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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Muscle twitching, cramping, numbness in forearms. Fear of ALS.
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Muscle twitching, cramping, numbness in forearms. Fear of ALS.
by zny444, Apr 24, 2006 12:00AM
Hello, I am a 29 y/old male.
Thank you for taking the time to read this...
3 months ago I was diagnosed with lower back problems (slight stenosis, and right facet joint arthritis). Referred to pain managment specialist and was given two spinal cortizone injections (lumbar/right facet joint). Upon resting at home, I noticed muscle twitching in my right calf muscle. I thought it was nothing at first but recently they have gotten worse. To make a long story short... I have had a nervous breakdown two weeks ago followed by deep depression. I think I have this horrible disease. I have seen 3 Neurologists (two of which at Universty of Penn) and my primary doctor and all have told me that I suffer from anxiety and to see a psycologist. The twitching has not stopped and I am noticing I wake at night to numbness in my forearms that eventually goes away. I also have noticed slight shaking/tremor in my right arm, a slight tremoring in my lower jaw, a slight indent in my right calf (which is more seen when flexed), cold sweats at night (waking drenched), sever eye floaters, sever left scitatic pain (not shooting/kills me when cough/sneeze), more blurry vision and a feeling of something in the back of my throat. I am walking fine, drinking and eating fine (although my stomach has been very upset these last weeks). I have also been crying to wife about all this every other day. I am at a loss here as I feel my life has been taken from me. I have had a cspine MRI to rule out fibro, bloodwork for vitamin deficancy all negative. The univeristy DRs did not recommend an EMG. PLS help!
Thank you for taking the time to read this...
3 months ago I was diagnosed with lower back problems (slight stenosis, and right facet joint arthritis). Referred to pain managment specialist and was given two spinal cortizone injections (lumbar/right facet joint). Upon resting at home, I noticed muscle twitching in my right calf muscle. I thought it was nothing at first but recently they have gotten worse. To make a long story short... I have had a nervous breakdown two weeks ago followed by deep depression. I think I have this horrible disease. I have seen 3 Neurologists (two of which at Universty of Penn) and my primary doctor and all have told me that I suffer from anxiety and to see a psycologist. The twitching has not stopped and I am noticing I wake at night to numbness in my forearms that eventually goes away. I also have noticed slight shaking/tremor in my right arm, a slight tremoring in my lower jaw, a slight indent in my right calf (which is more seen when flexed), cold sweats at night (waking drenched), sever eye floaters, sever left scitatic pain (not shooting/kills me when cough/sneeze), more blurry vision and a feeling of something in the back of my throat. I am walking fine, drinking and eating fine (although my stomach has been very upset these last weeks). I have also been crying to wife about all this every other day. I am at a loss here as I feel my life has been taken from me. I have had a cspine MRI to rule out fibro, bloodwork for vitamin deficancy all negative. The univeristy DRs did not recommend an EMG. PLS help!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, May 01, 2006 12:00AM
The fact that 3 neurologist have evaluated and examined you, and not found an abnormality is good news and should be encouraging. Its good that they have not found a serious neurological disease! Based on your symptoms, there is no indication for an EMG, but check with your doctor if you have not asked already as I do not know your full case.
Sometimes the body reacts to stress and depression not just in emotional ways but in physical ways - the brain has control over th e whole body not just thinking and emotion. Getting the brain chemistries back in balance with therapy and medications like SSRIs will hopefully resolve these symptoms also.
Good luck
Sometimes the body reacts to stress and depression not just in emotional ways but in physical ways - the brain has control over th e whole body not just thinking and emotion. Getting the brain chemistries back in balance with therapy and medications like SSRIs will hopefully resolve these symptoms also.
Good luck
Good luck!
Very often those hurt think they have MS, or ALS, or fibromyalgia, or a host of other maladies.
If you are suffering these weird symptoms, I suggest you check out the following sites:
www.medicationsense.com
www.fqvictims.org
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones
Forgot to mention... I'm also on Paxil and just got back from my first psycologist appt and was prescribed Abilify as well. Was diagnosed as being manic and bipolar. Not sure what else to do at this point... still scared, nervous and feeling twitches now in my face and arms. Wish I could wake up from this nightmare.
Levaquin, tequin, cipro, avelox are the most common flouroquinolone drugs.
I wish you all the best and everyone thank you for all your comments. I'm going to get on with my life regardless of what is happening to me. I am 29 years old and have a wonderful life, wife, family and friends. I can't let some damn twitching ruin all of that!!! Good luck to all my fellow twitchy's :-)