EMG Scheduled: Chewing Difficulties/Twitches

[vimini]

Hello everyone. I haven't been here for a while as I have been pretty busy. I have officially gone over the edge with worrying myself to death, and I have another EMG scheduled for Wednesday morning. I have been having some difficulties chewing, and after every meal my jaws will twitch crazy and non-stop; however, this doesn't sound like ***; correct me if i'm wrong, even though the twitches are continuous and small. My tongue will twitch if I flex it, then relax it, and my speech problems are still the same with having trouble saying 'th' words. I just need some encouragement before I take this test. This board got me through the summer with a straight head. My jaw will lock in place and it has been popping like crazy, so I think this might be TMJ causing fasciculations in my jaw. Let me know what you all think.

 

[zEarthyRanger]

As you will know better than most, if it hasn't got significant worse in the past weeks/months, it is _highly_ unlikely to be anything to worry about.

 

[BoyyDavoMan]

I have had bulbar symptoms for about a year. My jaw joints are tight, and my left jaw joint pops when I chew. I have a persistent headache from muscle tension around my face and head as well. I get facial twitches and neck twitches. I have increased saliva output, as well as problems pronouncing certain consonant combinations. My tongue twitches and gets pins and needle/burning sensations, and will sometimes cramp when I yawn. Sometimes I have swallowing problems and feel like I have esophageal spasms. I've had these for symptoms for months, but they haven't gotten progressively worse. I also have restless leg syndrome.

My bulbar symptoms wax and wane with my other motor nerve symptoms, depending on my physical and emotional stress level. It is especially bad when I don't get enough sleep. Although bulbar symptoms are unusual for BFS sufferers, it is not unheard of. If you look at the Hart et al. (2002) study of peripheral nerve hyperexcitability, 17% of patients studied had facial involvement and 10% had bulbar involvement. Additionally, if BFS is related to diseases like myasthenia gravis (which can have a strong bulbar effect), then it is reasonable to assume that cranial and bulbar nerves can be affected as well in addition to peripheral motor nerves. Additionally, there is a case documented in the literature of a person with cramp-fasciculation syndrome who had esophageal spasms.

Suffice to say, you are not alone in experiencing these symptoms. Bulbar onset motor neuron disease typically progresses quickly. Time is your best ally. Hang in there.