als/fascics/atrophy

    
      Re: als/fascics/atrophy
    


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum ] [ FAQ ]



Posted by CCF MD mdf on March 10, 1998 at 12:56:23:

In Reply to: als/fascics/atrophy posted by Jeeny Markman on March 06, 1998 at 16:25:56:

: Hi, I have been having muscle twitching now for over two years.  Through my reading and research, I have found that als has such symptoms,usually accompanied by weakness and atrophy.  I do not show any signs of weakness, but do not know what to look for with regard to atrophy.  How does it look?  Does this constant daily muscle twitching sound like als? And please tell me what to look for if I were to have atrophy
=
Fasciculations are spontaneous twitches of a small subset of muscle fibers within a muscle, usually when the rest of the muscle is not contracting. The contractions are unsynchronized and are typically painless. This is not the same as a muscle cramp or spasm.
There are several situations in which a muscle may fasciculate. If a nerve to the muscle is damaged, the central nervous system control over contraction is disconnected so muscle fibers sort of go on their own. This "denervation" phenomenon can be seen with injury to specific nerves or in a more widespread condition such as ALS.
However, fasciculations do not always mean something is wrong. There is a condition called benign fasciculations. In that situation, there is no damage to nerves or muscle and no progression of symptoms.
Without a neurologic exam, it is not possible to say what your muscle twitches represent. Since you have had these for two years without weakness, that tends to be a good sign. Atrophy is shrinkage or wasting away of muscle tissue. If your limbs are losing muscle bulk, or if you have weakness in one or more limbs, or if you experience difficulty with your speech or swallowing, it is important to be evaluated.