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James88

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Sep 6, 2018
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Learn about ALS
Country
CA
State
Nova Scotia
City
Halifax
On May 5, 2017 my right thumb began to twitch. It was after playing WAY too many hours of video games, but I googled "thumb twitch" and came across als. Big mistake. I've had anxiety disorder since I was 14, so that tipped me over the edge. During that time I also suffered from a severe burning pain in my left deltoid. It went away after about a week. I went to two doctors in the span of ten days. Both did strength tests and assured me the twitching would pass. It did after about two weeks.

Within two weeks of the thumb stopping twitching, I developed a twitch in my left calve. It lasted a night. Came back a week later. Then gone again. A few days later I developed a twitch on the inside of my left foot. It too went away but would return on and off. Shaking my foot would take my mind off of it.

A few months after that I got a twitch in my right foot. It too went away but returns at random. Since then I get a random twitch in my right pectoral muscle that will last a few days and then go for months at a time.

I now have a twitch in my right deltoid that's lasted for two weeks. At first I assumed it would work itself out like the rest, but it is persistent. Mentally I'm having a very hard time.

I have no weakness that I can feel. And anything that looks like atrophy is symmetrical. But I am absolutely terrified. I haven't eaten in days. The shoulder twitch is just not going away. It's seems to stop if I'm laying on my side. Or if I turn my head hard to the right. But otherwise it is almost constant. I would really appreciate anyones opinions. I've read the pinned posts, and know that twitching is benign 99% of the time but I cannot shake this fear thats gripped me for the last year and three months. Could it all be anxiety? I've gone for sometimes a month at a time with NO twitching but then it pops up. Could it be a pinched nerve? Because the only symptom is twitching, with no weakness or pain, doctors won't refer me to any specialists so I'm in anxiety bomb limbo.
 
This post should answer all your questions: READ BEFORE POSTING! Answers to common concerns about possible symptoms! - ALS/MND Support Group Forums

If you are unable to believe it, I'm not sure how much someone repeating what the pinned post says will reassure you. If you are unable to shake the anxiety, despite being provided with information and reassurance from both doctors and the pinned post here, you might want to look into dealing with the anxiety. See a physiotherapist as well to deal with postural and strength issues. A proper mechanical assessment and exercises and stretching will mitigate any pinching and tension and you will likely see a benefit immediately. Perhaps that will help reassure you as well.

We've had a lot of anxious posters recently. My hope is that you will take the advice provided by this forum and you will be able to move on quickly without needing further reassurance from the members here or using this place as any sort of resource for things that are easily mitigated by physio and counseling. This really is not the place for an anxious person for so many reasons.
 
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