PickleJarHero
New member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2022
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- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Diagnosis
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- US
I will try to keep this somewhat quick to not waste anyone's time. I have had health anxiety for the better part of 40 years after experiencing a childhood trauma at age 5. I have always been worried about my health and mainly, death. I have been on and off SSRI's for almost 30 years and am currently off of them as of July of 2021.
In May of 2018, I was going through an extremely traumatic and anxious time, as I found out my then-girlfriend was cheating on me. One night out of nowhere, I noticed my left thumb started twitching/spasming, almost like it had a steady heartbeat. I definitely got nervous about this, but I was so wrapped up in everything else that I didn't get to freaked out and figured it would go away on its own. As the months went on and I was out of my relationship, the spasms continued every day, almost all day. I went to a Neurologist in December of 2018 and of course, when I was there it wasn't spasming. I had a video of it doing it, however so I was able to show him the reason why I came in. He put me though some tests in the exam room (walking away from him, toward him, reflex tests, etc.) for a few minutes and said it didn't look like I had ALS or Parkinson's. Since I am so neurotic about my health, he ordered a brain MRI and a nerve conduction test on my left arm/hand. The MRI came back as unremarkable and the nerve conduction test came up with nothing unusual and I passed that with flying colors. I had assurance that it was likely anxiety and nothing to be concerned about.
Fast forward to today, and the spasming in my thumb is probably worse than ever - and I am feeling like other parts of my body are twitching, my throat feels tight like I am having problems swallowing and I feel like my whole body is vibrating. I am also under a lot of stress at work and figured this is just anxiety but as hard as I try to not think about it, the twitching basically happens in my thumb constantly unless I am moving it.
I know this all sounds like anxiety but what really sent me into overdrive was learning the news that my Neurologist was let go from his practice due to questionable/negative reviews and feedback from patients regarding misdiagnosis and other conduct. I thought he was a good doctor when I saw him, I ended up seeing him later for headaches and had no issue with him. But knowing that he is now basically being ostracized, my anxiety is making me think maybe there was a chance he got my diagnosis wrong. I am 46 years old, pretty fit, athletic and I have not really experienced any other symptoms other than what I mentioned. My nervous brain now thinks I should seek out a second opinion from another neurologist but I don't want to waste anyone's time.
Basically, my spasms in my thumb seem to come on out of nowhere and it worries me but if I am to understand what people write here, ALS comes on and doesn't let up - so my spasms and twitching wouldn't suddenly stop for a month or two months at a time and then just come back later, correct? I don't see any atrophying in my hand whatsoever - it is my left hand and I am left handed. I just wish the spasming would stop altogether because it is the main thing making me think I have something seriously wrong but I would be lying if I said it did not let up from time to time. Last year I was worried about so much other stuff with my body that it went away for at least 3 months so I am pretty sure it is just anxiety and stress manifesting itself in the way of muscle spasms and twitching. Since it has been over 3 years since my initial visit with the Neurologist, should I bother going to see another one?
Thank you for reading, I hope I am not being a bother and I promise I will not stick around and ask too many questions and take time away from the people who truly need it.
In May of 2018, I was going through an extremely traumatic and anxious time, as I found out my then-girlfriend was cheating on me. One night out of nowhere, I noticed my left thumb started twitching/spasming, almost like it had a steady heartbeat. I definitely got nervous about this, but I was so wrapped up in everything else that I didn't get to freaked out and figured it would go away on its own. As the months went on and I was out of my relationship, the spasms continued every day, almost all day. I went to a Neurologist in December of 2018 and of course, when I was there it wasn't spasming. I had a video of it doing it, however so I was able to show him the reason why I came in. He put me though some tests in the exam room (walking away from him, toward him, reflex tests, etc.) for a few minutes and said it didn't look like I had ALS or Parkinson's. Since I am so neurotic about my health, he ordered a brain MRI and a nerve conduction test on my left arm/hand. The MRI came back as unremarkable and the nerve conduction test came up with nothing unusual and I passed that with flying colors. I had assurance that it was likely anxiety and nothing to be concerned about.
Fast forward to today, and the spasming in my thumb is probably worse than ever - and I am feeling like other parts of my body are twitching, my throat feels tight like I am having problems swallowing and I feel like my whole body is vibrating. I am also under a lot of stress at work and figured this is just anxiety but as hard as I try to not think about it, the twitching basically happens in my thumb constantly unless I am moving it.
I know this all sounds like anxiety but what really sent me into overdrive was learning the news that my Neurologist was let go from his practice due to questionable/negative reviews and feedback from patients regarding misdiagnosis and other conduct. I thought he was a good doctor when I saw him, I ended up seeing him later for headaches and had no issue with him. But knowing that he is now basically being ostracized, my anxiety is making me think maybe there was a chance he got my diagnosis wrong. I am 46 years old, pretty fit, athletic and I have not really experienced any other symptoms other than what I mentioned. My nervous brain now thinks I should seek out a second opinion from another neurologist but I don't want to waste anyone's time.
Basically, my spasms in my thumb seem to come on out of nowhere and it worries me but if I am to understand what people write here, ALS comes on and doesn't let up - so my spasms and twitching wouldn't suddenly stop for a month or two months at a time and then just come back later, correct? I don't see any atrophying in my hand whatsoever - it is my left hand and I am left handed. I just wish the spasming would stop altogether because it is the main thing making me think I have something seriously wrong but I would be lying if I said it did not let up from time to time. Last year I was worried about so much other stuff with my body that it went away for at least 3 months so I am pretty sure it is just anxiety and stress manifesting itself in the way of muscle spasms and twitching. Since it has been over 3 years since my initial visit with the Neurologist, should I bother going to see another one?
Thank you for reading, I hope I am not being a bother and I promise I will not stick around and ask too many questions and take time away from the people who truly need it.
