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Avatar universal

What do you think?

I have been experiencing muscle twitching, mostly in my calf muscles, which started 8-9 months ago.  I have random twitches in my thighs, arms, but only a few a day.  The calf muscles are more constant, the worst being when I wake in the morning and stretch my legs in bed, then the "bag of worms" type of twitching starts in both calves. If I point my toes, the calf muscle will start to cramp, but stops if I stretch the calf.  The calf twitching stops when I get up and walk around.  It continues to occur, but not so intensely, when I am at rest during the day, but disappears with movement.
I am 60 years old, female, and an avid tennis player, gardener, power walker.  I have had no weakness or atrophy of any of my muscles, no difficulty speaking, swallowing, or difficulty with coordination, tripping, falling, etc. My tennis game has not been affected.   I think the intensity of the calf muscle twitching in the morning has gotten worse, but so has my anxiety about it.  I have been to a neurologist, had a neg MRI of the C-spine, Thoracic spine.  I was noted to have brisk knee reflexes on exam (equal) but I think I have always had those, but who pays attention to something like that?  I am worried about ALS because I know twitching can be a symptom and I am in the right age group.  Does anyone else have this strange twitching, worse when awaking in the morning?  I can cope with it as just a Major annoyance that does not allow me to get back to sleep in the morning, but have this underlying fear that it is early ALS.  Can anyone help or reassure me?
Thanks!
Jul
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Avatar universal
Emerson, Thanks for the tip.  I will start to increase potassium in my diet and see if that helps!
Jul
Helpful - 0
1337646 tn?1276038000
I had something like this last year.  It was annoying and scary and happened most when I would lie down.  I think it was due to low potassium and/or magnesium.  On the advice of several people, I started eating a banana a day and other foods rich in these minerals (did NOT take supplements) and it went away.  Good luck!
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your response; it is reassuring.  I don't have any weakness or atrophy of the calf or any other muscles.  It is an annoying condition but guess I will just have to live with it.
Thank you.
Helpful - 0
1093617 tn?1279302002
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi, Thank you for your question. This muscle twitching appears when the muscle contracts on its own (without nerve stimulation).  Most of the times these symptoms occur without any underlying disorder & they are not harmful or may appear after anxiety, viral illness or long-term illness. However, sometimes this muscle twitching appears as atrophy and weakness of muscle as well. Most likely cause of this twitching with weakness/atrophy of muscle can be when the nerve supplying to hand/eye muscles is not functioning properly due to any neurological disorder. If you suffer continuous weakness and notice reduced strength of muscle bulk in areas, please arrange an appointment with a neurologist right away who will evaluate the possibilities here. Hope this information proves helpful to you. Take Care & Regards!!!
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