I have had RA for approx 17 years. Last year a new set of symptoms arrived. My question is I just had another EMG test ( ALS like symptoms ) the test was Normal. My calves and feet twitch, a lot more so after use. They also hurt quite a bit ( ache ) Upon standing they feel weak but I pass all the muscle and neuro tests. Any ideas. This is driving me mad at this point :crying:
My RA and Mysterious Twitching Symptoms
- Thread starter akohler1
- Start date
ytewestGo99
Well-known member
I went to bed last night with painful twitching calves. Stress, overexertion and anxiety will cause this. ALS doesn't cause a person to have pain symptoms or tingling sensations because those are sensory nerves and ALS is a motor neuron disease. Sounds like you have some simple BFS symptoms. Welcome to the club ... BTW, worrying only makes the symptoms worse as we can all attest to here on this board 
Weak and rubbery feelings and exercise intolerence of certain muscles is also common in BFS. but this is a completely different weaknes as found in motor neuron disease which is real debilitating clinical weakness. Since you passed the neuro exam and strength tests, you have no clinical weakness, as well as a clean EMG to top it off.
Glad your EMG was clean... that should put your mind at ease
BFS is a pain both emotionally and literally. Rest, Diet, Exercise, maybe even benzidiazopines can help...
Take Care... hope this info helps...
Weak and rubbery feelings and exercise intolerence of certain muscles is also common in BFS. but this is a completely different weaknes as found in motor neuron disease which is real debilitating clinical weakness. Since you passed the neuro exam and strength tests, you have no clinical weakness, as well as a clean EMG to top it off.
Glad your EMG was clean... that should put your mind at ease
BFS is a pain both emotionally and literally. Rest, Diet, Exercise, maybe even benzidiazopines can help...
Take Care... hope this info helps...
Agree with ytewestGo99 - I've been twitching for at least 3 months. I actually started back in Sept/Oct 2005 during a high stress/anxiety time (birth of 3rd son, job stress through the roof, drinking caffeine via pop like the plane was going down, etc.).
This lasted about a month and then stopped for a couple months - then came back around March/April and hasn't stopped since. Totally widespread - virtually no restrictions on the muscles twitching, but I do have a few hot spots that like to go nuts for extended periods of time (right rib cage, left and right arms near my elbows and the instep of my right foot).
I've not made it to a neuro, thus I haven't had an EMG, but a couple doctor visits to 2 different doctors have (more or less) reassured me that my twitching is due to the anxiety in my life and nothing super bad. I also have my age (35) to thank for the chances being in my favor that this is nothing horrible.
I've noticed that when anxiety/stress goes down, so does the twitching - almost every single time. I'm on Xanax (taken as needed) and when I take this medication, my twitches almost evaporate totally. But I'm staying off the Xanax as much as possible due the addictive nature of it. I've also had muscle pain in various places, but especially in my calves and the bottoms of my feet.
Currently trying a magnesium supplement to see if that helps and I'm also going through counseling for health anxiety/mild depression. Hoping a combo of all these things does the trick!
Be assured with the clean EMG and negative neuro exams...sounds like you're with friends here!!!
)
This lasted about a month and then stopped for a couple months - then came back around March/April and hasn't stopped since. Totally widespread - virtually no restrictions on the muscles twitching, but I do have a few hot spots that like to go nuts for extended periods of time (right rib cage, left and right arms near my elbows and the instep of my right foot).
I've not made it to a neuro, thus I haven't had an EMG, but a couple doctor visits to 2 different doctors have (more or less) reassured me that my twitching is due to the anxiety in my life and nothing super bad. I also have my age (35) to thank for the chances being in my favor that this is nothing horrible.
I've noticed that when anxiety/stress goes down, so does the twitching - almost every single time. I'm on Xanax (taken as needed) and when I take this medication, my twitches almost evaporate totally. But I'm staying off the Xanax as much as possible due the addictive nature of it. I've also had muscle pain in various places, but especially in my calves and the bottoms of my feet.
Currently trying a magnesium supplement to see if that helps and I'm also going through counseling for health anxiety/mild depression. Hoping a combo of all these things does the trick!
Be assured with the clean EMG and negative neuro exams...sounds like you're with friends here!!!
)They definitely sound like BFS symptoms to me. I get all of them. But, FYI, when I first went to my GP, one of his first thoughts of what was causing my symptoms was RA. I had blood tests to rule that out. But because of my GP ruling out RA, I wonder if RA can mimic BFS in some ways. Maybe some of the symptoms of the two "overlap" each other.
I have a very high RA factor. The fact that yours is Neg is good BUT there is zero neg RA disease. That means you test neg but actually have it. It's rare though so unless all your symptoms look like RA then you are probably OK., Right now my calves feel like they weigh 1000lbs and hurt when I walk
One more question if i can.......I have had several neuro tests. All the usual things they make you do. Every once in awhile I do them on my own. yesterday I could walk on my heels OK but on the Toes...Man my calf muscles hurt like hell. They ache all the time and that is where the most twiching is. Also my feet ( instep and bottom ) The calf muscles feel weaker then the rest and as I said they hurt. Clean EMG on june 21...Thanks for listening