Body Twitching, Joint Pain - Help!

[twinTwosome]

I'll try to keep my story short. Two months ago it began with a week-long eye twitch. Then my hands and feet felt like they were asleep for about a week. Finally, all heck broke loose and my whole body started twitching like mad. Head, tongue, lips, hands, feet, torso, back, calves, and feet. Along with all that came pain in my tendons, muscles, and joints. Each day the pain would move to a different spot, but always on both sides of my body. For example, my palms and bottoms of feet would hurt on both sides of my body, or my forearms and shins would hurt at the same time. That lasted a few weeks and now the pain is pretty much gone. All of this time I have also had gastro symptoms. I am left with all over twitches, with a few hot spots, like my back, hands, and feet. I also have an essential tremor in my left arm and am terrified that this is actual weakness. I can do everything with that hand, but it shakes when I use it. I have been hesitant to post because I am afraid I am going to be the one hopeful BFSer who gets diagnosed with ***.I had a neuro exam 3 weeks ago. Clinical exam was normal except for brisk knee reflexes, which I believe I have always had. My EMG is set for 3/23 and I am completely terrified. I do have some specific questions: 1. Does this sudden onset of symptoms sound like anyone else? 2. Is essential tremor a symptom of ALS? (I'm very afraid of this one!) 3. Can anyone give me some reassurance? I am officially crazy with worry. Thanks for any help you can give me!!Becky

 

[edirish73]

Hi Becky,Relax, youre gonna be fine. Regarding you questions :1. If your clinical test was ok, you dont have any problem at all. My neuro only performed the clinical test, i didnt even had an emg done, there was no need to. The main diagnosis tool for any neurological disease IS THE CLINICAL TEST, your neuro is performing the emg not because he thinks theres something wrong with you, but b/c he wants you to have all the reassurance possible ( neuros can sense anxiety miles away!). Once you get you 100% clean bill of health, please trust and believe your doctor, he knows way more than you and Dr. Google Know, avoid any further fears and worries, dont get into the ¿was my emg too soon?, ¿ what if something was undectected?. Accept your condition as totaly BENING and non life threatening.2. About de Tremors, I think, maybe 70-80% on the board has had it (myself included) and means nothing, OK!.3. And about the sudden onset of symptoms, classic textbook BFS, my experience was very similar to yours, it only took a couple of days to be in a complete neurological bening symptom circus, by the way, thats pretty good news, no serious disease presents with such a wide array of symptoms. You mention your pain moves and fades away, thats good, it means, again, theres no need to worry. Good luck and welcome aboard, Eduardo

 

[Quickrider]

Hi BeckyYour symptoms sound just like mine. Started suddenly, all over twitching. Tired, sore muscles, hands feel weak. I'm going on sixteen months, had a normal clinical. The neuro said an EMG was unnecessary. I still get freaked out some days but I'm beginning to accept that this is not going to turn out to be anything terminal but just may be something I have to learn to live with.Sandra D

 

[TimThomas24]

This sounds like me as well. I had the eye twitch a few days before the sudden all over twitching. I also had the tingling pins and needles in the feet. Most things that come on this sudden and widespread are nothing close to the bad stuff we all fear. My Neuro said the other bad stuff have a focalness to them and a gradual spread. But even those characteristics can be a ton of benign stuff as well.Don't destroy yourself worrying. You're neuro exam was normal. That's a huge step towards reassurance.