Hi,I am nearly in the end of my 4th year of this crap. However I have never had achy muscles until now. My calf is sore, like stubbing pain. Occasionally this appears also in my arms adn its pretty uncomfortable. I do not get random cramps but when I flex my calf intentionally in some position, I will get cramps pretty easily. Is that normal for BFS?
BFS and Sore Muscles?
- Thread starter TwitchyMD
- Start date
AllGoodHere
Well-known member
Can only speak for myself - muscles easily go into an overly-tense state which may develop into a full-fledged cramp if not mindfully relaxed, hyper-tense small muscle groups in specific places for periods of time (thighs, calves, neck, shoulders most common but also back jaw, etc, ad nauseum). Sensory issues, loss of feeling in extremities, fluttering/twitching & soreness. My neuro said BCFS so this is what I call it - others here have similar. Most of my symptoms have decreased markedly in the last few years with a relapse now and again but it was really bad for a while with lots of soft tissue injury (sprains, strains, swelling, etc.). I find it is best not to focus on it so am here at the forum only in short spurts then go away. Inducing cramps is like the opposite of what you should be doing IMO - get your head into learning to relax areas of tension and you will be much better off. Hope this helps.
TwitchyMD,First, consider yourself lucky that it has taken 4 years for the aches and pains to kick in, for me, it happened in the very beginning. That said, I have to say that I worry about you focusing on your sxs so much. I can totally relate to how you feel and the overwhelming desire to know what is causing your sxs, but in the end, there are no good answers, only misery awaits you.....believe me, I've been there! Now, I'm not saying you should stop looking for answers, but I hear you talk about "repeatable" this and "induced" that and I flash back to myself and that all emcompassing fixation I had on my condition. It isn't good for you or your loved ones. At some point, you have to accept this mysteries diagnosis of "benign" whatever your neuro calls it and get on with your life. Do yourself a favor and work on your anxiety, stop focusing on your sxs, and go play golf or watch a movie or kiss your wife......life is just too short to be inducing cramps in perfectly normal muscles.Take care,Gary
Nocturniscope
Well-known member
I get this soreness on my arms and it is very strong.My calves are spared. Almost no twitches, no pain. I think my calves are the only regions of my body where I have no problem.This keep me worried because everyone here and every article I read says benign fasciculations are stronger on the calves.The arches of my feet twitch constantilly.
Nocturniscope, I have not had them in calves more than 3 years. I started to getting them there like 5 months ago. This statement (benign fasciculations appear in calves) applies mainly for localized fasciculations, which - when occuring in calves - tend to be benign, ie if someone experiences localized back/forearm twitching, the neuro is usually more concerned.
cenkay: You probably missed the point of my post, please read it again - it was an example. Nocturniscope is worried as calf twitching is regarded generally as being most likely benign. And yes, that applies if twitching is isolated, also not in another muscle groups. If you go to the neuro only with twitching calves, he would be less concerned than if you came with ONLY twitching in one forearm, e.g. You are confusing isolated and widespread symptoms. Regarding the tongue, I have never ever write a theory, many people here including me proves that the medical knowledge is not accurate and tongue twitching can be as well benign, despite what textbook says. As Garym said, the only thing that matters is our experience, not opinion of some neuros.
TD, I really think Cenkay is just trying to say that some of your posts, you bring some of what you have read in text books and bring it to the stage here, and when you have newbies on here who dont understand how BFS works or even some neuro diseases for that matter, some of what you reply with can be quite scary and even confusing to someone coming here looking for reassurance. There are alot of people who dont post here but hang out here, reading, trying to acquire good info, and avoid reading bad or scary info online with Dr. Google. But I do understand that its not your intention to scare folks.Take careRobynn 
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)Robynn, you wrote it right and I did get your point - no need to apologize, I agree that some information might be worrisome for newcomers, especially if taken out of context and without knowing more. Its also my english..I may not express well what I have on my mind. I will try to avoid possibly ambigous stuff.
Ok TwitchyMD, your feaking me out sometimes when you post. You say you are a Doctor and you can't even convince your self!!! This is not re assurance for us who trust in dr's that we don't have a deadly disease. Seriously call me crazy for fealing this way!! Your supposed to know more than us! Please don't take this in the wrong way I'm just more confused now. I have been worrying about ALS for two years now, mainly just twitching. Aches once in a while. I have decided to get of Anxiety meds as they made me gain 10 LBS, its making me so upset to gain weight I'm used to being 123 UGG. I need support for the Anxiety to come!
I understand, its easy for us all to do, especially when some of us are still so symptomatic and it takes very little to tip us in the wrong direction. I have read all of your posts though, you really have nothing to fear in the ways of a big nasty, but I totally understand where you are coming from.Take careRobynn )
)Gary, Thank you so much! you had some great great points! And the one about the meds, I'm on the fence with this. It was a temporary thing, I just hate gaining weight when I eat so healthy as it is! FRUSTRATING! I was thinking of taking Velerian root, exercising, and eating well and hoping I will focus on that instead of worrying about ALS. Its just so weird we fixiate on this one disease, WHY. I guess its because there is no one test that yes/no we don't have it. Thank you again for the post, It truely helps 
Nocturniscope
Well-known member
TD, I know that doctors are not immune to ALS fear. I know we have at least 3 doctors here that have this fear.I am twitching and have muscle achings for about 19 months and on all this time I may have twitched 10 times on my calves.I have tons on my triceps, quadriceps, around knees, arches of feets, forearms, back and my thenars twitch when I stretch or poke them.I have NO CRAMPS.I have severe aching on my arms. It is so severe it is reducing my quality of life. On the beggining the aching where on the right arm, but now the left one is aching too. It is the same aching you get when exercise or when you are on a flu.If my problem was concentrated on my legs only I would be very calm. But I am different from all of you here regarding the location of my twitches.