Hoping for some answers to explain twitching, tightness, fatigue etc

[Dave-in-Switzerland]

Dear Doctor,

Can you give me some advice as to what sorts of tests should be done and what illnesses might cause the following? I'm finding it hard to get straight answers and prompt testing here in Europe.
Profile: male, 36, competitive endurance athlete (trail running, cycling etc)...til Sept 03! 68kg stable
My main symptoms, in order of appearance: intermittent, short-term nocturnal parasthesias of pinkie and ring finger (bi-lateral) as of June 03 (when I shake the arm it goes away). NCV: slight slowing at left elbow. Right OK (Sept 03). Greatly increased fatigueability as of Sept 03 - gone from ca 20 hrs per week running, cycling, mountain-running to tight and crampy thighs after a 30 minute jog! No objective weakness though (verified in weight-room though I never "max out" - in 12-rep sets my strength has actually increased since Oct). Twitching, body-wide, as of Oct 03. Worst in legs. Neuro caught "fasciculations" on a (short - maybe 10 minute) EMG done in Nov03 -EMG otherwise clean.  V. stiff neck & back at times. Crampy muscles, esp legs. V. Irregular sleep (anxiety? GP gave me zolpidem, which I use sparingly, and Buspar "while I wait"). Twitching and crampy muscles are getting worse thru Jan 04. Other sx stable.
Is MS (rather than ALS) a possibility here? Should I insist on an MRI and if so what sort? My labs -everything from lyme to thyroid to CPK to rbcMg, (which is a bit low)- are all OK. One last thing - I never did any doping but did have IV Mg on the advice of my sports doc in 99, 01 &02. I take Asacol for mild distal recto-colitis (in remission since 99).

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

The symptoms you are describing do not suggest MS. They are also atypical for ALS in that you have become stronger through this process. Fasciculations can occur in diseases such as ALS, however they can also occur in a condition called benign fasciculation syndrome. This syndrome invovles otherwise healthy people who develop fasciculations of their muscles intermittently over time. Also, sternuous excercise and weight lifting can also cause fasciculations.

Regarding the muscle complaints, I would recommend having your comlpete electrolyte panel checked, as well as markers of inflammatory conditions (ESR, CRP, Anti-nuclear antibody, and Rheumatoid factor). If the muscle stiffness and cramping is only excericse induced then perhaps a metabolic cause should be investigated. Metabolic conditions can present because our bodies can not produce enough energy. Good luck

[Dave-in-Switzerland]

I ran out of space before I could thank you for this service!  (Concision isn't exactly my strong-point- sorry. But I did want to make sure I got in all the info you might need.) In any case, thanks! I'd be bouncing off the walls with ALS worry were it not for your site and a few others.  (Unfortunately, MS still has me quite nervous.)  Best,  Dave

[Dave-in-Switzerland]

Thanks for your reply. I have to talk in French with my doctors here, so I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to explain "ESR", "CRP", "electrolyte panel" and the like.  I think they've done CRP (I suspect it's ProtŽine c-rŽactive in French - it was normal) but I don't know about the others. Could you tell me what these abbreviations stand for, and what's included in a complete "panel"? More than Na, Ca, K, rbcMg, and Phosphorus? All that's been done, as has CK, gamma GT, creatinine, sedimentation rate and adolase. All OK. My GP told me these tests ruled out most muscle diseases (as opposed to nerve) - is that what you were referring to when you mentioned metabolic disorders, or are they in another category, with different tests? I see nothing in my test records that looks like "rheumatoid factor" or "anti-nuclear antibody" - what sorts of illnesses do these test for?

I doubt the fascics etc are exercize-induced after several complete breaks from physical activity lasting up to ten days since September - no effect on symptoms. I've dimished physical activity by maybe 80% since September and things have gotten steadily worse.

Thanks again. Wish I were in Cleveland!

Best,  dave

[Kit1]

Dave-- the doc generally only answers one question, not followups. The tests he/she mentions like ESR, ANA, and RF, generally look for systemic inflammatory/autoimmune conditions. Things like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. These diseases have variable, system-wide manifestations, some of which are muscular and metabolic. Different patients manifest differently, so if those effects are the big ones for you, that's how these diseases might be presenting in your case.

(Try a Google search on these tests if you want to learn more. Also the National Library of Medicine has some decent information: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hinfo.html)

I can understand your frustration at not being able to exercise; I went through the same thing. It can also be frustrating to be very healthy-looking and to be complaining about "only" being able to run for 30 minutes-- sometimes the response you get is dismissive because such ability is already above average. The thing is, it's abnormally low for you! Not all doctors will understand this because they won't be thinking of you as an individual.

Hang in there and stick it out to get a full diagnosis. Keep in mind that the long time it's taking will probably not hurt your health. A matter of a few months in diagnosing these diseasese will not make a difference in the long run (only in the short run in your level of impatience!). I hope you will get an answer soon.

[JMC - Missouri]

Dave,
You might check into the Lyme a little further, it is common to have a negative Lyme test especially if it was an Elisa.  I have a sister who has chronic Lyme , she started out with symptoms similar to yours. It is a tough disease to diagnose a lot of lyme patients have Fibromyalga (fibromyalgia), Epstein Barr, Chronic fatigue Syndrome and many other symptoms. It took 3 years to figure out what was wrong with her and I do not like to see anyone suffer the way she has. Life will never be the same for her again. She even looks like an entirely different person. Trust me it is worth checking out again.  Lyme is very controversial in the states as to treatment etc but probably the best info we have seen comes from Dr. Joseph Burrascano. You can locate DIAGNOSTIC HINTS AND TREATMENT GUIDELINES FOR LYME AND OTHER TICK BORNE ILLNESSES by JOSEPH J. BURRASCANO JR., M.D. at
http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.htm#diag2
Good luck, I hope you find your answers.

[kcmo]

Have you thought of being tested for Lupus.  It is in the same lines as the "anti-nuclear antibody" test.  Good luck my friend, I understand your frustrations!

[ccfneuromd]

The ESR has already been checked according to your note. The anti-nuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor check for other inflammatory conditions and connective tissue disease. Good luck.

[kwag]

I understand how you feel.  I also have always been athletic.  I am now 38 yo female.  I used to run 2-6 miles a day and do aerobics 2-3 times per week.  I began to have muscle twitches all over, bil posttibial tendonitis, tender muscles (spots), and colon and sleeping difficulty.  My brain MRI was normal (thank the Lord).  Tests for lupus and thyroid were fine.  Right now I am taking a good calcium supplement twice daily and eating very healthy like raw vegees (75%) of my meal and all organic.  Also my meat is organic.  I drink lots of water now NO CAFFIENE EVER and NO sugar (as much as I can limit) and thank the Lord, I feel better.  I take probiotics, drink green drinks and pray alot..  My advice:  Take your money to  a health food store, invest in pure wholesome food and water and pray for God's blessing.  I believe that these symptoms are caused by toxicity in your body.  God bless

[Dave-in-Switzerland]

I'd just like to thank everyone for the comments, information and encouragement.

BTW, I AM pushing on the lyme - I called the lab that did the test and when the guy heard my American accent he said "Oops, is it possible you caught it in the US?" When I said yeah, I went to college in western Mass and went backpacking in Yosemite last year he said "Well, we'll have to do different Western blot tests on your blood because we don't know what strain you have and just test for the local stuff the first time 'round." Just goes to show that being a bit pro-active about this stuff can improve the diagnostic process (and I hope the results too).

Best to all,

dave