MuskyFrog99
New member
Hello, I have never posted in a health forum before. Up until 6 months ago, I never had cause to. But now, I have recently joined the ranks of BFS hopeful/*ls terrified and would really appreciate some words of wisdom. Since last September I have had periodic "pins and needles" and burning sensations in all four extremities. I initially attributed it to low b-12 as I have had issues with that in the past. I began supplementing my b-12 and followed up with my doctor for a levels check. My levels were fine but the sensations continued. My physician ordered an MRI of the brain and spine to rule out MS and it was normal. In early December, these sensations seemed to relegate themselves to my left side only, while my right side ceased to experience abnormal sensations. However, my left foot, toes and calf, as well as my left hand also began to feel weak and easily fatigued. Shortly thereafter, I began to take notice of the twitching. I, of course, had remembered random twitches occurring in the past but nothing to this magnitude. They now appear everywhere: eyelids, face, mouth (more of a quivering there), neck, shoulders, abdomen, fingers, calves, ankles and feet; however, they are far more pronounced in my lower left calf, ankle and foot. I saw a neurologist the second weak of December. I passed my clinical exam but he did notice that my left calf, ankle and foot appeared to be smaller and more narrow than the right. He said it could be from birth and a natural anomaly made more noticeable by recent weight loss ( 15 pounds in 4 months w/o trying, likely stress). I requested an EMG. He agreed to order an EMG of the lower left leg only and referred me to a doctor who had been performing EMGs and the like for over 30 years. I was relieved to have the EMG performed by someone with such experience, but that relief was short lived. The doctor's bed side manner was atrocious and the minute I told her that my symptoms started with abnormal sensations, she became dismissive (als doesn't start that way, she said). She only surveyed 3 locations on my lower extremity and I was out the door in 10 minutes. She seemed like I was wasting her time. This EMG was read as normal. I was ready to put this behind me and chalk the twitching up to bfs, but within a week of the EMG, the muscles in the lower left leg and foot started to feel crampy and painful. I had not experienced this before. This has continued to get more severe as time goes on and my calf feels as though I have torn the muscle (I haven't). I also have pain in my left ankle and my left pinky toe is weak...not perceived weak, but weak. I cannot exert as much downward pressure against resistance as I can with my right pinky toe, and this difference is not slight. Lastly, I have noticed some speaking , drooling and swallowing difficulties popping up more and more frequently. In some regard, this is in an odd way comforting, as I don't think *ls would hit 3 regions within such a short timeframe, but then again, I am no doctor. My main concerns are:1) Has anyone experienced symptoms that were much more severe on one Side of the body, or even one region such as the lower leg and foot? 2) Can bfs cause severe muscle pain in only one area? 3) Can twitches vary in intensity and ability to feel them? When my undereye twitches, I can only see it, not feel it. I have some twitches that are very faint and fast, moving in rapid succession. I have others that seem like a single more intense twitch, and others still that have moved my whole limb. 4) Does anyone else have a smaller limb and ankle compared to the other side of the body? I know the body is not symmetrical, but it is frightening that the smaller limb is also the limb that is experiencing all the problems. 5) Can bfs cause problems with speech, drooling and swallowing? This comes and goes. 6) Does anyone have a weak toe? The foot itself doesn't seem weak. Just that one toe. Can *ls start in just one toe? Bottom line, if you can't tell from this post, I am beside myself with fear. My family can't understand why I can't accept the initial EMG and move on. I have told them that I read on the *ls boards about people with negative initial EMGs, but they don't even want to talk to me about it. I am honestly embarrassed by how I have let this fear consume me and can't quite understand it myself. I basically come home and get into bed. You wouldn't know that 6 months ago I was a happy, successful 34 year old. Should I get a second neurologist opinion or am I just being irrational? Any thoughts are appreciated. Many thanks for your time.Sasha