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Auron23

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Hi! Male 44 years old here. ’m sorry to be posting but I finally decided to seek your advice. My wife and I are nervous and some of your thoughts might really help us. I’m having some symptoms that are worrying me. Here they are in brief:

Dec 22: Odd headache in left temple— three pulses, long pause, three pulses, etc. This headache was accompanied by numbness in left side of face. This lasted 24 hours.

Dec 23-Jan 9: during this time I felt lightheaded and dizzy. Lasted a little over three weeks. My balance was definitely off and it was clear to me that something was abnormal. No sensation of vertigo.

Jan 10-Jan 18: Paresthesia... numbness, pins and needles, itching in right left, right hand and arm, left hand and arm. My left hand experienced particular numbness during this phase. At this point I was afraid I might have MS.

Jan-19-Feb 7: night sweats every night wherein I would wake up drenched. I also had widespread muscle twitches during this time. My calves, quads, left tricep, right lower back would primarily twitch. I would have occasional twitches in upper back and both shoulders and right arm. Maybe slight twitches in eyelid. I got a brain MRI on Jan 21 which came back fine so the doc said prob no MS.

Feb 8-present: muscle twitches continue. I started to perceive an odd feeling in my left arm/hand. Like tiredness. I went to the gym Feb 9 and used a grip strength tester and it was not weak. But from Feb 8 the feeling persisted and became like a feeling of soreness in the wrist and left hand when I would use the muscles. I would describe the feeling like I just spent hours working with that hand doing strenuous activities, but I haven’t. I kept trying to brush this off as anxiety.

I don’t believe I have any clinical weakness at present but the feeling of soreness and perceived weakness in my left hand is troubling me a great deal and making me afraid that it might be the precursor to actual clinical weakness.

What for me worried and led me to post tonight is that while I was playing Xbox tonight, my left hand became very sore. I have played Xbox a good deal and for years and I have never had this happen. It’s definitely abnormal for me. My left hand feels sore and tired.

Does this sound anything like ALS to you? My wife herself is very ill and this is adding stress that we don’t need. I read the sticky thread and I tried not to post here because I have a neuro appointment the week of March 20 but the abnormal soreness in my hand tonight has gotten me really anxious.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for helping strangers. You truly are good people.
 
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Hi there-

Have a read through the https://www.alsforums.com/forum/do-...-common-concerns-about-possible-symptoms.html post again. Twitching is as nonspecific as having a cough. Most of what you report is discussed in that link and points away from ALS. Night sweats are not neurological.

Please try to stay away from this forum. What you are experiencing does not sound like ALS at all- the fact that you posted, even after reading the pinned post says you may be experiencing anxiety about ALS specifically and you really don't need to.
 
I'm sorry to hear that your wife is not well.

If this is all anything, it seems more systemic than neurological to me. I would go back to your PCP and get worked up. If all is clear, that would be the time to look at nutrition, hydration, sleep, stress, stretching and exercise. I'm sure that things are difficult overall and sometimes that can manifest as greater awareness of the glitches we all have.

As for the night sweats, restless sleep can certainly contribute, and it's always worth double-checking your sheets, pillow, mattress, furnace settings, etc. as well as assuring yourself before bed that you have seen to your wife's comfort as best you can.

Best,
Laurie
 
Thank you both so much for your response. When I was getting the night sweats and twitching, I googled and this made me afraid of ALS. I am not generally anxious but my odd symptoms have me very worried. My worry about my wife’s health definitely contributes to my anxiety. I forgot to mention that back around Jan 19 when I went to the PCP he gave me a general 5 min neuro exam— push and pull with feet and arms, and he tested my DTR and said they were fine. I truly am sorry to post here. It’s just that I know my body and I’ve never had anything like the feeling of tiredness and soreness localized only to my left hand. This in combination with the twitching brought me here and is primarily what is contributing to my anxiety.
 
I thought I’d give an update for the anxiety-ridden people (like me) who lurk on these forums. I had an EMG of both arms from thumbs to neck muscles as well as a NCS (I was having twitches in both arms, hands, and forearms as well as soreness and perceived tiredness in my left hand). It all came back normal. I also went to a neuromuscular specialist. She did a neuro exam which also came back completely normal. She told me that with the normal exam and normal EMG, ALS was ruled out. She ordered blood work for vitamin deficiencies as well as Lyme but said it could be idiopathic.

For the anxious, she confirmed what the extremely knowledgeable folks here said. This is a near quote: “twitching means nothing without an abnormal neurological exam or weakness. Tons of things cause twitching, as well as nothing causing it. Seventy percent of people twitch; most just don’t notice it. I am aware that there are whole communities of people online who are very anxious because they twitch, but they don’t need to be.” She said I don’t need another EMG or a follow up (unless something else develops, which I am not afraid will happen.)

So what’s the upshot: I am believing my neurologist and letting go of this specific fear. And the people here know what they are talking about, as my excellent doctor confirms. I’m still twitching and my hand is still sore but I am not worried about ALS. Now I can focus on my wife’s health.

To those with ALS or who lost loved ones to it and who spend time soothing anxious people, you are truly angels and there will be a special place in heaven for you. May it take a very long time for you to get there! Thank you so much.
 
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Thanks for the update and kind words. Your experience will help others. All the best wishes for your wife's health and your own wellbeing.

--Laurie
 
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