Concerns of Twitching and ALS

[nikkikitty]

Hey Everyone, Sorry this is not really a twitching message but did not know where else to go. Came on here a couple of months ago worrying about ALS (had quite a lot twitching but doctor did some strength tests and didn't seem worried). Have started therapy and it is going well and beginning to help but I am struggling with obsessive thoughts that my left hand is showing signs of atrophy (wasting). A couple of months ago I looked at my hand and noticed a ridge running from my forefinger down my hand. It may have always been there but I have focused on that and am now constantly checking my hands (clenching them and comparing them and looking at them in different lights). It is driving me slowly insane but I can't seem to stop. I don't think there is any big difference now from when I started checking them but I keep thinking there is a slight one (there are also slight dents between the pinky and ring finger and the ring finger and index finger that I'm not sure where there before and are not there on my right hand). Plus the left hand is slightly less muscular than the right which is freaking me out.Am I going mad? My brother has OCD and I am wondering if my HA is related to this in some way. Or maybe I am right this time....NikkiP.S The twitching has pretty much stopped now though.

 

[Gelianna]

both of my hands are completely crazy looking and twitch nearly constantly. You just cannot examine yourself for atrophy. You will always notice things.Hang in there.

 

[beensuggested]

Please read the sticky Dents and Atrophy as it will help. Honestly, if your doctor thought there was an issue, he would have done further testing. Your brother has diagnosed OCD? Health anxiety is a milder form of OCD. You need to stop checking and rechecking. THis is not healthy and it is taking a toll on your health in a whole other way. YOu are having the issue in your hand treated with therapy, the things that you are seeing as atrophy are not. You need to take a moment, take a really deep breath, exhale and relax. You are fine. This is a matter of taking control of your thought process and when you begin to have these thoughts do what you can to steer yourself in another direction. If you can't, you may need to get some help whether it be counseling, therapy or even a mild antianxiety medication until you can get past this.Kit

 

[MarksmanS]

Nikki,I have totally been where you are. I was at a business dinner in May of 2005 and noticed a ridge in my left hand if I held it a certain way. I totally freaked out and this started a long downward slide whereby I obsessed insanely about als. I would spend literally hours a day staring at my hands to check for atrophy and just making a general comparison. It was very serious. I ended up going to a psychiatrist and he saved my life. I took high doses of zoloft and remeron to sleep. Time passed and my obsessions became less and less. Guess what? My dents, ridges and abnormalities are all still there. You will be fine too.Mark

 

[ZorkSnooker]

Nikki -I understand exactly how you are feeling. A week ago I posted pretty much the same thing (under the Questions about community/Please Help/New and Frigtening Hand Issue, if you want to look it up). My right hand kept twitching in one spot and I was convinced there was something horribly wrong. I started sliding right back into the fear cycle, had the obsessive thoughts and thought I was seeing a ridge on that hand. Everyone that responded to me told me how they have all had the same hand twitches and how common they are. The more I focused on it the worse I felt, which seems to be what's happening with you. I know it is so hard, but you have to start to believe you're ok, that your doctor knows what he/she is doing and that what is going on is benign. I found that once I made a real effort to stop staring at my hands, I became less focused on my fears surrounding it. My problem had a lot more to do with my mind than my hand. I still have the "ridge" on my hand, but now I can see that it's just part of my hand and that it's even on my other hand, but I couldn't see that when I was in the midst of all of that fear. I hope you're feeling better. You are fine!!Sophia

 

[nikkikitty]

Thanks guys. Your replies helped in that I know I am not the only person obsessing about this. I was starting to feel a bit better then I noticed a small dent in my left hand (the one I was already worried about) which definitely was not there yesterday. Am trying to ignore it but it is hard. The fact that I don't know loads about ALS and am assuming things in my head does not help. I am assuming that this is the first sign of atrophy but have not read this anywhere. It is pure ignorance I guess.Nikki