Scared about ALS!

[arrigoar]

Hi All.  I am a 25 year old male.  I have been experiencing widespread muscle twitching and feelings of weakness in my right arm, hand, and leg.  I have been doing self-testing on myself as I am extremely scared of ALS.  I can do all of the strength tests, walk on toes, heels, heel-toe walk, resist fanning of fingers, etc.  I noticed some atrophy on the bottom part of my right thumb pad...but have full strength in my thumb.  I have visited my GP twice, and he has conducted mini-neuro exams, which have tested the strength in my arms and legs.  All were fined.  My reflexes were also fine and symmetrical.  I have also noticed that my right tricep muscle is smaller than my left, even though my right arm is my dominant arm.  My Babinski reflex is toes going down which is normal too.  My symptoms started on September 7, so I am over a month into this.  I had an MRI done Sunday of my brain and cervical spine...all were fine.  

Doesn't ALS present with profound weakness?  I can still go to the gym and curl weights, run on the treadmill.  I have not tripped, or dropped things.  Doesn't atrophy occur after you lose control of your muscles in ALS?  If the atrophy in my thumb was in fact atrophy, wouldn't my thumb be very weak by now?  I am so scared and have a neuro appointment on the 27th.  My GP says not to worry, but I am very scared.

Please provide feeback...I am so scared!

Thanks,

Tony

[boostedtoy]

Tony, I too am a 25 yr old male with fears of ALS. I am lacking (at least I view it this way) the typical weakness associated with it. The twitching over much of my body has been going on now for about 8 months at this point. I can still lift a good bit of weight. However, of main concern to me now is the fact that my tongue is fatigued or feels tired, especially when i speak for anything over a short period of time. I can still speak once the tongue is tired, but sometimes will stumble over a word because my tongue feels like it has just run a marathon or completed a heavy lift. It actually starts burning, a sensation similar to that in other muscles when fatigued during a workout, but this is with my tongue!

[garian996521]

have anyone on here discover they had ALS? I'm battling the same things. Just curious as to what it was/is.

[Macnick2009]

I recognize these symptoms and offer one alternative for your investigation. Have you ever taken a fluoroquinolone antibiotic? Cipro, Levaquin, there are several others. Research fluoroquinolone toxicity.

[ihatepvc's]

Hi, i replied to your other post but it didn't seem to work. you are going through the same anxiety i went through over ALS. I imagined all sorts of weakness and atrophy but my clinical exams showed none of it. I wasn't convinced until I had an EMG though so go do it so you don't waste any more time worrying. In the meantime, you could take an antidepressant or something like Xanax to calm your fears. I was put on an antidepressant because I had such severe anxiety over it.

[arrigoar]

If I did indeed have atrophy in my thumb pad, wouldn't I not be able to use it effectively by now.  My symptoms have gone on for about a month and a half now.  If I had ALS wouldn't I be in worse shape???  Also...to add...I noticed this weakness before the twitching started!

[arrigoar]

Thanks for the reply.  But I haven't had an EMG yet.  That is the true test to rule out ALS.  I am so scared!!!!!

[mineandours]

Hi, Tony...

ALS does not start out with twitching and it does not involve widespread twitching.  If you truly had ALS, you wouldn't have to wonder or ask this question on a forum, you'd know it, believe me.  I have a friend who recently passed away from the disease.

Does your arm hang limp at your side or can you move it?  When you walk, do you have to drag either of your legs or use a cane for assistance?

All of your tests were fine so that should provide some comfort for you.  The fact that you are stressing out over this is constantly pumping adrenaline into your system and keeping this vicious cycle going.

You are suffering from health anxiety, benign fasciculation syndrome where something has irritated your central nervous system causing the twitching, OR neurological Lyme disease which causes this widespread twitching you describe.  Google these afflictions and forget ALS. You don't have it.

Good luck...
Carol