Re: Muscle Twitching - still afraid

Posted By Donna on July 09, 1999 at 09:30:55
I began experiencing an left upper eyelid twitch about one month ago.  About 2 weeks later, my left arm bicep began to "twitch" constantly.  When I say twitch, I mean you could see my entire bicep jump.  This continued for several hours.  My left upper arm also began to contract and then to burn.  It felt as though I had a belt around my arm pulled as tight as possible.  
By the next morning, the muscle jerks had gone, but right in the bend of my elbow - on the upper portion of my arm-, I noticed the slightest skin twitch which was also constant.  This twitch could only be seen and not really felt.  In addition, the next morning, I felt numbness in my thumb and 3 fingers of my left arm.  I also became very achy, sore, fatigued all over. I was even sore to the touch in the front of my neck/throat area. It was very difficult to blow dry hair, put on makeup because of achy upper arms.
As the week progressed, the soreness and numbness disappeared, but I noticed that I have the muscle jerks/ twitches all over.  They started in my calves - then to thigh area.  The exact same muscles in both arms will twitch, although not at the same time.  Sometimes it is a smaller twitch and other times I would classify it as a muscle jerk because it is very easy to see it jump.  
The muscle twitching moves around.  The original site only twitches once in a while.  I do still have some of the muscle tightness, but not to the same degree.  A muscle will usually only twitch/jerk once or twice and then it stops.  A different muscle will usually twitch within about 3 - 5 mintues.  The all over body twitches lasted a few days and then subsided, but are now back.  I am 32 year old female in good health.  I do not seem to have the weakness or atrophy.  I am physically active and have no problem.  I also usually notice the twitch more when I am still or at night.  If I am busy, I don't notice as much.   I was an antibiotic medication just recently because I was attacked while swimming in the ocean and was bitten - which became infected.  I was on the med for about 7 days when this started and my doctor quickly took me off and had me start drinking lots of fluids.  I have also used Flonase for allergies to tree pollen.  Could this be ALS or possibly stress?  The entire episode has me really shaken.  Any thoughts would truly be appreciated.
Thank you.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD RPS]

Posted By CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS on July 09, 1999 at 12:23:32
Dear Donna:
Sorry to hear about your ordeal.  What you are describing is a muscle condition called fasciculations.  This occurs when the muscle, for reasons that usually are not clear, contracts on its own.  Usually, a nerve has to be fired or activiated for the muscle to contract.  When the nerve is not functioning correctly as in ALS or other types of motor neuron disease, the muscle is firing on its own to produce these fasciculations.  What we all fear (physicians alike) is that the fasciculations are due to this latter process.  However, only during nerve damage or dysfunction will one see atrophy and weakness.  (This is not entirely true as muscle disorders will give atrophy and weakness) So, as you have no muscle atrophy or weakness, it is not likely that you have a motor neuron disease such as ALS.  (Actually, ALS also has a central problem)  It really sounds like you have a condition called benign fasiculations.  We are unclear of the etiology, about 20-30% of people who get this have a preceding viral illness.  The rest, we just do not know. There is no damage to the muscle in this condition, but it is nerve racking.  This conditon can last several days to several years, but resolves without damage.
Since you are worried enough to ask this question, I think it might be best if you heard the same thing from a live neurologist.  I would get a referral to see one and be checked out.  This way, your mindset will know for sure that what you have is a benign condition.  In addition, sometimes a medication is given to keep you from being to anxious over the situation (increased anxiety makes the fasciculations worse).
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD

[Dona__0__0]

Posted By Donna on July 09, 1999 at 12:32:33
Thank you very much for your response.  I am scheduled for some bloodwork in a couple of weeks and will go from there.  You are correct with the anxiety - I do believe it makes things worse.
I do not understand one part of your answer.  What do you mean by this statement  (Actually, ALS also has a central problem)?  











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