sparksense
Well-known member
Greetings friends-I felt that after a long absence I should provide an update that may help ease newcomers minds. I have been suffering from fasciculations/twitching since August of 2004. If you look back at my very early posts, you can see I was quite desperate. At the onset, I was absolutely positive that I had the dreaded three letter word. After a series of exams and tests, including an MRI, EMG, and MRA, I was given a clear bill of health. The first 1-2 years were the toughest.My symptoms have remained ever since, though not as severe. I have constant calf and instep twitching, both sides. I experience random thumpers, and occasional hot spots. This past summer I had a non-stop, thumb pad twitch that really freaked me out- suffice to say, it stopped in a few days. Recently, I had the ever annoying eye-twitch that kept up for a whole month, it too ceased. Even though I was able to get my anxiety in check, I still occasionally experience a new symptom that leads me to think I have something else (primarily the other dreaded two-letter foe). Last summer I had tingling in my hands and a strange burning sensation in my legs. More blood work revealed a Vitamin D deficiency, which has since been corrected. This, of course, let me to research the correlation between Vitamin D and MS. This past week I had a second visit for a second opinion with a Neuromuscular Specialist at the University of Michigan. I decided that after 4.5 years I owed it to myself- to put this to bed once and for all. After listening intently to me and doing a very thorough exam, the Doctor concluded what I had already known. This was benign and this is just how my body works now- he even referred to Benign Fasciculation (Cramp, though I don't experience cramping) Syndrome. He said that twitching is never a presenting symptom of MS. Let me put everyones mind at ease; you do not have #$@! He told me that rarely does a patient with it come in with complaints of twitching, usually he points it out to them. Marked weakness and atrophy are typically the presenting symptoms. PERIOD- trust me, once you get over your "health anxiety", don't let them tell you it is hypochondriasis, you will realize that this is very easy to adjust to. You can still do everything you used to, it is just annoying at times.I told the Doctor that there is just a small part of me that wants to know "WHY" this happened. I do not fear any dreaded disease anymore, at all. I am very active and just keep going. Time is the best medicine- you'll see. I have concluded that it was either Lexapro or anxiety that caused this misfiring, sucks, but nothing I can do about it. All I can do is live and not let it interfere.I hope this helps everyone. Again, constant calf and feet twitching here and 4.5 years of no changes in strength or atrophy. Best to everyone- Happiest of New Years!-Sean
and yes, the two neuros i have visited four weeks after this mess started (one of them was the swiss als-clinic) told me it was bfs.