Shipmates--Just returned from the neurosurgeon's office. Long story short, my neuro referred me there when an MRI showed lumbar spinal stenosis. Turns out I also have a disc at L4/L5 that is "almost gone" and another that is bulging slightly. This doctor discounted surgery right away as only 50% successful and felt that I was not in a position to even think about it. So, I have another referral to the PT folks and pain management. Oh boy.For my fellow twitchers, you just knew I couldn't pass up the opporunity to seek reassurance 
. I explained all my symptoms--low back pain, random twitching, buzzing, tapping, pain, and the "dent" on my right calf. I told him all this started in October and that I had convinced myself, because of the twitching, that I had ALS. He laughed out loud (he was checking my reflexes at this point) and said "I hope Dr. X (my neuro) disabused you of that." I told him I looked up twitching on the internet and he said that "isn't a good thing to do" AND, and this is a very close quote here, "If you had been twitching since October and this was ALS, you'd be struggling with a lot of other symptoms by now and probably wouldn't care about the back pain." He said "all people" twitch at some point or other and I shouldn't give it another thought. He did say, however, that the nerve irritation and impingement caused by my back problem is the likely cause of the twitching in my legs and feet. I didn't ask what he thought could be behind the twitching in my arms and elsewhere because he seemed ready to drop it and move onto the clinical exam! He tested reflexes, muscle tone, leg and foot strength, raised and lowered my legs--all good! And he spent a fair amount of time showing me the problem areas in my back on the MRI film. He attributes my "dent" (atrophy) to nerve impingement and like my neuro, said it's not a sign of something worse but that the muscle is gone forever. Perversely, I found this reassuring!So, bottom line is that other causes are far more likely to bring on twitching than that which we fear. He also said nerve impingement can lead to foot drop, as well as weakness and atrophy in any limb. It's not something to blow off, but it won't kill you, either. My twitching has really scaled back since October but it still bothers me, especially the big thumpers that hit from time to time. I'm not sure but since I went up to 300MG of WellbutrinXL, my twitching has ramped down--could be the drug itself or the decrease in my anxiety that it's meant to treat. And I'm on 100MG of B6. Who knows?So another "all clear" on one front, but a barrel of fun ahead on another. The fear that BFS caused in me led me to walk out of there today RELIEVED that "all I had," finally, was a back problem and random, benign twitching. How stupid of me, but at this point, quite predictable!I hope these bits and scraps of information helps.Mark
. I explained all my symptoms--low back pain, random twitching, buzzing, tapping, pain, and the "dent" on my right calf. I told him all this started in October and that I had convinced myself, because of the twitching, that I had ALS. He laughed out loud (he was checking my reflexes at this point) and said "I hope Dr. X (my neuro) disabused you of that." I told him I looked up twitching on the internet and he said that "isn't a good thing to do" AND, and this is a very close quote here, "If you had been twitching since October and this was ALS, you'd be struggling with a lot of other symptoms by now and probably wouldn't care about the back pain." He said "all people" twitch at some point or other and I shouldn't give it another thought. He did say, however, that the nerve irritation and impingement caused by my back problem is the likely cause of the twitching in my legs and feet. I didn't ask what he thought could be behind the twitching in my arms and elsewhere because he seemed ready to drop it and move onto the clinical exam! He tested reflexes, muscle tone, leg and foot strength, raised and lowered my legs--all good! And he spent a fair amount of time showing me the problem areas in my back on the MRI film. He attributes my "dent" (atrophy) to nerve impingement and like my neuro, said it's not a sign of something worse but that the muscle is gone forever. Perversely, I found this reassuring!So, bottom line is that other causes are far more likely to bring on twitching than that which we fear. He also said nerve impingement can lead to foot drop, as well as weakness and atrophy in any limb. It's not something to blow off, but it won't kill you, either. My twitching has really scaled back since October but it still bothers me, especially the big thumpers that hit from time to time. I'm not sure but since I went up to 300MG of WellbutrinXL, my twitching has ramped down--could be the drug itself or the decrease in my anxiety that it's meant to treat. And I'm on 100MG of B6. Who knows?So another "all clear" on one front, but a barrel of fun ahead on another. The fear that BFS caused in me led me to walk out of there today RELIEVED that "all I had," finally, was a back problem and random, benign twitching. How stupid of me, but at this point, quite predictable!I hope these bits and scraps of information helps.Mark
. Tonight, I sat down to watch American Idol, but instead I only listened to it. I was too busy watching my left calf and foot twitch instead ! It's been 10 months and I still can't believe I have this. I have my neuro appointment next week... can't wait. No new symptoms. Just feel I need another EMG??? I had my first twitch late June 2007, had an EMG in September and suddenly I started thinking what if that was too early! I just need to hear and know that despite the twitching I am healthy!!Take care
Likewise, as he discussed the possibility of foot drop with me, he also said it is a "surgical emergency" that requires immediate attention. I suppose my eyes were the size of pie plates because he quickly said I was a "long, long, long way" from risking that condition. Considering the stage of anxiety many people have here, I felt that going into that kind of detail was unnecessary, but here we are today discussing it. As I said in my post, it's not something to blow off and I think it's a safe bet that anyone here who experiences it, won't! But again, the point is that, while serious, it could be due to nerve damage and not ALS. Not good, but not fatal, either. Again, this guy is an experienced neurosurgeon with a very good reputation. I see my neurologist on the 28th; if he expresses doubt, surprise, shock, anger at this diagnosis, well, then, I'll have to square that circle. But so far, both of them independently attribute the dent in my calf to nerve impingement; Kit considers this the cause as well. Both now (as well as my GP) have recommended against surgery unless the pain was simply debilitating or if I had clinical weakness, foot drop, etc. I don't mean to confuse or misinform. But nothing I noted here was my opinion, but that of qualified doctors; people can take it or leave it, but there are more than a few of us who have seemingly made it our lives' work to doubt our doctors. I'm done with that. Also, my intent was not to provide material for an article in the New England Journal of Medicine, but to share my experience and simply remind people here that their twitching can and is caused by factors other than NMD. And that I stand by that.Thanks again,Mark
Me nor my cousin see it now...and boy I snapped shot 15 pics of it soon as I saw it on my cam and yeah its not near there like it was.I'd go w/ your 3 neuro specialists Mark- They come highly qualified. Makes sense to me, everything they say- I just thought it was funny how I hadn't of twitched in weeks (well 1 week now, anymore than the avg person) then after I got off the computer and went outside I saw what I thought was a huge dent that now is more than likely from my computer chair baring into that part of my leg lol. Im not going to totally dismiss it , I'll keep a eye on it..but I feel 100% better.Just thought I'd back ya up Mark since you've ALWAYS been there for me...Thanks, LovelyOh yea- also- from neuro's you here patients w/ mnd's coming in with WEAKNESS, profound..not little dents and pings..and wide spread random twitching..remember that too I tell myself its... weakness, fasics, then atrophy 
Correct me if I am wrong.