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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Worried about tingling/twitching
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Worried about tingling/twitching
by collegeftblfan, Apr 09, 2006 12:00AM
I am a healthy 26 year old male. I admit to having a bit of health anxiety and also have a habit of trying to diagnose myself with various diseases when minor symptoms are present. For about 4-5 years I have had muscle fasciculations throughout my body (arms, legs, trunk, face, etc.). They come and go, sometimes being absent for 6 months or so and then reappearing. They are never associated with any weakness or atrophy. Lately I have had a fasciculation around my hairline on my temple. It doesn't always twitch, but it seems to do so for an hour or two every other day -- usually around the time I wake up. I noticed this about a month ago. Is this twitching in a localized area a cause for concern? You cannot see the twitch, but I can feel it if I put my finger on it.
Also, for a few years I have also had issues with my ring and pinky fingers on both hands "falling asleep" at night, and tingling during the day. The "tingling" I describe feels like a vibration or buzzing in my fingers. I have been weight training for the past three years and have gained about 45-50 lbs in muscle. Could my numbness/tingling be due to the muscle pressing on the ulnar nerve?
Finally, my most pressing concern. I have had three "attacks," for lack of appropriate term, in my head. It only lasts for a couple seconds and it feels like a vibration in the back of my head. It makes me feel a bit lightheaded, and then instantly goes away. It doesn't last any longer than a minute. My good friend is a GP and he tells me it's nothing to worry about. Thyroid is normal. What do you think?
Also, for a few years I have also had issues with my ring and pinky fingers on both hands "falling asleep" at night, and tingling during the day. The "tingling" I describe feels like a vibration or buzzing in my fingers. I have been weight training for the past three years and have gained about 45-50 lbs in muscle. Could my numbness/tingling be due to the muscle pressing on the ulnar nerve?
Finally, my most pressing concern. I have had three "attacks," for lack of appropriate term, in my head. It only lasts for a couple seconds and it feels like a vibration in the back of my head. It makes me feel a bit lightheaded, and then instantly goes away. It doesn't last any longer than a minute. My good friend is a GP and he tells me it's nothing to worry about. Thyroid is normal. What do you think?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Apr 13, 2006 12:00AM
Fasciculations in the absence of muscle weakness and wasting are unlikely to be due to ALS or another serious neurological disease. They can also be caused by exercise, cold, certain medications, an overactive thyroid gland, or as a benign syndrome.
Numbness in teh ring and pinky finger is in the distribution of the ulnar nerve, which is most commonly compressed at the elbow, and can be compressed during sleep. Rapid weight gain or loss can predispose someone to compression of peripheral nerves more.
Its hard for me to comment on the 'attacks' without knowing more information, and I cannot give you a clinical diagnosis over the intnernet. On the surface it does nto sound particularly ominous.
Good luck
Numbness in teh ring and pinky finger is in the distribution of the ulnar nerve, which is most commonly compressed at the elbow, and can be compressed during sleep. Rapid weight gain or loss can predispose someone to compression of peripheral nerves more.
Its hard for me to comment on the 'attacks' without knowing more information, and I cannot give you a clinical diagnosis over the intnernet. On the surface it does nto sound particularly ominous.
Good luck
I can't offer you any help on your other symptoms as they are unfamiliar to me. Don't worry about the leaf blower.
Thinking I had a problem with my lower back, I went and got an MRI, but the results came back negative for herniation or any other related problems. Since then, the pain has gotten worse. I get numbness and tingling in my legs (both right and left), down to my toes, though this comes and goes. I also have sporadic tingling, itching and pain in both of my hands and forearms. I also have random muscle twitches all over body. I believe the clinical term is fasciculations. These occur mostly in the thigh after walking short distances, but also occur more randomly in the triceps, calf muscles, and torso. This also comes and goes, mostly with anxiety. No significant signs of wasting or atrophy in the hands, arms, feet, or legs that I can notice. Some weakness in the left leg where the pain started about two months ago, but no loss in muscle tone, weight.
I am worried about ALS. I have an appointment for an EMG in two weeks.
Having said all of this, it is also important to note that I also have cerebral palsy, which I contracted at birth. I am hypertonic and often have trouble with cramps and extremely stiff muscles, including toe drop since birth. I also have had several surgeries. Early in life, I had my hip flexors and adductors loosened. I have since had two surgeries where microscopic holes were cut in my hamstrings to loosen them further and my hips were adjusted to turn my pelvis out. I recently had my appendix out. I have a large amount of scar tissue on and around my pelvis from the last hip surgery. Could this be contributing to my pain? Could scar tissue be pressing on a nerve? Could the pain I'm experiencing be the result of extremely taught muscles and shifting of my trunk as a result?
I found it odd that the pain presented itself first as similar to back pain. Again, I actually had shooting pains down my leg and a dull ache in my hip after walking short distances. This was sometimes accompanied with lower back pain. I wasn't even considering ALS until the EMG was brought up. Other factors worth noting: It has been extremely cold the last several months, a factor that has greatly increased my overall stiffness and, at times, decreased my mobility. Sometimes I get so cold and taught that it is difficult to move at all. This stiffness happens most when sitting at my computer for long periods of time. I am a journlist and spend much of my day hunched over in front of a monitor.
For me, much of this stiffness and many of these other symptoms is a simple fact of life--and has been for years. Cramps, stiff muscles, painful joints, muscle twitches (benign fasciculations) and other symptoms similar to ALS