worriedtwitcher
New member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2012
- Messages
- 4
- Reason
- Learn about ALS
- Country
- US
- State
- New York
- City
- New York
I am very nervous about the symptoms I have been having over the past 6 weeks. I want to preface this that my grandfather died of ALS (diagnoesed age 85) and this is the only known case of ALS in my family. I have been to 2 doctors: 1 a general neurologist and 1 a very well known specialist in NYC (the same center that treated my grandfather). I am a 33 year old male with no other health problems.
My symptoms are widespread twitches, predominantly in my arms, some in my legs and also my hand. The one in my hand is more constant. I don't really have any cramping but I do feel that I have soreness. I am an avid gymgoer and I notice I have leg soreness after the gym which I may be hyperfocussing on due to my concerns. I have no muscle weakness or atrophy at all.
The general neurologist was very dismissive and said my fasciculations were not consistent with ALS due to them not being like worms and my awareness (feeling them). He gave me xanax (I am not a nervous person and never had any psych issues although I do have a very high stress job)
The specialist did a full examination and told me my fasciculations were benign. Although he did note hyper reflexes he said it was because I am wound up. Other than that the neuro exam was completely normal (his exam was extremely thorough (I believe it was)). However, he said an emg was a waste of time and money due to having zero symptoms other than the widespread twitching. He also told me that having one family member (opposed to 2 or more) does not significantly increase my chances of getting ALS. He told me it generally affects multiple people when it runs in families (my grandfather had 4 siblings that all died late in life of natural causes, he had 2 kids and there are 7 grandchildren; all healthy).
My question to PALS (and others on here with knowledge) is should I be concerned or am I overthinking my symptoms due to to my grandfather? I read the studies and I can't help but feeling like I am in the low percentage of people that present with fasiculations. The specialist told me that study was flawed because it was "self report" (vs. people having neuro examinations when they had the fasciculations).
Sorry for the long post
My symptoms are widespread twitches, predominantly in my arms, some in my legs and also my hand. The one in my hand is more constant. I don't really have any cramping but I do feel that I have soreness. I am an avid gymgoer and I notice I have leg soreness after the gym which I may be hyperfocussing on due to my concerns. I have no muscle weakness or atrophy at all.
The general neurologist was very dismissive and said my fasciculations were not consistent with ALS due to them not being like worms and my awareness (feeling them). He gave me xanax (I am not a nervous person and never had any psych issues although I do have a very high stress job)
The specialist did a full examination and told me my fasciculations were benign. Although he did note hyper reflexes he said it was because I am wound up. Other than that the neuro exam was completely normal (his exam was extremely thorough (I believe it was)). However, he said an emg was a waste of time and money due to having zero symptoms other than the widespread twitching. He also told me that having one family member (opposed to 2 or more) does not significantly increase my chances of getting ALS. He told me it generally affects multiple people when it runs in families (my grandfather had 4 siblings that all died late in life of natural causes, he had 2 kids and there are 7 grandchildren; all healthy).
My question to PALS (and others on here with knowledge) is should I be concerned or am I overthinking my symptoms due to to my grandfather? I read the studies and I can't help but feeling like I am in the low percentage of people that present with fasiculations. The specialist told me that study was flawed because it was "self report" (vs. people having neuro examinations when they had the fasciculations).
Sorry for the long post