Hand Atrophy

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Heath765

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Learn about ALS
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Daleville
Hello I am a 26 year old female and I am concerned that my left hand (non dominant) is showing signs of atrophy.

Back in November I noticed that I was twitching in my hip and then it moved to my knee. I wasn’t concerned about this at all until I started noticing it happening in my left thumb (thenar muscle in particular). This area was very active (hot spot) for a few weeks. Any time I would squeeze something my hand would twitch really hard for 30 seconds or more. It would also happen just randomly. This would happen very frequently. This lasted for about 3 weeks starting in the middle of December. A few days after the thumb twitching started I looked up it’s causes and of course ALS pops up. This sends me in a downward spiral (I have really bad health anxiety that I am on medication for and will be starting cognitive behavioral therapy for here in a few weeks). I started noticing that not only my thumb was twitching but all over my body was. Within the last month I have noticed it even happening in my tongue, lips, chin. This freaked me out for awhile but I calmed myself down and seemed to be doing better.

Unfortunately the twitches in my thumb have started back up again and now I feel like I notice atrophy. This hand doesn’t have clinical weakness but it feels weak (probably from anxiety). I also notice a buzzing feeling in it. I am not sure if this is even something I could test myself for but I tried and I think I may have clonus in my pointer finger as well (no doctor so this is not definite).

Some back information on me. In November I was diagnosed with pre lupus. Basically my rheumatologist thinks I have lupus based on symptoms but my bloodwork other than my ANA is not sufficient enough to give me a definite diagnosis yet. I saw a rheumatologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville at the beginning of December for a second opinion. I noticed there that my reflexes in my knee seemed hyper and I had never noticed that before (this was before I ever thought anything of my twitches). He never mentioned it but he did do a Babinski test and it came back negative.

Other than what I listed above I am not experiencing any other symptoms. No clinical weakness that I know of. I have an appointment with my rheumatologist on February 17th and I will bring all this up to her then. I just want to try to calm my anxiety down and figure out if I need to ask her for a referral to a neurologist.

Do you notice any atrophy in my left hand. The pictures with the black circle is the hand and area I’m concerned about. The hand without is my right hand to compare to. Is it possible to have atrophy without significant weakness?

Thank you everyone for taking the time to read this. I really appreciate it. You guys are true warriors and I have so much respect for all of you.
 

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Your hands are perfectly normal. I would suggest you go see your doctor. All the best :)
 
Your hands are perfectly normal. I would suggest you go see your doctor. All the best :)
Thank you! I am going to. Mainly for the anxiety issue.
 
I am somewhat familiar with "Split Hand Syndrome" It's the back of your left
hand with your thumb extended. It will begin to somewhat extend on it's own
in time even at rest.

It starts with the muscle between your thumb and first finger. But....
please don't post anymore pictures. As "Affected" posted above... fortunately
your left hand looks fine.
 
I am somewhat familiar with "Split Hand Syndrome" It's the back of your left
hand with your thumb extended. It will begin to somewhat extend on it's own
in time even at rest.

It starts with the muscle between your thumb and first finger. But....
please don't post anymore pictures. As "Affected" posted above... fortunately
your left hand looks fine.
Thank you for your help! I’m sorry you have to deal with that.
 
No atrophy in your hand. Not to worry.
 
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