EMG Results and Fasciculations Worries

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octavia031

Well-known member
Hi,I've been to the neuro again because my twitches don't stop. He perfomed an EMG and to my suprise it was normal. I couldn't believe this.However they say fasciculations on the EMG in several muscles in the arms and legs. Is this still benigne if you have them picked up on the emg in more places? Because I once read a theory that said that this preceeds motor neuron disease.Anyone else had fascics picked up on EMG in more places?Thanks
 
123LostSoul456, I had fasciculations on my legs and arms as well, neuro didnt think nothing of it, I also had some minor fibrillations on my left shin, but thats do to a lower back slipped disc. Your fine, dont worry its all benign as long as you dont have muscle weakness, which I would think you dont have sine your neuro told you that your fine. I had struggled in the past too getting past the MND scare, but now I have learned to accept the neuros diagnosis and I am much better.I even enjoy showing people my "weird" muscle twitches.
 
Now I had this 'clean EMG', 2.9 years into this and still having the ALS scare! I hate it and myself for it! Twitching is still getting worse. I hate myself for reading so much on the internet!Especially this one: can't get over it!!!Carolinas Neuromuscular/ALS Center, Charlotte, NC 28232-2861, USA. AbstractThe challenge of identifying patients at the earliest stage of disease has highlighted the role of subtle markers of clinical pathology. Electrophysiological changes usually precede evidence of clinical weakness and have, therefore, been implicated. Specifically, the onset of fasciculations, particularly those widespread in distribution, in the absence of fibrillation potentials, have been suggested as an early indicator of motor neuron disease. Several cases will be presented here to highlight instances where diffuse fasciculations were not enough to accurately implicate the current diagnostic criteria for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In two instances, alternative diagnoses were eventually supported. If the purpose of early diagnosis is to lead to early treatment with experimental therapy, we must be certain that we study as homogenous a population of patients as possible. Fasciculations by themselves are not enough to implicate early diagnosis; disease progression is probably the single most important historical characteristic for diagnosis. Signs of active denervation (i.e. fibrillation potentials) are critical. Chronic weakness should be proportional to either atrophy or upper motor neuron signs in the affected muscle. This should be true for both early and late recognition of the disease.When can I be sure it is not an early indicator? Twitching in both dorsal interosseus going non stop, just like my calves and feet. I don't think anyone twitches as much as me, it drives me insane!
 
123LostSoul456, it is finally time for you to move on! your emg is clean - just fascics are normal and benign, this means NO ALS. believe it and forget about it!
 
I saw that abstract also. LOOK AT THE YEAR IT WAS WRITTEN. ALSO LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN SINCE. I believe that abstract was in 1999 or 2001. 10 years ago. You don't know who did the study and you don't know how closely monitored the subjects were. One counter note to this abstract that I read in response by a Neuro said that this was considered invalid because it did not say whether these people had doctor visits ,tests or EMG done before the diagnosis. They only said they had twitches. Only hear say. Only 6.7% of people reported widespread twitching in the years prior. Mayo Clinic says they had bfs or something that triggered the twitches but it did not turn into als. Just like an apple can't turn into an orange. Or a cold can't turn into the flu. Think about it.. A cold is a virus with alot some of the same symptoms as the flu BUT can a cold turn into the flu? IF you answered yes then I have wasted my time with this post.
 
I don't think 10 years ago is that long ago. I find it a very distrubing paper that keeps going trough my mind.I wonder if this abstract is proven? Did they see this in their patients? Or is it just a theory? On what is the timeframe for 'early indicator', is this a couple of monts or many years. Everywhere else you read that a clean EMG largely eliminates the bad things, why do they write the complete opposite. I'm so mad at myself for the googeling and reading stuff for the past 3 years. If I never have read this information I would never know it and would be over this ALS scare. I also read that some familal forms do not show up on an emg. My great aunt had bulbar ALS, so my mind keeps thinking I may have a weird familial form.
 
123LostSoul456... you just had another EMG and it was NORMAL! No signs of ALS. Please, please try to get past this or you will drive yourself nuts!!!! What else is there to convince you? Stop reading outdated articles on the internet. You don't know who wrote them or if the site is credible. Listen to your test results. You are fine!
 
YOU KNOW HOW I KNEW ABOUT THE STUDY. BECAUSE OF DR. GOOGLE. WE ARE ALL GUILTY OF DOING THIS. EVERYONE HERE. THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE SITE. THANK GOD FOR WHOEVER SET THIS UP. I HAVE BEEN TWITCHING FOR 4 ALMOST 5 MONTHS. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
 
The study referred to has been discussed in other threads - I recall that the conclusions disproved the statement that Lost Boy has marked in bold. Lost Boy - after so long you really need to learn to accept the benign nature of your condition and try to get on with enjoying life once more.RegardsSimon
 
Hi,As my first post I would like to say a word to this theory Lostboy mentioned. Some time ago, it was thought that widespread fasciculations are ominous sign but later it turn out to be not true. This is what the paper says, that denervation and chronic weakness the marks one should follow.The whole thing with fasciculations before weakness is very unclear and the objective numbers are below 5%. Professors told me they have seen a few patients during their whole carrier and it was just month or two before other signs.
 
Thank you guys for all the answers.One other thing that keeps me getting back on the ALS track is the fact that a great aunt had ALS, no one else in family as far as known.Now I met this lady who NEVER had a bad EMG and after 3 years they said she had ALS.She did genetic test and was carrier of SOD1, but no one in her family had ALS. Maybe her grand mother but she was dx with MS years ago (lived with it for 19 months). But EMG did not pick up a thing. I must say she said she never had fasciculations, she started with stiff ankles and after that weakness. Another case that I know of, also familial, is a man who had cramps for 4 years before weakness. A MND specialist said that he had the cramp syndrome, but his sister was already dx with ALS. Very weird. After 4 years of cramps , than got fascics and than weakness. But with the cramps his emg was also clean.But ofcourse this keeps me thinking that I too am a familiar case. This is so hard to get over it. It has ruined my life for almost 3 years, but my twitching is SO bad it's really unbelievable that it's benigne.Both hands- first dorsal- never stop twitchingLegs and feet: both non stopAnd than overal every couple of seconds. Gets me crazy. Must say rivotril helps to get the electric pain twitches out of my hands.Thanks for listing (reading) again
 
123LostSoul456... has your neuro ever suggested any medication? It sounds like you need some. There are meds to help with the twitching. Maybe you should really speak to him about trying something to help with your symptoms. You also said this has ruined your life for 3 years. Think about that...3 years and yet you haven't been diagnosed with anything bad. Think of time you wasted. Do you want to waste another 3 years worrying about this? There are no guarantees in life. You can be struck with any kind of disease at anytime. Do you want to waste your time worrying about benign twitches? Just something for you to think about.
 
Jesus, get a grip. After 3 years of no weakness, no atrophy and clean EMGs, what more do you want? You're completely misreading that abstract and are causing far more harm to your health with irrational amounts of fear and anxiety than any freaking twitches could ever do.
 
I can't believe you posted that! I come here to get relief. My great aunt had ALS, my grandmother had super nuclear palsy and my aunt died from complications of MS four years after diagnosis(no remission). With any neurological illness they say that it has to be a parent or sibling that raises the likelihood. Trust me, with my extensive family history I asked. What if you were in a car accident today, how would you feel about the last few years of your life? Start living and enjoy it. All we are guaranteed is the moment we are in! I tell myself this all the time. Get on some meds! Prestiq and Klonopin are great.
 
123LostSoul456, you should go on tranquilizers.....you have not moved a bit in the last three years.....what do you need this forum for if you never believe what others reply to you? we all twitch as you, but there is not one person denying everything said like you. even though i have some psy flare ups as well i was also on this trip but moved on after one year of symptoms knowing it is not als.
 

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