Fasciculations since 4 months

[shanyeeka]

Hi everybody!
I have had constant fasciculations in my legs (calves and feet) 24/7 and less often other parts of my body (arms, neck, shoulders) since january. In january my neuro did emg and it showed fasciculation potentials and some fibrillation potentials in my legs.
I have no weakness, and athropy. My neuro said, I have mild nerve damage in my legs, but not impossible that is is benign fasciculation. 4 months elapsed. Could this be ALS?

 

[BethU]

Hi, Shanyeeka ... it doesn't sound like ALS. ALS doesn't start with twitching/fasciculations ... that comes after weakness.

Maybe Wright (our resident medical expert) can explain the results of the EMG better.

 

[shanyeeka]

How long time has to elapse without weakness and etc. to exclude ALS?

 

[nightwolf_mk]

I don't know how long to wait... I've been suffering from fasciculations for two and a
half years. I've had three emgs since them and the fasciculations showed in all of them.
I don't have a diagnosis yet just because it's not possible to the doctors see the difference between benign fasciculations and patological fasciculations only by emg. In fact the fasciculations is not the symptom that the doctors care too much, but the other symptoms that come together, specially weakness and athrophy. What I've learnt during this time is not to worry much about the fasciculations. It seems that the rule is as long as you have the fasciculations and no other symptoms you are closer to be benign fasciculations. I take gabapentim to relief this symptom and it works for me.

God stay with you.

 

[Danijela]

How long time has to elapse without weakness and etc. to exclude ALS?

The top neurologist in the UK told an aquaintance of mine that if there is no atrophy within two years ALS can be rulled out.

Beth, my partner has no weakness nor atrophy in certain parts of his body, and yet he has quite visible fasciculations in those parts. The strongest ones, though, are in his arm accompanied by a significant muscle atrophy. I hate them! They worry me now I know they are a part of MND, and I often wonder if they are 'signalling' atrophy in another part of his body.

 

[chris_uk]

wow he said that it takes 2 years to guarantee that ALS is not the cause of the fasciculations. I have had mine 8 months and i though that this time fram was plenty with no weakness to rule out MND.

I always read that a year is the ultimate safe zone, but this guy is saying 2?

chris

 

[Danijela]

Chris,

the person in question has chronic denervation in several places, fasciculations and cramps. All but MND has been ruled out. The neurologist is Prof. N. Leigh. He advised that if no atrophy develops for two years MND too can be ruled out.

Your situation and EMG results may be different.

 

[Zaphoon]

I have had fasciculations for over a year now and they have increased in intensity, as have the cramps. I also have a lot of spasticity. One of my neuros strongly suspects I have PLS. The fascics are benign.

I kind of doubt the PLS thing, myself but I know I do not have ALS (limited atrophy in my right rotator cuff muscles).

So, you can have twitching, atrophy, spasticity, weakness and not have ALS. It can always be something else until proven otherwise!

Zaphoon

 

[awieleba]

z~

I like your positive thinking! Are you thinking of giving any seminars?

~april

 

[wright]

Chris

For . . . I believe the millionth time (or is it billionth?) . . . you have been fully evaluated by a neuro, which included a clean EMG. Therefore, your twitching is not due to ALS. The story that Danijela shared is not even close to what you are experiencing. Please do what you must to get relief both mentally and physically, so you can move-on with your life.

 

[chris_uk]

Wright

I think it was a billionth plus one time lol and i am trying mate, getting better in my own mind

chris

 

[concerned friend]

If you could add insight for me, my friend (of 25 yrs) has recently been diagnolsed w/als by her neuro and sent to a specialist for testing. Her symptoms are severe muscle twitching in all four extremities and she has had weakness in her right calf and foot that has now developed into atrophy to the point that she drags her foot. The neuro did the electode test and the lower rt leg did not receive any shock at all to the muscle. Please give me your insight.............do you think these are significant signs?

Thanks all,

Colleen

 

[Zaphoon]

It sounds like you are describing a Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) test on those muscles and there must have been a conduction block observed. Conduction blocks can be caused by a number of neurological disorders. For now, it is best to take comfort in that and let the neurologist do more testing.

Zaphoon

 

[concerned friend]

Thanks Z,

what is your take on the muscles constantly twitching and spasms for the past 10 or so months? She also seems to have severe fatigue, unlike her normal personality which is very energetic.?

 

[Zaphoon]

The twitching and spasms don't concern me as they can be caused by something as simple as anxiety. What does concern me about your friend's condition is the muscle atrophy. When you throw all of the symptoms in together with the foot drop (due to weakness and probable atrophy), there is cause for alarm.

Also, you mentioned that your friend has been given a diagnosis of ALS by a neurologist who seems to have referred her for a second opinion (which is the usual case). Her symptoms seem to line-up with ALS but, a diagnosed of ALS has been changed on more than one occasion! Let's keep hope alive!

Just my take...

Zaphoon