Re: twitches

Posted By CCF Neurology* on April 15, 1998 at 20:29:58:

In Reply to: twitches posted by fred on April 13, 1998 at 13:12:15:






: Can an als patient hvae twitches that change from day to day?  Can you have several good days without many twitches and then have several dyas of bad twitching and then go back to several fairly twitch free days?  Or do they tend to get worse and worse day by day?  also, how long do twitches last before other symptoms begin to occur? Is it  several months or can it be  years of twitching before weakness or atrophy?
Dear Fred,
Fasiculations in ALS are manifest after denervation (muscle losing its nerve supply) due to injury of the anterior horn cell ( part of the spinal cord). They develop in muscles that are weak.. ALS is a progressive disorder therefore, as more muscle become weak more fasicualtions appear. Of course, some days may be variable with regard to  the number of fasciculations (but always present).  Mental/physical fatigue, caffine, tobacco may also increase the number of fasiculation.  
Do these twitches cccur all over the body? And once a muscle is having twitches does it ever stop, or does it progress then to include other muscles?  Can twitches go on for years before other symptoms appear?  And does weakness usually appear with twitches or fairly soon after they begin?
Dear Fred,
As I mentioned previously, ALS is a progressive disorder, that is, it get worse over time. Yes, the twitches can occur all over the body. Yes, once a muscle starts twitching it will continue to twitch. Yes, as the disease PROGRESSES more muscles become involved. After a muscle weakens, twiches appear. NO,  in ALS twitches will not appear years before other symptoms. Weakness is a symptom. Good Luck.