ALS or Anxiety

[mustang2]

Obssessed with fear of ALS is ruining my life and my family. Developed percieved lower extremity weakness and upper left arm 2 years ago went to GP all blood work normal. but when I told him how I felt he looked at my hands and questioned some atropy but no objective weakness. Sent to neurologist who also is certified in neurophysiology{I'm a nurse} I developed muscle twitches also had weight loss and went into deep depression because I lived on the internet searching ALS. Neuro did every test under the sun didn't think I had atrophy did EMG and nerve coduction studies. All normal. Said no ALS or no anything. Still not satisfied Had 2 more EMG/NCS. THe third one ten months ago. all negative. Got better. Now developing left leg fatigue weakness twitches only i feel like it affects my walking. Back to same neuro. Neiro exam normal wont do emg even to relieve my anxiety about ALS This is consuming my life. Could I be making up these symptons in my mind. I do have anxiety and thoughts of awful diseases alot. negative lymes negative every thing.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

yes, for sure, and this is almost certainly the case now...see a therapist to start discovering the underlying anxiety...it will save you a lot of trouble.

[stevesteve]

You dont have ALS. The fact that you have had symptoms for 2 years indicates that you dont have it. MS possibly. But anxiety shouldnt be ruled out.

ALS takes 3-4 years to fully progress. Usually bye the 2nd year standing is impossible.


Your ok. Take a deep breath. Go to another nuero for peace of mind

[mustang2]

Thanks for your response. MS was also ruled out by MD.I didnt have symptons for two years it all happened about 18 months to 2 yrs ago. and I got better after about 10 months however I redeveloped symptons a month ago. It is very hard to acept that anxiety could cause my body to have symptons like these. As a nurse its hard to accept that nothing is wrong when i feel so awful. I appreciate the support .

[borninquisitive]

For twitches and weakness, I would consider a Magnesium deficiency provided other reasons have been ruled out.

Read here: http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp


I do believe anxiety can exasperate, if not cause twitching.
If all is ruled out, it would seem reasonable to possibly having a  "health anxiety."
If you think you may be Magnesium deficient, try supplementation. If twitching ceases, good. This will be one less thing to worry about. Hopefully with that, your anxiety will subside.
If not, you may have to seek further help.

Best,
~Kate

[mustang2]

Thanks for your advice, magnesium,B-12 everything else normal. I am at the point that I feel like I must have an EMG once more and if it is normal I will seek psychological help. However my neuro won't do another test at this point so I'm in a dilema.

[stevesteve]

Well Lexapro stopped my muscle twitching. Its hard too believe my mind made all that stuff up. But it did. Just a thought. Magnesium is a good thing also.

[rthomas003]

Everytime i read about someone suffering similarly to me it eases my mind a little, i have some very similar problems,muscle twitches,leg weakness, its usually on the left side but there are times where both legs feel as if i cant walk another step (i am a very strong person not prone to feeling weak at all) also my left arm feels weak  along with alot of very odd sensations in my muscles, ive also been told this is somehow anxiety and find it very hard to beleive, its ruining my life too. but i have noticed that anxiety CAN worsen it signifficantly and this has helped me to begin to beleive my doctors opinion, i have not had as many test as you, just an mri and some physical tests at a neuro along with a bunch of stuff whre they pulsed electricity into my muscles to test there strength? anyway its gard to beleive that i was perfectly normal one day then over one weekend i was overcome with these problems. lets hope for both of our sake that were just anxious  haha it is possable though man , im trying my best to beleive that and it seems to offer some improvement. i would very much like to see a follow up on here from you if you find out what the problem is or get better.
ps have you ever taken any flouroquinilone antibiotics? like cipro? i found after looking back that my problems start very shortly after taking ciprofloxicin for about a week, and ive found that there are many people suffering similar symptoms who are blaming that drug.its effects suposedly can continue for years after taking even one dose. e-mail me at ***@**** if you would like to discuss this , were very much in similar situations and it cant hurt to not be alone in this.
-Richard

[mustang2]

Thanks.Sorry to hear of your troubles.It is most difficult to feel like this because I also am an active person.I work fulltime and have kids. I want to accept this as anxiety and get help I'm just not at that point and have decided to seek a second opinion from neuro.I have not taken cipro at any point however This whole thing started after a severe inflammatory process 2 years ago in my shoulder joint for which I recieved multiple steroid injections into the joint. Fibromyalgia was mentioned but never diagnosed and I don't have the pain to go with this. The constant fatique I feel is propably due to this contant fear of ALS.I was sympton free for about 8 months. It is discouraging to be back at this point. What have you done to help yourself.

[cfer21]

I have had tingling in my hands and feet for months now and have had a CAT scan and also a doppler test on my arms and feet and both came up as nothing. Doctors think it's anxiety related. So maybe that's the main thing and stressing about ALS probably makes it worse, I know because I've done the exact same thing. Keep on getting tests done until you're satisfied. Don't worry what they'll think about you (Crazy or silly) you know how you feel and you only. Hang in there and keep on working on figuring things out.

[mustang2]

Thanks for  your postings. I have an appointment for a second opinion although it isnt a neuro who specializes in als. but i live in a pretty remote area. I have to do this to put this all to rest because at this point i feel like i am having trouble walking with my left leg yet no objective weakness is noted as of 2 weeks ago. I am really fearful i am crazy can your mind really create such symptons????

[cfer21]

I think some doctors sometimes say or think that, which is frustrating, because they don't know what we're going through. I think you are doing the right thing, just keep on going to these appointments until you are satisfied. I mean, it's not like we want something to be wrong, but I know sometimes I don't even care anymore. I'd rather know, than not know...or hear bad news instead of no news. You are handling it the best way you can. Hang in and let me know how it turns out for you.

[mustang2]

Thanks for all your comments. I have seen a second neuro with a normal exam all normal except brisk reflexes which i have been told before. however i still have twitching and also have developed foot and leg cramps whiich i know are signs of ALS. The first neuro i went to 1-2yrs ago did EMG right there and then and was able to relieve my anxiety. This one is sending me to there neuro in the group who specializes in emgs and other tests which will not ghive me  results until 10/16/06 does anyone else suffering from anxiety suffer from these symptons.Thanks in advance for responses.

[mytruck_82]

Yes,  I mother who is 78 is dying of ALS. After reading all your comments, my weakness in my legs, twitching and strumbling, seems more psycho than physio to me. I have severe anxiety and depression and take Wellbutrin. I'm thinking of changing soon to something else. I've been to the nuerologist and tested but everything checked out. It's nice to know I have some company.

[mustang2]

Thanks for your comments everyone I have had a complete neuro workup EMG Evoked Potentials,thracic/cervical MRI,didnt repeat Brain mri because I had it done a year ago.All normal. However I still feel terrible physically. But I am a mystery to myself and my doctors. thanks I plan to take it one day at a time.

[SAL1975]

  My symptoms started about 3 weeks ago, a day after I got my flu shots. Although I am a bit stressed out about some problems, but I have always been the calm type. One night 3 weeks ago I woke up to what I thought was a charlie horse in my right calf. I walked around and it was fine.that morning, and the next few days I had intense painful twiching in my feet that progressed to my left side as well. Went to dr. had labs done with a slightly increased wbc and sed rate (1 point off from normal), and high cholestrol/ldl. everything else was normal. Dr. prescribed elavil for what she thought might just be nerve pain, but I did not take plan to take it unless it became unbearable. My symptoms disappeared for 2 weeks than again last fri I had tingling in my feet which progressed to my arms and hands and sometimes all over, cramping of my right calf again. Although I dont feel weak, I feel cold all the time. I have been reading about the symptoms, and all I see is ALS. I am getting worried, as Dr. asked me to wait 4-6 weeks untill next appointment to discuss other tests. I am sooo scared! I am 31, 5'4 and 140lbs.