Re: SOMATIC or SHOULD I SEE A NEUROLOGIST?

Posted By ccf neurology M.D.* on September 13, 1997 at 21:03:31:

In Reply to: SOMATIC or SHOULD I SEE A NEUROLOGIST? posted by RYAN on September 11, 1997 at 08:00:58:








About 18 months ago, I started to experience the proverbial "muscle fasciculations" in my legs, that have subsquently spread to my entire body!
Educating myself, I have ruled out ALS; because no ATROPHY of any muscle groups!  My fasciculations are not ENHANCED by stress or fatigued, it doesn't matter what time of the day/night or situation, my body is constantly "fasciculating" from one muscle group to another!
I think I'm going mental as well, I experince the AURUA and DEJA'VU sometimes as well.  But also have read this might be part of a siezure activity in conjunction with the fasciculations?  
I have what I believe to be myclonic jerks, which last about 2-3 seconds in duration, then the fasciculations will increase in intensity and duration right after the myclonic jerking like activity.  I have the tingling feelings as well, mainly in my arms and mainly the right side of my body!
I'm in the military, have been to the Gulf War, but I don't think any of my symptoms have anything connection to the Gulf War period, becuase they have developed over the last 18 months.  
I have lost a significant amount of weight during the past 18 months, went from 165 to presently 140!  I have been tested recently by Family Practice (military) for all STD's, HIV, AIDES, and all have come back negative.  The only thing significant that was addressed by the military doctors that there was high CO2 amounts in my blood serum test's and refered to INTERNAL MED, but said not to worry about it!
Also had a sleep study, came back negative for APNEA, but showed 85 awakenings throughout the night and 12 Periodic Leg Movements (PLMs)?
I don't want to be labled "SOMATIC" with the military, I risk my career of 13 years service, I don't know if the above is MENTAL or NEUROLOGICAL, but I have the lowest stress enviroment, physically fit; other than the deficits mention above, have prior history of head trauma from a MVA a couple of years of ago with 45 minutes of LOC!
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Ryan,
Thre is a syndrome known as benign fasciculation syndrome that consists of fasciculations (muscle twitches) occurring all over your body. There are many other muscle and neurologic disorders that can cause such symptoms as well, however, and some endocrinological and metabolic problems--- especially problems with the THYROID gland or PARATHYROID gland---- have these been looked into--- especially with your weight loss I think they should be irrespective of whatever other treatment or evaluation you may have. They are easy to diagnose and treat and won't affect your career opportunities, but if left neglected can occasionally be fatal. A low blood calcium or magnesium level could also cause all the symptoms you've mentioned (including seizures by the way)--- make sure these were included in your blood tests, the magnesium especially often is not.
Neurologic causes of your symptoms could be various muscle diseases or so called myopathies, although usually there would be weakness as well, especially if your weight loss was on a muscle atrophy basis.  
Mental causes of deja-vu feeling are mostly anxiety disorders, although anxiety is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism also. Other than depression that is bad enough to cause you to stop eating or eat less, and eating disorders, there are no psychiatric illnesses to the best of my knowledge that will cause you to lose 25 pounds, and it is this weight loss that makes me most suspicious that there is likely a medical condition of some sort underlying your complaints.
In short, you need to exclude metabolic and medical (somatic) causes before pursuing neurologic or psychiatric causes.
Information provided on the neurology forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only. Actual diagnosis and treatment of your specific medical condition should be strictly in conjunction with your treating physician(s). We hope the information is useful to you.