Muscle wasting, could this be ALS? Have had muscle twitching and weakness on left arm this past 3 weeks

[Roo11]

Hi all I’ve recently developed muscle twitching. I had a constant headache and pins and needles since last November and then 3 weeks ago drank a lot of alcohol and started to develop muscle twitching the next day and has not went away all over my body, calves mainly. I have a weakness in my left arm and a tremor in my thumb and keep thinking I have muscle wasting. I have seen a neurologist and he doesn’t seem too worried. I have been prescribed an SSRI by the doctor saying this is health anxiety but I keep worrying thinking I have ALS. I also have a super tight upper back on the left side I’m wondering could a muscle knot cause this to happen, I have been for MRI, CT scans and full bloods done all have been clear. what is everyone’s thoughts on this? Thank you.

 

[lgelb]

This does not sound like ALS at all. You may have basically poisoned yourself on an alcohol binge; if so, keeping up nutrition, exercise such as walking, and hydration is particularly important to help your body recover. The less help you give it, the longer it takes.

Calf twitching is very common and does not point to ALS. None of your issues does. Good sleep can help a lot.

If you have health anxiety, an SSRI is unlikely to fully address it, so I would suggest counseling. As for the back knot, therapeutic massage might be worth trying.

 

[Roo11]

Thanks for getting back. I’ve been super worried for the last 3 weeks I’m just curious to why I’ve weakness in my left arm radiating down to my hand now also. The twitching hasn’t stopped in 3 weeks been trying everything. I took a bad headache last November due to trauma and had pins and needles all over my hands and feet until 3 weeks ago after drinking alcohol that night and the twitching started and hasn’t went away with the arm weakness. The Doctors think I have severe health anxiety. Do you think I have nothing to worry about in regards to ALS at all then, because I have been super worried and depressed.

 

[lgelb]

That's what I said, yes, there is nothing to worry about as regards ALS. In addition to the thoughts above, I would stay in touch with your PCP who can document your strength and whatever else you are worried about.

 

[Roo11]

Just an update on my condition and to see what you think. I’ve started to develop a weakness in my left arm a really bad shake in my hand struggling to lift things and currently have spasms in my back that started yesterday hoping it’s a pulled muscle but very sore. Still experiencing twitching in my calves and feet mainly but get twitches everywhere all over my body some of the times. Seeing a neurologist in 3 weeks for a review on my condition but just don’t feel great one bit really worried

 

[lgelb]

I'm still not worried about ALS. Why not see if normal first-line measures like heat, therapeutic massage, gentle stretching help?