EMG

Posted By  CCF neuro MD MM on March 04, 1999 at 15:38:40:

In Reply to: Re: EMG posted by Amy on March 03, 1999 at 13:30:03:

: Hi,
   I too have a question about fasiculations shakiness and occasional muscle jerking.  I am a 34 year old female, I've had the above symptoms over a month, no muscle weakness that I can tell of.  A few weeks after the symptoms started I noticed a lump in my throat when swallowing, I have now been told I have a diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland with more tests to follow.  All my thyroid blood hormone levels were normal, but is there a possibility that it could be linked to the muscle symptoms?  I too worry about ALS, and suffered a seizure after I took the wrong dosage of co-trimoxazole two months ago, not long after that the muscle symptoms appeared (within 3 weeks).  My neuro exam was normal, EEGs (2) were fine, MRI normal.  Can thryoid disfunction even with normal levels for now cause symptoms like this similar to neurological ones?  The muscle symptoms occur when I am resting, widespread, calves, thigh, front and back of legs, stomach, back, ear, lips on occasion, arms, a slight tremor in my hands...it is very frustrating, any help will be appreciated:)
  Thank you

[CCF neurology MD MM]

_
The symptoms you describe are frequently described in the context of
thyroid disease, howevere as you point out one would expect thyroid
hormone levels to be elevated.
I doubt if there is any likk to the seizure and drug toxicity problem and
twitching alone is not enough to suggest a diagnosis of ALS.
The best way to approach this problem would be to have the definitive test
to diagnose these sorts of muscle problems,namely an EMG.
This will help to clarify the underlying basis for the twitching , and I
suspect reassure you tht you do not have ALS.
It is very possible that the twitching is entirely co-incidental to the
thyroid problem which may well have been present for years.
I suggest that you consult a neurologist with a view to having an EMG.