GinniferLynne
Well-known member
hey all,
Thought this reply from a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic might put some minds at ease: This was posted in March 2005 in reply to someone's twitching symptoms along WITH clinical weakness:
Several conditions can cause muscle weakness and fasciculations - pinched nerves or nerve roots, ALS, multifocal motor neuropathy (less so), some inflammatory diseases, some viral infections of the spinal cord (eg West Nile and others).STABILITY OF SYMPTOMS FOR A WHOLE YEAR WOULD NOT BE TYPICAL OF ALS. (This last sentence being the point)
Another reply from a CCN Doc in response to someone concerned about fascics: (february 2005)
Fasciculations or twitching in the absence of testable/constant muscle weakness or muscle wasting, especially over time, is unlikely to be ALS. With your normal EMGs this makes it more unlikely, and if testing with the neurological exam or EMG in the next few months is normal then it is even more unlikely
I cannot tell you for sure without examining you myself
Benign fasciculations (as in BFS) tend to be more widespread, and can increase with exercise.
Here is one including the question (almost the same as some posts I've seen here:
I have had muscle twitching in my arms and legs for over 8 months. Some days it's bad and other I hardly notice the twitching. There is one spot below my elbow that twitches for a week or so at a time and them quits for a few weeks. I don't
have any weakness or cramping but I'm still concerned about the possibility of ALS. I have had a clean neurological exam around the 4th month along with a clean emg of my left arm, left leg and paraspinal muscles. A total of 15 sticks with the emg and all were clean.
With all that being said and now I'm 8 months into this twitching stuff does this sound like ALS or just a benign problem?
I'm a 37 year old male in good health!
Answer:
Twitching or 'fasciculations' (as I beleive you are referring to) are unlikely to be ALS without muscle weakness or wasting especially over time
Fasciculations can also occur as a benign syndrome with or without cramps, in response to cold, exercise or certain medications, or sometimes due to a pinched nerve in the neck or back.
Without clinical or EMG evidence you do not meet any diagnositic criteria for even 'possible ALS'
I cannot give you a 100% sure answer over the internet as I have not seen you or your results myself
Good luck
Geesh, I hope copying this stuff was legal. That is all I need to set my twitches off----jail time! Oh well, if Martha can do it........
Sometimes I think just reading this stuff helps with the anxiety.
Hope it helps some of you (including me)
Ginny
Thought this reply from a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic might put some minds at ease: This was posted in March 2005 in reply to someone's twitching symptoms along WITH clinical weakness:
Several conditions can cause muscle weakness and fasciculations - pinched nerves or nerve roots, ALS, multifocal motor neuropathy (less so), some inflammatory diseases, some viral infections of the spinal cord (eg West Nile and others).STABILITY OF SYMPTOMS FOR A WHOLE YEAR WOULD NOT BE TYPICAL OF ALS. (This last sentence being the point)
Another reply from a CCN Doc in response to someone concerned about fascics: (february 2005)
Fasciculations or twitching in the absence of testable/constant muscle weakness or muscle wasting, especially over time, is unlikely to be ALS. With your normal EMGs this makes it more unlikely, and if testing with the neurological exam or EMG in the next few months is normal then it is even more unlikely
I cannot tell you for sure without examining you myself
Benign fasciculations (as in BFS) tend to be more widespread, and can increase with exercise.
Here is one including the question (almost the same as some posts I've seen here:
I have had muscle twitching in my arms and legs for over 8 months. Some days it's bad and other I hardly notice the twitching. There is one spot below my elbow that twitches for a week or so at a time and them quits for a few weeks. I don't
have any weakness or cramping but I'm still concerned about the possibility of ALS. I have had a clean neurological exam around the 4th month along with a clean emg of my left arm, left leg and paraspinal muscles. A total of 15 sticks with the emg and all were clean.
With all that being said and now I'm 8 months into this twitching stuff does this sound like ALS or just a benign problem?
I'm a 37 year old male in good health!
Answer:
Twitching or 'fasciculations' (as I beleive you are referring to) are unlikely to be ALS without muscle weakness or wasting especially over time
Fasciculations can also occur as a benign syndrome with or without cramps, in response to cold, exercise or certain medications, or sometimes due to a pinched nerve in the neck or back.
Without clinical or EMG evidence you do not meet any diagnositic criteria for even 'possible ALS'
I cannot give you a 100% sure answer over the internet as I have not seen you or your results myself
Good luck
Geesh, I hope copying this stuff was legal. That is all I need to set my twitches off----jail time! Oh well, if Martha can do it........
Sometimes I think just reading this stuff helps with the anxiety.
Hope it helps some of you (including me)
Ginny