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Jules45

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I'm a 49 year old male with a history of college sports/weightlifting and working out. I've been to a Neurosurgeon, Neurologist, and Internist. They have run full MRI, EMG, Babinski's, blood work etc. Uniformly I have been told that I don't have ALS/Bulbar. My EMG came back last week normal with a "very mild" peripheral nueropathy attributed age/use and abuse that he said was "sensory".

The doctor that did the EMG has done many ALS patients and said I have nothing to worry about. The primary Neurologist confirmed the tests I took with a ALS/specialist collegue of his at Stonybrook in NY to confrim that he wasn't missing anything. That Neurologist agreed that everything was normal. They attributed my twitching to BFS, and weakness as perceived.

Yet, I'm still feeling fasciculations on my thighs, minor cramping in my feet, thighs, and hands and weakness and some weight loss and massive anxiety including can't sleep. The weight loss has been attributed to the anxiety and my fear of working out the past 2 months.

For you experts is it possible that fear/anxiety can cause all this?

Thanks and god bless.
 
Hi, Jules ... I believe that stress and anxiety CAN cause all these symptoms, and more. I think we don't realize how powerful our emotions are, and how profoundly they can affect our bodies. I'm sure the lack of sleep is really contributing to your body's stress, also.

You sound very self-aware, so I think you might be able to reduce your anxiety on your own ... yoga and breathing exercises can help a great deal, along with conscious relaxation techniques. People think BFS is somehow a "minor" thing, but from what I've read on the BFS forum, the symptoms of BFS are much stronger and harder to deal with than early symptoms of ALS. It is a difficult condition to live with, but at least it's not fatal! And if you're motivated, you can help yourself de-tox from the toxic emotions!

Good luck. Be good to yourself!
 
Yes anxiety can cause what you are feeling. Trust me - been there done that.

I know it's hard, but anxiety will only worsen the twitching, etc. Google BFS - sounds like you will get some peace of mind on the benign fasciculation website.
 
Jules

I am not an expert, but I understanf that the twitching can be caused by anxiety. When I first noticed mine I assumed it was caused by stress.

Clearly, you don't have ALS, and you have done the due diligence and checked it out. So, I would stop worrying about it unless some other symptom presents itself.

Good luck

John
 
Thanks John! I' ve been getting much more hand and feet cramping lately with some calf cramping. I was swimming and working out yesterday. Some sites say these are "late stage" symptoms. Did you experience these?
 
Jules

I haven't really had any cramping, yet. I'm not sure when it tends to occur for other people with ALS; maybe this is just something i've been lucky with. My main problems are muscles (mostly in my arms and hands) that don't work.

John
 
Try not to discount a BFS diagnosed by your neuro because you have cramps...Sometimes BFS (or some variant) is described as Fasciculation-Cramp Syndrome. My take on it is that it is the usual BFS with some cramping thrown in just to mess with you. I don't remember all the details about it; I read enough to realize cramps were 'normal' with BFS and didn't need to keep researching. If you google it you can find more info.

Take care

Lydia
 
I have had both cramps and twitching for about a year now and to my knowledge do not have als(no muscle weakness) have your magnesium level checked, since I started to take magnesium 800 mg a day per my doctors request, my cramps have decreased about 70%, hope this helps
 
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