terrif1ed
Member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2011
- Messages
- 29
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- NY
- City
- NY
Hey everyone,
I have been experiencing muscle twitching mostly confined to my calves & thighs but occasionally jumps to arms, butt chest, fingers. This has been going on for the past 2 weeks but seems to be worsening. The visible & felt twitches dissipate with movement and that in of it self eased my fears to a degree (just figured it was BFS triggered by stress)... However being the masochist that I must be, I decided to take a flashlight to my calves in the dark and angle it so that the faintest of movement could be detected. I almost immediately found a faint pulsing twitch on my right calve (It looks like a pulsing snake bite; 2 pulsing twitches only about half a cm, separated by an inch or 2 of non pulsing skin). Then I found pulses in both palms of my hands and right thumb there is the subtle twitching. I'm sure I'd find many more in different places if I kept looking. These twitches would have never been felt or seen unless under these circumstances so who knows how long they've been going on... But the lighting I created definitely brings them out. The fact the ones I have found appear in random places and not bilateral or symmetric makes me feel this couldn't simply be a circulatory or arterial pulse? Well, Lets just say I wish I never whipped out that flashlight because I have been mentally downhill and miserable since.
That is because I have read that the invisible "local" type twitching is more specific to ALS - Especially when it is constant. I tried to flex my calve or shake it off and the twitches still remain and have for the past week .. Since discovering ALS I have done the typical at home strength tests (which nobody should do as it only worsens anxiety!) This involved working the calve muscles.. I know working out in of itself can cause twitching but I don't think constant invisible twitching? My palms (especially my right) has had a burning sensation for the past week... Don't know what that's about... My hands do appear atrophied and I can see the slight differences when looking at older pics, especially in my palms..It looks like holes. My calves and legs overall have always been "weak" as I never work out or do much walking so it's really hard for me to differentiate *lack of exercise atrophy* vs ALS atrophy...Under the harsh flashlight I see many little crevices and dents throughout my legs but I want to think that's just hidden cellulite brought out by the lighting (ew! haha). I don't know how my leg strength exercises would have compared to the same exercises done 4 years ago so I really have no baseline.
Basically like my name states, I'm terrified, and kind of in state of denial (searching for other explanations, any other disease where this could fit). BFS is supposed to have very noticeably felt wide spread twitches, but I have not heard of it producing the ones I have found.. Which seem consistent with ALS (localized, 'silent' twitches). I was also recently tested and found to have Lyme's antibodies (although not officially diagnosed Lymes) Want to believe Lyme's can cause the very fine twitching, but it seems the people with Lyme's who have twitching have the widespread very "obvious" kind like with BFS. I'm just really scared especially because I feel like I'm too young to be dealing with something so sinister (I'm 23).. I see the neurologist in 2 weeks.
I have been experiencing muscle twitching mostly confined to my calves & thighs but occasionally jumps to arms, butt chest, fingers. This has been going on for the past 2 weeks but seems to be worsening. The visible & felt twitches dissipate with movement and that in of it self eased my fears to a degree (just figured it was BFS triggered by stress)... However being the masochist that I must be, I decided to take a flashlight to my calves in the dark and angle it so that the faintest of movement could be detected. I almost immediately found a faint pulsing twitch on my right calve (It looks like a pulsing snake bite; 2 pulsing twitches only about half a cm, separated by an inch or 2 of non pulsing skin). Then I found pulses in both palms of my hands and right thumb there is the subtle twitching. I'm sure I'd find many more in different places if I kept looking. These twitches would have never been felt or seen unless under these circumstances so who knows how long they've been going on... But the lighting I created definitely brings them out. The fact the ones I have found appear in random places and not bilateral or symmetric makes me feel this couldn't simply be a circulatory or arterial pulse? Well, Lets just say I wish I never whipped out that flashlight because I have been mentally downhill and miserable since.
That is because I have read that the invisible "local" type twitching is more specific to ALS - Especially when it is constant. I tried to flex my calve or shake it off and the twitches still remain and have for the past week .. Since discovering ALS I have done the typical at home strength tests (which nobody should do as it only worsens anxiety!) This involved working the calve muscles.. I know working out in of itself can cause twitching but I don't think constant invisible twitching? My palms (especially my right) has had a burning sensation for the past week... Don't know what that's about... My hands do appear atrophied and I can see the slight differences when looking at older pics, especially in my palms..It looks like holes. My calves and legs overall have always been "weak" as I never work out or do much walking so it's really hard for me to differentiate *lack of exercise atrophy* vs ALS atrophy...Under the harsh flashlight I see many little crevices and dents throughout my legs but I want to think that's just hidden cellulite brought out by the lighting (ew! haha). I don't know how my leg strength exercises would have compared to the same exercises done 4 years ago so I really have no baseline.
Basically like my name states, I'm terrified, and kind of in state of denial (searching for other explanations, any other disease where this could fit). BFS is supposed to have very noticeably felt wide spread twitches, but I have not heard of it producing the ones I have found.. Which seem consistent with ALS (localized, 'silent' twitches). I was also recently tested and found to have Lyme's antibodies (although not officially diagnosed Lymes) Want to believe Lyme's can cause the very fine twitching, but it seems the people with Lyme's who have twitching have the widespread very "obvious" kind like with BFS. I'm just really scared especially because I feel like I'm too young to be dealing with something so sinister (I'm 23).. I see the neurologist in 2 weeks.