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isle667

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Learn about ALS
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ny
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new york
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valley stream
When i read threads on here much of it says anytime twitching happens and it is global by nature then it is a good thing. Ive calmed down with the worrying about ALS, thanks to many answers on here i appreicate that. But what still worries me is, my twitching started in one leg, my upper hamstring and buttox. It was small and annyoning, then it disapeared for a month, then it came back bigger and stronger. The twitching is not there 24 hours a day, somedays it only twitches once or twice, other days more. The twitching has spread though, into my other calf, sometimes my other hamstring, foot, hand, forearm. But it is not as consistant as the one in my left leg. Now my left leg seems smaller, and my left calf is def smaller then my right. However i am told that you have a dominate side, and everything on that dominate side tends to be bigger. I can still do toe raises on my left side, and jump off it. Ive always been jamming my fingers more, i dunno if that is because my hands have gotten weaker. What i am asking, is does it sound like something to worry about?Since my twitches have started in one leg, and kind of moves all over. I also have pins and needles which i believe looks away from ALS, if i am correct. I also have a vibration feeling in the bottom of my feet sometimes after running and such. My twitches basically happen when i am at rest after playing a sport. Now i dont know if i have precieved weakness, or true weakness, because i can still run 3 miles and do wall sits with one leg and both legs. Minute at a time. But what worries me is, does this sound like the beginning of something bad?Like right now i can do it, but is the twitching happening because i am getting weaker. Any feedback id greatly appreciate. Mind you i am 22 years old. And i dont ever cramp really.
 
Just please with anyone, just a simple answer or few comments. I also feel like my left ear insight is like fluttering or twitching if that makes any sense
 
Twitching is really nothing most the time, out of all my symptoms it is the one my DR. worries about least. I do not have ALS, they are looking closer to MS. If you can run 3 miles and still exercise, You are in good shape. Your age is also in your favor, I don't remember, Have you gone to the DR. ? If not than go, it will probably make you feel better.
 
If it makes you feel any better, I'm only a couple of years older than you, and I have atrophy in my "dominant side" - both leg and hand/arm - the side of my body that theoretically should be stronger, is much smaller, and much weaker. my hand is the worst, it's stiff & weak (hard to fold out fingers, movement is slower) & my grip is pathetic. and my fascic's have become more isolated to specific areas (2 to be exact - especially when I contract muscle, or lack there of), with the occasional random spasm here and there. I've had 2 doctors say how they can see the clinical atrophy (especially when compared to other arm...I can barely flex a bicep muscle on my one arm, it's so noticeable it's scary...) - I can feel the weakness... and it's progressing...
I also gag, drool in my sleep & have weird reflex with my one arm when I'm about to fall asleep (it just goes up and down on its own).

so from what I've read from your posts, I wouldn't worry. 22 is awfully young. Me being in my 20's is a good thing too, but I've done a lot of damage to my brain which I suspect has set this off.

I've just become numb to it all. I don't even care if people believe me anymore. I know I'm wasting, and weakening - and a virus or autoimmune or pinched nerve is something I'm hoping - but I'm feeling no pain etc. that would usually indicate that stuff. But, always hope.
 
isle ... I have no medical background, and we don't diagnosed on this forum, but it doesn't sound anything like ALS. It sounds like Beth's First Law of Twitchery: If you are worried about twitches all over your body, you probably don't have ALS.

Twitches are almost universal, especially with young athletes and active exercisers. You're right, "pins and needles" point away from ALS. The fact that your twitches occur when you are resting after playing a sport seems to point to a direct connection to exercise and your twitches. "Over-exercise, stress and strain muscles" = twitches when you rest the muscles. They stop when the muscles have recovered.

If this continues to bother you, see a doctor, get checked out and maybe also get some advice on handling anxiety.

This does not sound to me like the beginning of something bad.
 
isle667:

No, it is not ALS.

Take solace in the fact that you can still engage in sports and such. I too am a runner and get the burning/tingling sensations during/after a run in the bottom of my feet.. I also had calf twitching that was in my right (dominant) leg - not to mention my dominant side calf muscle is actually smaller and flatter than my left but I have had a clean EMG and my neuro assured me (as others did here too) that are bodies can be assymetrical. And also feel optimistic about your twitching "spreading" or starting and stopping. You are so young too; you have so much reassurance to focus on. Do that!
 
Boo ... even though we may feel convinced that someone does or does not have ALS, I think all the PALS and CALS on this forum refrain from making absolute statements and/or diagnoses ... "No, it is not ALS" is not something a layperson is qualified to say to a stranger on an online message board.

Even the experts on this forum like Al and Wright and others always qualify their opinions ... hence the usage, "it points away from ALS." Even neurologists hedge their bets, too, because no one can predict what will happen in 20 or 30 years.
 
Beth and Boo Boo, thank you so much for your positive feedback. Yea i was told too your body is never gonna be equal with one side, one side will almost always look bigger then the other. I do have a bunch of positive things to look at, thank you so much. And im beginning to realize instead of asking questions in forums, which do help ease the aniexty, if im really worried i should just go to my neuro, and let him figure it out. Instead of being repititive and asking the same questions, just differently. Thanks a bunch guys. Stay true to yourself, and continue to what you are doing.
 
You're right BethU, I'm sorry. My only goal was to be able to help someone else feel better and more reassured they were barking up the wrong tree, as was done for me. The thing is, I did think making that statement might not be something I should probably do.

So Isle667, I'm glad you might go see a neuro, and no, I am not a doctor, I just feel confident you don't have much to worry about.
 
What I have learned in my loooong journey is that you can have muscle thinning (lets wait to say atrophy untill nuero says it) and not have als. I know for a fact my calf is smaller, my feet shrank, and hands are thinner, and more But it is not mnd! that has been 100% ruled out. So, you can have thinning muscles and it not be mnd but have real issue. I may never know why this happen to me but I will listen to the 2 als specialist whom told me!

and I twich, all over, big ones, little ones, one I can see, ones I cant. I have them all. and not one showed on my emg, go figure. He even took my ankle and foot and bent it like he was gonna snap it and fond one and showed the fellow and still was not concerned about it.

You will not disconcern anything from your twitches! The only thing will be through exams with your neuro.

take care!
 
Yeah I don't worry about my twitches anymore (I noticed my elbow is still twitching, but now I can't even feel it?). What I do worry about is thinning of my hand & elbow, along with the the weakness & tightness of my hand/forearm/elbow. And the same for my one leg (calf is way smaller, with indentation) & especially foot (my toes on this side are curving and it's more difficult to lift my toes). I've also developed a habit of constantly moving my one foot, and I didn't even realize 'til the other day. I have to constantly move it and move it (up and down like playing the bass drum) even though it's weak and thinning.
I also have a gag problem & a drool problem in my sleep.
the worst is my hand though, it's hard to unfold and my grip is horrible. you can see the bones sticking out. and when I grip I can even feel the weakness all the way to the elbow (which has skin hanging off of it).
my fascic's have moved from certain areas to be isolated at the elbow and the side of the foot (they were once crazy at the calves and above the knee - still there, but not as much), and notied now the fascic's are on the other, stronger elbow now... which actually is worrying me (so I am still worried, I guess...)
the one doctor checked my reflexes and when he hit my knees they went way up really fast... he was like, "see, look how active those reflexes are" ... as in that was a good thing... is that not hyperreflexes?

had to get that out.
 
hang in there untill you see a nuero. you sound like something is going on but you wont know untill then. do you have an appt? I would recomend going to an als neuro not a normal one. JMO, that is what I did and they can help with rule out als and help find out what else it could be. They see more than your normal neuro......I get the elbow twitches as well. Real annoying! I can see the tendons on my hands, hang in there.
 
thanks for the response...

yeah my mother's crying and crying thinking that I have ALS too. I shouldn't worry her like this. We don't even know yet.

But to my original question - me having a negative babinski yet no real reflex in my one knee - is this still a good thing?
maybe someone has experience with this?
 
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