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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Fasciculation’s, Stiffness in feet
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Fasciculation’s, Stiffness in feet
by harris, May 01, 2005 12:00AM
I am a 30 year old Male and I live in the UK.
I have been getting Fasciculation’s all over my body for the last couple of months now. Recently they seem to have got worse. They started in my biceps and calf’s, I am now getting them in my thighs, back abdomen even in my neck.
My feet are very stiff, this started in my left foot but I am now getting the same symptoms in my right foot. This is most pronounced when I wake up in the mornings. Sometimes my hands are stiff when I wake up. I get a funny sort of tingling in my left foot particularly and up the back of my left leg.
My left arm seems to be a bit weaker, but weakness is subjective I guess. I don’t have any problems walking or lifting heavy objects as far as I can tell. No signs of slurred speech or muscle wastage (I am told if you have this you would definitely know about it)
My Sister is a GP here in the UK. After having the symptoms for a couple of weeks she tested my reflexes, coordination etc and couldn’t find anything wrong with me. Said she thought it was post viral syndrome (I have a really bad bout of flu 4 months ago) and didn’t think it was anything to worry about, but if symptoms persisted to go and see my GP and get a referral to a neurologist. I am really worried it iss ALS she doesn’t think this is the case.
I realise these symptoms are a bit general could they be the early signs of ALS ?
I have been getting Fasciculation’s all over my body for the last couple of months now. Recently they seem to have got worse. They started in my biceps and calf’s, I am now getting them in my thighs, back abdomen even in my neck.
My feet are very stiff, this started in my left foot but I am now getting the same symptoms in my right foot. This is most pronounced when I wake up in the mornings. Sometimes my hands are stiff when I wake up. I get a funny sort of tingling in my left foot particularly and up the back of my left leg.
My left arm seems to be a bit weaker, but weakness is subjective I guess. I don’t have any problems walking or lifting heavy objects as far as I can tell. No signs of slurred speech or muscle wastage (I am told if you have this you would definitely know about it)
My Sister is a GP here in the UK. After having the symptoms for a couple of weeks she tested my reflexes, coordination etc and couldn’t find anything wrong with me. Said she thought it was post viral syndrome (I have a really bad bout of flu 4 months ago) and didn’t think it was anything to worry about, but if symptoms persisted to go and see my GP and get a referral to a neurologist. I am really worried it iss ALS she doesn’t think this is the case.
I realise these symptoms are a bit general could they be the early signs of ALS ?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, May 05, 2005 12:00AM
Fasciculations in the absence of objective muscle weakness or wasting is unlikely to be ALS. Muscle weakness is at times hard to tell yourself subjectively, but an experienced examiner can tell for sure if there is definite weakness. ALS tends to start more with focal symptoms ie weakness, wasting, fasciculations in one limb before spreading.
Whereas benign fasciculations tend to be more wisepread from the onset and can be precipiiated by cold, exercise, or medications. Non-ALS fasciculations can also be caused by a pinched nerve (if in one area) ,or a viral or postviral syndrome.
If you are still anxious, perhaps a referral to your neurologist would be a good idea. An EMG can provide more information also
Good luck
Whereas benign fasciculations tend to be more wisepread from the onset and can be precipiiated by cold, exercise, or medications. Non-ALS fasciculations can also be caused by a pinched nerve (if in one area) ,or a viral or postviral syndrome.
If you are still anxious, perhaps a referral to your neurologist would be a good idea. An EMG can provide more information also
Good luck
but has got a lot of information on fasciculation's and numbness, tingling, stiffness in feet, twitching,the list go on and on i hope it help's good luck annuk
http://www.theAword.org
I have all the symptoms of the initial poster, but I feel my muscles all over my body are weaker and my speech is a bit slurred. Fasciculations are in the back of my neck, legs and quite often in that fleshy part of my hand between my thumb and my first finger (the web part, I think). I have odd throat symptoms, which really drive me crazy, constantly thirsty. I feel like I'm getting a bit worse every single week that goes by. I'm seen a couple of different neuros but not for about 6 months, my speech was ok then. My G.P thinks I have CFS. I doubt it tho.
I'm only 22, male and I have been going through all this for 18 months now. When I smile I feel like my muscles in my face are shaking and I feel like I have to stop smiling. Everything is worse in the evening.
My left foot feels numb, and any body part that I use seems to go numb much quicker than it used to if I use it for a short while. The best example I can use for this is, when I play golf and hit a bad shot (quite often heh), the golf club will vibrate on impact of the ball, which is ok, but I get this horrible sensation in my hands which won't go away for about ten mins (it used to go away in about 5 seconds)
The same applies if I walk about for a while, I just feel like I need to rest my legs, I get the cold water, as if I have cold water dripping down my legs (its so weird). Maybe this can be referred to as a "pressure palsy", it definitley is not normal, whatever it is, especially for a 22 year old.
I could go on forever with my symptoms, but weakness and speech are most annoying for me. To think I used to complain for having a slight tremmor a year ago, I'd love to go back to that now.
I don't really have headaches. Although those annoying black floaters have been a permenant fixture in my life since about february2005. My tongue doesn't feel the same, nor does my face. I wouldn't describe it as numb (not like bells palsy) but the sensation it different, like my skin is really thick. I think this is why I'm finding it harder to talk. Certain sounds like "Th" e.g..."Think" is now pronounced "Fink", which is much easier to say. It feels like I'm becoming lazy.
One positive is that when I go to the gym and do my weight training, I'm of normal build, but I find it helps me with my strength and if I keep my fitness up for lets say three times per week, my legs feel stronger and not so wobbily (like my knees are about to give way).
I'm sorry this post is so long, I have lots of different symptoms at different times of this 18 month period, I should mention that after 3 months of my initial symptoms I had a brain mri which came back normal (I suspect I had this test done too early)
One last point, when I get really tired and I'm out socialising with friends and family I get so exhausted I find myself trying so hard to keep myself together, I think my temperature is extremely high, I can feel my face burning up and on saying good bye to family members, they have commented on how hot I am on touch to the face. I have put this down to my muscles been so tired and weak that I am forcing them to work harder than they want to.
I'm hoping someone can reply and help me out here, maybe point me in the right direction. I'm not expecting a miracle of course. I think I have researched every single illness on the internet related to tremmor, fatigue, fasciculation, myoclonus, black floaters, bells palsy, peripheral neuropathy.
Thanks for reading :)
Gareth