Strange Neurological Symptoms -- Any thoughts?

[MaxBan]

I am a 32 year old male. I have been having some strange symptoms over the past several months and am looking for any thoughts you might have about potential underlying causes. The thought of potential ALS, of course, scares me tremendously. I have summarized the major symptoms, minor symptoms, and some potentially related information below.

Major Symptoms
Dec. 2004 – VERY slight (almost unnoticeable) sensation of tingling/numbness in left hand and somewhat in left arm
End of Jan. 2004 – sensation of tingling/numbness in left hand seemed to go away. However, slight twitching began just above left ankle – later that day I started having twitching in both calves which was only noticeable while at rest (either sitting at desk at work or laying down at home)
Throughout February and into mid-March, I had a constant feeling of tingling/twitching in my calves while sitting at work and would notice twitching in calves before falling asleep. For about a week, I also had similar twitches in the soles of my feet with some slight cramping.
Over this period, I also had “one-off” twitches periodically in triceps, biceps, lower back, thighs, and shoulders. I did not feel any weakness over this period and was able to maintain a regular workout schedule at the gym.
End of March 2004: Twitching in calves seems to have subsided (still notice some here and there, but not constant as they were before). In my left hand, I now feel a "buzzing" sensation which comes and goes relatively frequently in my pinky and middle fingers.  continued below...

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

Twitching or 'fasciculations' in the absence of muscle weakness and muscle wasting, especially over time, is not suggestive of ALS

Fasciulcations can also be caused by pinched nerves (which may be the case with your left hand) at the neck or back, certain medications, even just being in the cold or after exercise. There is also a benign fasciculation syndrome with or without cramps, in which the fasciculation tend to be widespread or in different limbs at once.

You may need an EMG of the left arm and hand to evaluate the buzzing sensation/tingling - it may reveal a pinched nerve, and a normal study would add further evidence that this is not ALS. I cannot be certain of this as I have not seen you.

Good luck

[MaxBan]

Here is some additional potentially related information:

Non-Recurring Symptoms
Over the period of Jan. 2004-today, I have had several “one-time” symptoms (at least thus far) including the following:
1. One day, I kept having a recurring feeling of “tightness” around nose followed by upper lip twitching every few minutes during most of the day (went away by the next day). Similar episode of chin twitching for a few hours on a different day at least 2 weeks later.
2. I have awoken several times over this period to find either my left hand or left arm “asleep” and have to shake it out.
3. I have experienced finger numbness for very brief periods in my left hand over this time frame.

Information that may or may not be relevant:
Received rabies vaccine in August 2004 after being scratched and bitten by a cat without a known vaccination history

Frequently jog/walk in wilderness areas. I have come home several times to pick multiple ticks of off my dog and one or two off of myself.

I did have a couple of months of very stressful activity at work towards the end of 2004 and frequently got less than optimal amounts of sleep.

I am sorry for the long post, but the thought of potential ALS scares me tremendously.  I had an appointment with my GP a week ago -- b12 normal, negative for lyme and diabetes. I also have an appointment with a neurologist on 4/28. Thanks in advance for any advice you might have.

[CJinFL]

I had lots of twitching and buzzing before I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease back in 1998.  Sometimes, even after all these years, I still feel it.  Especially in my legs, sometimes face, an the soles of my feet.  It's like a low level vibration or buzzing feeling that when you are very still it still is buzzing.  The symptoms now are intermittent.  I had been tested for Lyme 3 times negative, but finally found a doctor in CT that was a specialist and he got the test right.  It left me in bed for about a year.  My list of total symptoms though was about 32 items long!  At first the doctors thought it was MS...but it was LYME.  They just couldn't get the testing right.
CJ

[WRATL]

Max...

I have nearly the exact same symptoms as you and have tested positive for Lyme.  I have the facial tightness around the nose and twitching (in the brow area).  I have had mostly left-sided issues, 30+ symptoms.  The vibrations you can slightly feel are real...I have them in the left arm and neck.  You need to register here...www.lymenet.org and go to their Flash discussion area.  You will find all of the answers and and direction you are looking for...including referrals to specialists.  Email me if you need any additional help/info...woofspounder@aol.

[CharmedGyrl]

I am 29 yrs old and I woke up this morning and the left side of my face is numb. I am really scared because we have a bad family history and I have never felt anything like this before. Can someone please email me, so I can ask some more questons, and I can tell you more in depth personal info...thanks.
Email is ***@****

[kt30]

i am a 21 year old female. i have been an elite athlete all of my life, so my body has seen a beating. i've been going to a chiropractor for about 8 years, he pretty much keeps me moving. however last january i went to him for a regular adjustment, but when i went home there was a bulge in the right side of my neck. i went back that afternoon to see him and he said my atlas had slipped out (which was weird). he adjusted me again but my neck was still sore. the next nite i had weird feelings in my head, not a headache but tingling. i also would get foggy vision....not blurry, but like walking into a smokey room. it would come randomly and go away within 30 seconds. i woke up the next morning feeling somewhat better, but still getting the random foggy vision. this was all over christmas break from schoo. i was home.
i also have a "emergency" chiropractor up at my college. when i got back up there a few days later i had the "weird" feelings in my head again. i went to the chiro and was completely fine. it was my atlas again. i continued to work out as normal...running, lifting, playing soccer, but three weeks later i was doing sit-ups and felt a very bad pull in my neck, i figured i just strained it. however about an hour later i got a terrible migraine (which i sometimes get.....mother gets them). so i slept it off. i had a hockey game later that nite and felt okay. but randomly i would get this dizzy feeling like i was going to pass out.
ever since that nite i have had tons of random symptoms......dizziness, sharp pains in head, headaches, muscle twitches in head (feels like something crawling in my head), neck and shoulder pain and tightness, tingling in head and ear. weakness in arms. and numbness in left calf. these all come randomly and don't stay very long....but happen daily.
i've had a cervical spine MRI and and EKG or EMG...i forget...the nerve test. everything came out fine, but it still doesn't take my symptoms away. i get headaches when i try to workout so i haven't done much in the past four months. i still see the chiropractor.....usually once a week and my atlas just keeps sliding around. i also have very bad TMJ and clench my teeth in my sleep very badly......
anyways...novel aside i don't know what this is. its really putting my life on hold seeing as i'm a collegiate athlete. i need to figure this out. what could it be. any ideas?