Fasciculations and sleep disturbness. Male 35

[johanswe]

Hello everyone and thank you for this forum. I had never thought i Will post here but i feel that i have to hear you out. Sorry for any bad english, its not my common language.

I have read the ”read before” about twitching, i am tho a little concerned as a few storys start with that people notice twitches as a first symtom of ALS?

Anyway i had twitches now and then in 1-2 years and havent thought of it so much. Especially in my right hand when holding my phone in bed.

About a month ago i noticed twitches in my left thumb, and now its is several times a day in my biceps and sometimes in left underarm. Its more noticing when my pulse got up a bit. I also have twitches in both legs back etc. All over the body.

Normally im sport a lot with gym cardio etc, i have not noticing any weakness there.

Last week i went to the psysio that helped me out with some back / shoulder issues that was make my arms feel weak. It got much better. 2 days later i was doing some curls and noticed my left arm cramping a little.

The fasciculations got worse and now i have woken up two times early morning / night with twitches all over my left arm. I have high pulse and am afraid that it can be ALS. Luckily when i calm down it settles.

My question is : can ALS start like this ?

I have read that twitching all over the body Points away from ALS but i still read about it? Is it associated with widespread muscle weakness?

Thank you for your time, i am going to doctor next week but this eating me up mentally. Its most the night issues i am concerned about as ALS is associated with sleep disturbance.

 

[lgelb]

Stop reading stories. They will not help you, and they are just that.

The facts are these: widespread twitching argues strongly against ALS. When you see your doctor, an excellent idea, they can rule out clinical weakness. If you frequently wake up twitching, ask about a home sleep study. It is very easy to do. You might have a movement disorder in sleep, very common, or might be restless because of anxiety or other issues. That your pulse increases with the twitches also suggests that your mind is at least partly involved. Your doctor can suggest a counselor that can help you separate what might be physical and what might be psychological.

None of this sounds like ALS.

Best,
Laurie

 

[johanswe]

Thanks a lot Laurie. As i said, its the awakening 5am in the morning with my arm twitching that concerns me the most. Its like it feels in the whole arm, maybe its stress related as i have read a lot about ALS last days.

Not for arguing against you, but why is twitching in the whole body something that points away from ALS?

Thank you

 

[Nikki J]

Twitches have many different causes. In ALS they are the distress calls of dying motor neurons. ALS doesn’t start all over it starts in one area and spreads

 

[johanswe]

I just wanna give a small update, i went to see a doctor that went some simple blood test and did a ordinary neuro exam where they tested my reflexes etc.

My reflexes was just fine and the doctor didnt seem to be concerned about the twitching.

After the visit i have noticed that i have some twitches in my stomach, it appeared after i read about twitches in the stomach can be a sign of als, that just terrifies me. I also noticed som twitches in the neck and cheeks.

Dont know if i need to seethe doctor again and try to meet a neuro. The twitches is very noticeable sometimes and sometimes its very calm. But its frustrating as hell, its hard to think of anything else than ALS. This week has been the most anxious week of a long time and all because of the twitches.

My twitching in left biceps isnt around anymore tho, a little comfort is when i reading about symptoms the twitching starts, can be my mind playing me even tho the twitches is real.

 

[ShiftKicker]

Hi Johan,

I would direct you to read Nikki's answer to you again about twitching, as well the Read Before Posting link we've provided. Laurie's advice to you to stop reading stories still stands, as it's clear this is only perpetuating your worries about ALS, despite the doctor not being concerned at all.

It will take some personal will to stop visiting forums and reading stories online, but take a break for a few days. It's feeding your anxieties. If you have further concerns, speak with your doctor- not because you are reporting signs of ALS, but because it is clear we can not provide the kind of reassurance you desire here.

I will be closing this thread. Please do not start another.