Muscle Fasciculations (aka muscle tics) and MS

Hello everyone!

Are muscle fasciculations (or muscle tics) commonly associated with MS?  I'm still looking for a dx from what I experienced last December (and still dealing with minor residual symptoms), and while I was at my neuros office today he said muscle fasciculation isn't common for people with MS.  Is that true??  

I had more blood work today to explore the unusual possibilities that cause fun neurological nasties.  Although ingesting ciguatera toxin while I was in Hawaii last November remains on my list of possible culprits, there's no way to definitely dx it and only time will tell.  I recently got tested for lyme and I'm waiting for the results.  The unfortunate part for me is that I’m a scientific scuba diver and my dive doctor recently told me I can’t dive until all the symptoms have resolved or when I get a dx; both of which might not be any time in the near future.

I hope you are in good spirit and I look forward to hearing from you!

Best,
Todd

[Quixotic1]

Hi!  Good to see you again.

No, fasciculations in general are products of the peripheral nervous system.  MS is a disease only of the Central Nervous System.  However, you do see localized fasciculations in MS from a disuse problem.

Muscles that have been used for a long time and then are exercised can show fasciculations.

So, simply put, widespread fasciculations are not a part of MS.

We have had two recent people who are likely to have Lyme Disease.  Have you have at least two Western Blots done for Lyme with reporting of the specific bands?

Quix

[Todd36]

interesting...so my neuro speaks the truth, eh?  he said ALS is associated with fasciculations but not MS, but there's no way I have ALS as my symptoms have improved dramatically since Dec and the onset of them hit my body violently with incredible pain.  errr!!!!  frustrating!!!  By the way, my neuro never suggested I had ALS.

I only had one western blot last Tuesday.  I went to one of few lyme specialists in my area, so I assumed she knew what she was doing.  I recall you saying get two western blots and have them sent to two separate labs, but I neglected to say anything b/c drs get weirded out when you question their methods.  If this one comes back normal, I'll request another.  the lyme dr said that if I've had it for a while that the body’s immune system stops producing antibodies and begins recognizing it as part of the body, and when that happens drs have to make a clinical dx for lyme b/c the tests won't detect it.  she is also checking some marker in the blood that is generally high in people with lyme disease, but unfortunately I can't remember what it was - I'll know soon enough.  I learned that lyme is prevalent in India, which boarders Bhutan, which is where I was trekking last Oct...hmmm.

Well…I think I’ve reached my insurance deductible!!  Yahooooo!!!  Maybe my bill will be a wee bit more affordable now.  Thanks Quix for the clarification.  I'll keep you posted as I learn more...

rgds,
Todd

[TJM24]

Todd-
  I too have been doing the twitching thing.  Mine started out of the blue a few weeks ago.  Pins and needles in my left foot and then twitching in the calves and then all over withing about a day.  Quix was able to reassure me that it didn't sound like MS.  The ALS thing has worried me sick but the sensory part and the sudden widespread onset has my GP convinced its not anything horrible like ALS.  I've had the blood tests for mineral imbalance (Potassium and Magnesium deficiencies) They were both clean.  I went back yesterday to my doc and he still wants to wait before sending me to a neuro.  He thinks my twitches are either a after effect of a recent virus or due to me going from a very active exercising to being much more sedentary (I've been taking a night class 4 hours a night and spending tons of time sitting and studying).  He says the body can overreact to the change in exercise pattern.  Its been frustrating and worrisome.  
One thing I've noticed is that my twitching can improve for a few days, then flare back up.  The last three days its been very quiet (Can't tell if its tied to me exercising more over the weekend or starting ibuprofen over the weekend).  I do feel like if I shed the ALS fears it may feel better since I think the stress of thinking its something horrible has actually made the twitches worse.

[jensequitur]

Personally, i do have muscle twitching, but it's in muscles that are already affected by MS.  In other words, I get them in areas that are already experiencing symptoms, like weakness and paresthesia.  Lately my left thumb has been twitching, my left eyelid, and the side of my neck on the right side.  

[Todd36]

Thanks for your comments.  

TJ, if you are concerned about ALS you should get an EMG/NCS performed on you to relieve the fears.  I know how you feel b/c I was there about a month ago before I had an EMG/NCS, which was thankfully normal.  Like your twitches, mine come and go but are generally associated with mild neuropathic pain, and it seems to occur more frequently during the evening.  at one point the pain was so bad in my left foot i couldn't walk for two days.  I have had sensory issues too i.e., i lost feeling in my hands and feet for about 45 minutes...strange, eh?  Although the twitching happens all over my body, they have a tendency to show up in my legs more frequently (bilaterally).  I haven't lost any balance, coordination or muscle strength.  I'm beginning to think I'm dealing with something from the environment, but I can't put my finger on what it could be, except ciguatera poisoning.

jensequitur, your twitching definitely sounds like what Quix described i.e., twitching in areas that have been effected by MS.  Unfortunately, my twitching is all over the place!

thanks for your input!

[ginak]

Hello,

I too am having muscle twitching, tingling, numbness, ear pain, tinnitus, etc and have been since July of 2009. I have had a full neurological workup and Todd I am also waiting on lyme test results. I had the WB back in October and one band (#18) was found to be positive. There was also a small amount of lyme in my spinal fluid. This time, I went through Igenix (paid an arm and a leg for the test) and am waiting for the results to come back. I also had the CD57 test done and I was just told by the nurse that it came back low. I certainly hope that lyme is the case. Right now, I just want to know what is wrong. I twitch in many places in my body.

[Todd36]

wow!  strange how there are so many of us walking the same path.  i (too) had my CD57 checked last tuesday; that's the marker i was trying to remember the name.  do you recall getting a tick bite or having a rash?  is lyme common where you live?  i was biten by several ticks back in the early 90's but i never had a rash and it wasn't that common where i lived.  that said, because i've lived somewhat a nomadic lifestyle, I could have contracted it from a number of places.

I feel your pain as i just want to know what's wrong too.  the frustrating part is that my drs haven't said, "okay, we know it's not x, y, or z."  it seems like everything is still on the table  i guess i can deduce that a number of conditions typically detected via an EMG/NCS are off the table, right?  

[ginak]

I would certainly count out ALS, especially if you have had an EMG/NCS. I just received my CD57 test results today and it is ABNORMAL. I am happy. I know that this sounds strange, but it feels good to at least have something to come out abnormal other than my Vitamin D levels and EBV titers. The LLMD told me that this was highly indicative of lyme. I am waiting on the Igenix test results to come back as well. I certainly hope that those results back up some dx. Have you had the Igenix test.

I don't recall a tick bite, but I had a rash on my neck when all of this started. I still have a rash on my neck. All of this has been going on for quite some time and I just want it to be over. Keep me posted on your test results ok.

[Todd36]

This sounds strange, but congrats.  I'm sure that's a huge monkey off your back.  Take care and get well soon!!

For your sake, I hope I never seen you on the Medhelp again.....

Peace