Questions

[acelhp]

I posted here a few months back when my thumb was twitching. I have new questions if people have the time to answer I'd much appreciate.

I am approaching the 4 month mark of having twitching/fasciculations. I DO NOT have weakness. I have experienced some minor cramps/stiffness.

I do not have problems swallowing food, but feel like I am burping some up or that there is a bit stuck in my throat at times.

My twitching started in my thumb, stopped there, moved to my right calf, has continued and I have had twitches in darn near every area in my body.

My questions:

1. If twitching were a first sign, would it ever stop in one area such as my thumb or once the twitching started would weakness be the next sign. Basically should I be assured now that the thumb stopped and didn't get weak and my twitching migrated?

2. Contraction Fasciculations... I can make my calf twitch by slightly flexing it, I have read both arguments that it is and IS NOT a sign... Anybody know the truth form a neuro or from personal experience?

3. Widespread fasciculations... Good or bad? Although my calf is my most "consistent" spot, Should I be concerned that I get them at random spots or should I be relieved?

4. Regarding swallowing... Is true dysphagia TROUBLE swallowing in general, or is the fact that I burp up sometimes and feel a bit of food in my throat (NOT all the time) my anxiety not allowing my body to function.

Thank you for anyone who has the time to answer, I know you all are busy with your own lives but I appreciate the thought.


Lastly, to note, I am a 24 year old male, I have actually been to a neuro who did the clinical exam, I was told "This doesn't seem like anything nasty" I was offered a emg if I wanted to be squeaky clean but declined as I have horrible insurance. Maybe I should have just done it.

Again thank you, prayers around.

 

[trfogey]

1. If twitching were a first sign, would it ever stop in one area such as my thumb or once the twitching started would weakness be the next sign. Basically should I be assured now that the thumb stopped and didn't get weak and my twitching migrated?

You should be reassured because you've been seen by a neuro who told you that you have nothing serious to worry about. End of story. Distrusting the advice of a highly trained specialist in favor of things you've read online (and not fully understood) == very foolish, if not bordering on "tetched in the head," as we say down here in Dixie. If you're not going to believe a doctor when he gives you good news, there's no sense in spending the money. Diagnose yourself and see how far it takes you.

2. Contraction Fasciculations... I can make my calf twitch by slightly flexing it, I have read both arguments that it is and IS NOT a sign... Anybody know the truth form a neuro or from personal experience?

Not a sign. Everybody twitches. Some more than others. Calves are a frequent location in people who exercise and often occur as a result of exercise. That's why so many people ask about calf fasciculations -- because they are incredibly common -- and almost always benign. They are the "brown eyes" or the "righthandedness" of the twitching world. Boring, actually.

3. Widespread fasciculations... Good or bad? Although my calf is my most "consistent" spot, Should I be concerned that I get them at random spots or should I be relieved?

Annoyed, actually. Like just about everybody else who has benign twitching. Fasciculations that came on and spread as widely as yours did, yet haven't been followed equally quickly by weakness and increasing disability, are almost certainly not any kind of MND.

4. Regarding swallowing... Is true dysphagia TROUBLE swallowing in general, or is the fact that I burp up sometimes and feel a bit of food in my throat (NOT all the time) my anxiety not allowing my body to function.

The dyphagia that goes along with MND is caused by weakening muscles in the throat. Since muscle weakness caused by MND is permanent and never gets better (only worse), the swallowing problems don't come and go. As in, all the time, starting with certain foods and eventually extending to all foods and liquids. Look up PEG tubes on this website.

Lastly, to note, I am a 24 year old male, I have actually been to a neuro who did the clinical exam, I was told "This doesn't seem like anything nasty" I was offered a emg if I wanted to be squeaky clean but declined as I have horrible insurance. Maybe I should have just done it.

Once again, distrusting a trained professional that you went to for his evaluation -- hello, Nuke LaLoosh, with the million-dollar arm and the ten-cent head. You know about as much about neurology as the teenybopper girls sitting the stands at your baseball games understand about throwing a knuckleball, to give you an analogy you can understand.

Why does everybody have to prove the dummy wrong instead of the dummy listening to the people who know what they are talking about? Quite frankly, when it comes to neurology, you're uncoachable, to keep the sports analogy going and you'll never make the big show until you figure that out and change your ways.

Maybe Crash will show up soon with the magic underwear so you'll find your way out of this craziness. Just make sure to keep the rose in the front.

Good luck.

 

[olly]

hi.
1)twitching is not a first sign but weakness is............twitching is caused by nerves/muscle dying.

2)not sure about this question but again if theres no weakness its benign.

3)again if theres no weakness its probably bfs.

4)get it checked out.........but,you would not develop swallowing problems so soon and along with body wide twitches with no weakness.

my opinion.....anxiety.
cure.......get off the computer and stop stressing about your health.

 

[Zaphoon]

You could use some of my anti-twitching cream. I'll dispatch our truck your way!

 

[TedH5]

The answers given vy trfogey and alyoop are accurate and to the point and I can not add any more to what they stated. I would ask if your Neuro gave you a clean bill of health why are you still concerned. If this was causing you so much anxiety you should have had the EMG, a very uncomfortable test, to put your mind at ease. Frankly I am suprised that he offered you an EMG based on the symtoms you describe. Twitching is not a disease, neither is burping. Weakness, true weakness is a cause for concern, but even that in most cases has nothing to do with ALS.

It sounds as though you suffer from anxiety. I would reccommend that you see a Dr. for that. You should be happy knowing you do not have ALS! Celebrate!

 

[notme]

only thing I'll add to your very good answers is that the burping and food feeling is most likely acid reflux or perhaps even a hernia. Your GP can check and treat for that.

your age, no weakness and no atrophy mean your chance of having ALS are about zero