[ScaredAndAlone]

Generally speaking ofcourse. I ask this because starting about a week ago, I've been suffering from very quick (usually lasts about 2 or 3 seconds) fasciculations all over my body. And when I mean all over I mean it. I've had it in my feet (top and bottom), arms, legs, calves, hands, lips, eye lids, EVERYWHERE. The only place I haven't had it us my tongue. So, is this in line with the beginning if ALS or us the twitching usually isolated to one single dying muscle? I have no weakness that I know of yet. Oh, and I'm 23. Thanks!

 

[limegreenphysicist]

Please RUN...Run as far away from this board as possible! Twitches do not equal ALS.... that you are 23, no weakness, and nothing else to point to ALS. Twitching is very common.

 

[rose]

Scared and Alone,

Please take time to read the "stickies" at the top of this forum page. They will give you much information, that no only should reassure you, but also help you understand more about ALS, and this website.

There is also a Search feature that will be of help, in that you can read experiences of others, and also see what has been covered before. (Click on the tab at top of this page, it says "Search")

The short answer to you question, is that what you describe sounds nothing like ALS to me.

Please, do take my advice, and read up more thoroughly.

thanks, and good luck to you.

 

[ScaredAndAlone]

Scared and Alone,

Please take time to read the "stickies" at the top of this forum page. They will give you much information, that no only should reassure you, but also help you understand more about ALS, and this website.

There is also a Search feature that will be of help, in that you can read experiences of others, and also see what has been covered before. (Click on the tab at top of this page, it says "Search")

The short answer to you question, is that what you describe sounds nothing like ALS to me.

Please, do take my advice, and read up more thoroughly.

thanks, and good luck to you.

I actually have done a lot of reading regarding this, but I can't seem to get a straight answer, as different sources say different things. Some say fasciculations/twitching is nothing to worry about where others say its a definite red flag. This is why I'm trying to see if others who do have ALS started off with fasciculations all over their body instead of just one area and then slowly spreading. In my case, about every 2 minutes or so (for the past few weeks) I will get sporadic fasciculations (almost all of which I can see the muscle moving underneath the skin) that are pretty instantaneous for the most part, meaning it doesn't last for more then 2 or 3 seconds max......just like a quick muscle twitch. After that, I will get it again in a completely different area........theres no pattern whatsoever. One minute I'll have some twitches in the arm and then the next minute (literally) it could be the lip, or my feet. I'm well aware that occasional twitching is nothing to worry about, but getting fasciculations in different areas of my body every few minutes or so seems like a reason to worry.

So, yeah......sorry to trail off there like that. I'm really just trying to see if other people who eventually became diagnosed started off similar to me. I'm trying to see if I need to see a neuro or not. I'm in Korea (working here for a while), so going to a specialist isn't the easiest thing to do.

 

[ScaredAndAlone]

Let me emphasize though that I really do appreciate the feedback. Dealing with stuff like this overseas, away from your home is pretty aggravating to say the least.

 

[Twinsmom]

Dear Scared and Alone,
Being in Korea, away from home while dealing with strange symptoms is definitely stressful. Unfortunately one of the tough things with ALS, is that there are no "norms". Literally everyone has a different journey. My best layperson educated response would be that TYPICALLY ALS is not all over your body like that.

There is a condition called Benign Fasciculations Syndrome (BFS) that sounds more in line with your symptoms. I know people who have similar symptoms as yours who were ultimately diagnosed with BFS which is a condition to be managed, not a disease that is terminal. Also, I've seen where stress also increases the frequency and number of twitches with BFS. Good luck to you.

Melody

 

[trfogey]

If you are concerned enough to do Internet research and make posts on message boards, then you should be consulting a physician about your condition. The main reason you are confused by what you read is that you don't know enough about the diseases and conditions you are reading about to distinguish between them.

As others have told you, ALS does not begin in the way you have described, so you are wasting your time doing any further reading about it. There are many other symptoms other than twitching that are much more prominent in ALS -- none of which you have complained about. Since you haven't complained about those symptoms, it's a pretty safe bet that you don't have ALS.

Good luck to you.