JeffTheGreat
Active member
I started twitching back in March of 2009 after too much partying and not enough rest following St Patrick's Day. I checked the internet and had the typical freak out that we all do. I was in a funk for a few months. Finally my wife convinced me to talk to a doctor. He seemed somewhat concerned and referred me to a neurologist to be on the safe side. To put it mildly, I did not like the first neurologist I saw. He only made my anxiety worse, despite my clean clinical. He did not administer an EMG and asked me to come back in 6 weeks for the test. After a bad experience with him and in the hospital clinic where he worked (poor service, they failed to draw all the vials the doctor had ordered, they stuck me four times before actually drawing blood) I decided I would not return. Instead I called my GP and told him I wanted to go to a prominent metropolitan hospital with an acclaimed neurology department about 100 miles from my home.I could not make the first appointment in September due to a scheduling conflict, so I finally got back in last week. It was like night and day compared to my first neuro experience. We started with a pretty comprehensive clinical exam with all the usual strength tests. My guy even used some instruments to actually measure my strength (I guess this is a good idea as it would provide you with some accurate baseline data should issues arise on down the road). No issues...in fact, he said I was in the 90th percentile as far as strength goes.He called for an EMG and NCV to be safe. Like many of you, there were a few minor fasics that showed up in the EMG, but the EMG doctor (who was a different neurologist who also specializes in NMDs ) said both tests were "normal".My neuro actually made it a point to see me after the tests and explain everything to me. In a nutshell he told me that I did not have ALS or any other nasty disease. He could not promise that I would never go on to develop something, but noted that he could not rule it out in himself either...point being, I was at no greater risk than anyone else of getting something bad, like ALS.To be honest, I was pretty sure this would be the case and almost blew off the appointment as my anxiety has pretty much gone away. I still twitch and may always twitch, but it's not a big deal.My advice to newbies:1. The anxiety is the worse part of BFS or "benign fasiculations" as my neuro called them.2. This board was pretty much right on the money in my case. I know there is a ton of BS on the internet, but this site has relatively little if any. 3. If you need the reassurance, go see a good doctor...key word being GOOD. If you are truly worried about ALS or a neuromuscular disease, go to a specialist...you'll save yourself a lot of time and anxiety.4. Not all neurologists are equal.5. With the exception of this site, avoid the internet and Dr. Google. 6. Most importantly, remain rational and live your life. If your only symptom is muscle twitching, you are probably a victim of benign fasiculations. While they are pretty scary at first, and not exactly normal, they aren't really anything to freak out about either.7. Finally, move on once you get the "All clear" from your doctor. Life is too short to waste it worrying about things you can not control.8. One final note...my neuro said he could treat the twitching but the treatment would probably be worse than the ailment. I had decided I would not take any meds over this anyway, but I appreciated the fact that the guy didn't try to push some medication on me.
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is obsessive...period.) behavior, and let your body do what it was intended to do. Great attitude BTW Jeffrey...I always told you that you would get here. 
.My story is very similar to another member of this forum. We both went to the same clinic and basically were checked out in the same way. I feel very good about my experience and would recommend the Washington University School of Medicine Neuromuscular Division to any of you within a reasonable distance from Saint Louis, MO.