Worried about twitching

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Alex29

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Diagnosis
04/2020
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SE
State
NY
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Sweden
Hi all

Iam from 36 year old male from Sweden and I have a question on twiching that comes and goes since April

I started twitching in my forearm in beginning of April one afternoon which came after some heavy weight lifting. Ended following day.
2 weeks later it started again in same right arm between my
forearm and elbow which lasted 2 days.

Then jumping to the end of May I started fealing this twitch on the left side of my left thigh which I felt a few times a day for 3-4 days. This then jumped to the exact same spot on my right thigh lastning 3-4 days
and then ended. I do suffer from a lot of lower backpain which goes down both my thighs and has for several years. Also suffer from migrane since I was 7.
Went to physiotherapist 11 june who made strengh test and reflexes and said nothings wrong here and told me these twitches where benign.
Then during the first days inJuly I started to twitch at my inner left thigh which lasted for 6 days then suddenly ended. Also started to see smal twtiches/pops in my calves which was most noticeble when resting and looking at my calves. Would also feel them when driving a car or sit in a 90 degrees angle. Dont know if this is due to my lower backpain I have had for several years, especially during mornings.

I then went to the doctor 1 week in July who preformed same strength test, relfexes and all was good and he didnt think it was something. But he still ordered an EMG test just to calm me down. The ordered EMG test actually first came back to my doctor from the neurological departement saying this was nothing since just twitching, but a follow up would be made if EMG showed anything. But I then got the EMG test scheduled at the neurophysiologist department instead and had to wait for an appointment.

Made a lot of strenght tested with calves, standing on toes and heels and also standing on 1 foot and then going up on toes, which can be hard in the beginning but all good.

I then got the EMG test on 4 August, preformed by a head chief neurophysical doctor. Tested Left calf, left thigh, right hand, right elbow and right shoulder.
he was a very expirienced doctor and looked at me with sharp eyes and told me nothing was wrong with me and that I dont have als.
Was reassured but then 4 days later saw these twitches on calves again and started worrying again.
Bottom line and sorry for asking but I have had total of 4 physical exams during 6 months. 2 doctors, 1 physiotherapist and one chiropractor. All made very careful exams and found nothing, plus the EMG test which was all good.
In addition I have not felt any weekness or atrophy since april.
Working out 3-4 times a week but I still feel this twictches on and of, both sometimes in thighs as a quick twictch and sometimes in calves. Sometimes I can feel them in my forearm/biceps.
It has
been 6-7 though months now and I want to stop worrying but its hard.
Was the EMG made to early? Shouldnt the EMG have showed something?
Almost 7 months with on and of twitching.
I got some anixity medcin last week and hope it will work since doctor said it was nothing.
Do you think something is wrong with me since twitching comes and goes?
Sorry for long text.

/Alex from Sweden
 
No, it was not too early.

It was a normal EMG, so there is no need to worry about ALS.

Twitching that comes and goes is very common. Worrying about it and losing sleep makes it worse. Twitching that shows up in many places also argues against ALS.

The anxiety medicine may help, but it's also very possible that this worry points to some other issue that you can resolve either for yourself, by facing it head-on, or with a counselor's help

Best,
Laurie
 
Hi Lauri

Thank you for taking time to answer.

So no need to repeat the EMG and clinical exams that I passed?
Its hard letting it go since I think of this a lot during the day.
I hope I can I be sure and put this behind me since this has involved many people.
And yes my sleep has been bad for quite a while, waking up like a catpult or thinking someone is in the room.


I was told by my doctor to drink less coffee ”which I have been doing a lot for several years” and when working out on the gym to stretch properly afterwards.
You are right that it may point to other issues since I have seen many good people that gave me reassuring answers.

So these small on and of twitches in random places which come and go may continue for a while if I dont deal with my anxiety or get good sleep?

Sorry for all the questions Lauri and again thank you for your time.

/Alex
 
No. you do not need to repeat the EMG and exams.

There are many ways to improve your sleep. It is an investment of time that is well worth it. Everything from the temperature in your room to your bedding, mattress and pillow can play a role. Drinking just enough water before bed can help. Many people get "dried out." Some people get stuffy and need a nasal steroid or saline spray before bed.

It sounds like you have vivid dreams and possibly "night terrors." In addition to asking your doctor about a sleep lab test, there are now kits that can be shipped to you, to use at home, if you cannot visit a lab in the pandemic. The sleep tests can help the doctor see if you have a problem. To start, you can record your sleep, especially the sound of your breathing, and what you look like, on your phone or laptop. If your breathing or limbs are abnormal during sleep, this can affect the quality of sleep quite a lot.

Cutting down on caffeine and keeping up with stretching are both good suggestions (before and after a workout). But it sounds like sleep is a great area to work on. Poor sleep can almost always be improved.

Best,
Laurie
 
Hi Laurie

Thank you again for your time and reply.

I just have one more question that mayby has been answered but I keep worry and couldnt stay of Google.
I read somewhere that twitches ”let say a couple evrey hour or just a few Twitches a day is in a muscle or random muscles is somthing you see in als patients”
It was a question asked by someone to what I think was a neorologist.
Think site/forum was teleemg or something.
I ask because since 16th oct I have had these twitches mainly in my right bicep/shoulder and forarm, mayby 10-15 twitches a day. Only when arm is at rest.
I have felt them also in my left bicep but not that intense as the right arm. Should point out this started out day after a new exercise I did at the gym where bicep/braccialis was effected/worked.
The twitching made a pause though the 17th oct and started again 18th. Could it be pinched nerve or something damaged?

I have no weekness in that area but wonder why I still feel these twitches since its been almost 3 weeks now. This area was also tested when I did the EMG test on 4th aug. I have also felt these twitches before in right arm.

Sorry for the questions Laurie but this is very stressful for me.

/Alex
 
The fact that EMG showed no muscle or nerve damage in the area of the twitching you are worried about, or anywhere else, tells you not to worry about the twitching. A new exercise can certainly make you twitchy if you overwork, but, if so, it should subside. If not, your doctor might suggest physiotherapy and later more tests if needed.

If twitches meant ALS, there would be billions who had it. Stop reading about a disease you do not have, and you will almost certainly feel better.
 
Hi Laurie

So this that a few twitches a day doesnt really mean anything or if the bicep/biceps would twitch 24/7 as long as no weakness is present?
My calves has been doing this same pattern and also felt twitches in like 10 different bodyparts since start of April.
What do you mean by more tests?

Thank you again

/Alex
 
No, daily twitching is quite common. Improved diet, sleep and hydration can help. A few drops of magnesium lotion on any hot spots is worth trying as well.

When I said "other tests," that would only be relevant if physiotherapy was not successful and if your condition progressed and if an exam showed a need for other tests. The only reason I even brought up physiotherapy was that if this was a result of incorrectly-performed exercise, it might benefit from a focused exercise regimen to address that.

You are good to go.
 
Hi Laurie

I Will try to think positive and trust the doctors I have seen and the EMG test.
My doctor also said a few days ago that another EMG test is out of the question.

Still working out just fine at the gym and cant feel any differens then before.
I can at least relate the start of the twitching to gym exercises in 5 muscle groups, but its hard to get into my head.
My calves are like an on and off switch. Sometimes I feel the twitches and sometimes almost nothing at all.
This has been going on for almost 7 months now on and off and shouldnt that be reassuring after that much time considering all the tests and no weakness?

thanks again Laurie for your time.

Alex

And I also keep feeling these eye twitches on and off and have been doing so since it started.
Isnt that also typical for BFS?
 
Yes and yes. As Laurie said you are good to go
 
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