Neuro Dismissed My Twitching

[Snivy]

I totally understand your frustation. I went to the neuro last week and showed him my twitching forearm and he did all the usual tests. Since I'd already had blood tests to rule out other things, he didn't think further testing was necessary. So, I am kind of stuck where you are. He said I probably had BFS also. But, since my twitching is still here two months after the fact in the same spot, I can't help but get worried at times. I only happens when slightly contracted. I showed him a indent on my forearm by my wrist and he didn't think that looked like atrophy. He said my right arm is bigger because it's my dominent arm. I was satisfied when I left there, but am starting to worry again.

i don't think I've read about anyone having a twitch in the same spot for months on end. Plus, only when the muscle is contracted. Why is it so easy to reassurance someone else, but not be able to take that advice yourself.

I think that most people on this site have had EMG's so that makes you all feel better about not having the dreaded ALS. But those of us who haven't, we still have the worry in the back of our head.

At least for me, I think that maybe I'm just in the early stages and just happened to notice the symptoms sooner than some people. Plus, I keep thinking about how much weakness would you have in the small muscle on your forearm. I can understand feeling weaker in your bicep or tricep, but what about your forearm/wrist area. How could you gauge that weakness?

Just feeling a little anxious about it today.

 

[totaltwirls]

You can gauge the weaknes there by this: Can you lift up a coffee cup to your mouth? Do you have trouble typing on the keyboard. Can you wiggle your fingers and turn your wrists back and forth from side to side? Can you write clearly and hold a pencil/pen firmly? Can you button and unbutton your shirt? These are the things my neuro discussed with me and some of them she tested with me. Lifting a gallon of milk from out of the frig, carrying a plate of food.....All these things involve your wrists and forearm strength, as well as cutting and peeling veggies. It's those little simple things like that. Hope that helps.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

GP's are funny I think how they can be so different at times. I went to my GP about my twitches and told him my worries of ALS like you have. He referred me to a neuro after checking me over for weakness although he pretty much only did it because he saw my anxiety. He basically told me that going to the neuro should calm my fears. I asked my GP if he had heard of BFS and he said yes and that he had one patient who had it. He told me that this patient was POSITIVE he had ALS and went to some far away clinic to get it checked out with multiple opinions, etc. and sure enough...BFS. Of course I still am waiting on my MRI and EMG results but I'm hoping they are all negative and that I'm suffering from what most people here are suffering from...BFS.