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JEB1979

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Hello, everyone. As some of you may know, I started posting here because I began having fasciculations at the end of May. As my aunt had passed away from the disease, I was worried that this might be an early symptom of the disease, especially combined with a clumsy feeling in my right hand and off-and-on pain in both arms. The fasciculations were especially strong in my calves but would happen in other parts of my body as well, including my arms, stomach, face, knees, etc.

I went to a neuro at my local hospital, who first prescribed me a muscle relaxant. That didn't work so he prescribed me an anti-convulsant. That didn't work either so then he sent me to a larger hospital to get an MRI and EMG done.

Well, the results from the test were finally sent back to my original hospital so I was able to meet with my regular neuro. To put it bluntly, he has no clue what I have. Tge EMG and MRI were normal (the MRI seems to indicate a thoracic disc herniation, which is worrisome but would not cause the fasciculation symptoms). I'm seeing a spine specialist next week so they can look over the MRI but as far as my fascics are concerned, the doctor told me he has no idea what they are, but he wants me to come back for a follow-up in two months or if my symptoms change.

My spinal surgeon has referred me to another neuro who specializes in motor neuron diseases like ALS, so I will hopefully get a second opinion and find out what the hell is going on in my body, but I guess it's more good news than bad for now? Though finding out I may gave yet another herniated disc was extremely unpleasant news.

The neuro refused to rule out anything but said he doesn't think it's ALS so I will take that possibility off my mind, unless my symptoms change or worsen.
 
If your EMG was normal, that's good news as a "dirty" EMG would reveal something else.
Yours was clean and that's important.

Keep in mind that herniated disks may put some pressure on or trap nerves that originate in the spine and if these trapped nerves nourish a group of muscles, there might be fasciculations on that group of muscles as a consequence of the nerves that nourish them being compressed.


I definitely think you do not have any MND in light of these results.


Carlos
 
The neuro doesn't think it's related to the herniated disc since the fasciculations, while concentrated on the calves, are also occurring in other parts of my body, including my face.
 
What about simple benign fasciculations syndrome? Neuromyotonia? From your description, it is just BFS. Have had it for six and haf years.
 
That is certainly what I'm hoping it is. The doctor didn't give me that diagnosis, he simply said he was stumped.

I got a referral to another neuro so perhaps the other neuro will have more luck.
 
What about simple benign fasciculations syndrome? Neuromyotonia? From your description, it is just BFS. Have had it for six and haf years.

Good guess.
 
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