muscle twitches,percieved weakness als?

[jmomtotc]

hello, I am a 30 yr old female.  For about 5 weeks I have been having strange symptoms. Started with right hand having trouble picking up pens and things.  Then hand and arm started to feel weak and clumsy.  Afer that I started to get twitches in almost every part of my body mostly in my legs but also feet, hands,arms,back, stomach,ribs, face.  My leg muscles and arm muscles have started to get crampy like feelings that only last for a few minutes.  A few weeks ago my legs felt so heavy I was having trouble moving them but that seems to have gotten better but they still feel weak.  The last few nights I have been waking up with a stiff jaw and lips feel loose and hard to control.  A little better in morning but still feels strange.  I have had some bloodwork done that included thyroid and b12 among other things but all came back normal.  Have appointment with neurologist in 2 weeks.  Also had neck xray that showed neck muscles are spasming (spine in neck showed straight not curved) My questions are 1. Could als happen this fast? 2. If not Als then what else could this be? 3. Although I have called for earlier neuro appt and told not possible should I insist? 4. Could neck injury cause these symptoms?  I should also mention I have felt like I can't breathe a few times(anxiety?) and I also get pains in my fingers lasting a few seconds.  I think when doc checked reflexes were normal. One more question 5. What kinds of questions should I ask neurologist.  I am a young mother of two and terrified I have this disease.  Your comments would be appreciated.  THanks

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

1) ALS is a rare disease, and even rarer in a 30 year old female, ALS most commonly affects middle age men. The chances are that this is something other than ALS. This would also be quite rapid for ALS.

2) Muscle tiwtches in the absence of objective muscle weakness and wasting are not suggestive of ALS. Twitches that are more widespread when they appear are also not suggestive of ALS. There are other more common causes of muscle twitches of fasciculations such as an overactive thyroid gland, a normal reaction to cold or exercise, certain medication, a pinched nerve, or some spinal cord problems. There is also a benign syndrome of fasciculations with or without cramps.

3) If you are seeing the neurologist within 1-2 weeks that shoud be fine. In some places people have to wait months for a neurologist (outside the US)

4) As above pinched nerves in the neck could cause some twitches in the limbs, and also weakness or clumsines in a limb or heavy 'spastic legs'. You should have this evaluated most probably with an MRI or somatosensory evoked potentials.

5) Just tell the neurologist all your symptoms, and history - he shoudl be able to narrow down the possibilities to a few that he can then order tests for such as MRI. This is not a formal medical opinion, but the chances of you having ALS are extremely slim and I would try to adjust your anxiety accordingly

Good luck

[jmomtotc]

Hi, I'd be glad to answer your questions-first of all I live in Kamloops, BC Canada, Not really noticed anything for last few years other than being a bit tired but I have two small children which could account for that.  I haven't had any strange rashes and my neck has actually bothered me for the last 6 months or so and we thought I hurt it on a roller coaster about 2 months ago doctor said it was tender but no evidence of serious injury.  My face is absolutely bothering me especially in the last few days.  I have woken up at night with jaw pain and a few days ago it felt like the muscle in my cheek was tight.  I am now experiencing a strange feeling in my chin, and upper and lower lip that is hard to explain.  Kind of numb but not to touch and kind of hard to move although I seem to be able to make it move.  I do love diet coke and have about 1 a day.  I hope this information is useful to you and let me know if you have any more questions.  I am looking for all the information I can get as it seems impossible to talk to a doctor right now and I am really getting stressed.

[jmomtotc]

also forgot to add-I am 30yrs old I am outdoors quite a bit with my children, I have joint pain especially in my hips and knees at night as well as my shoulders.

[abcsoup]

Wow, it's as if I could have written that post myself!  Since January I have experienced bilateral upper arm/shoulder pain, tingling, tingling all over the body, body-wide muscle twitches, spasms in my forearms that will move my fingers, muscle fatigue in my arms, and the worst is the intermittent electrical buzzing and feelings of intense weakness in my arms.  My neuro did a c-spine MRI, and an EMG of my left arm, both of which are normal.  Routine bloodwork is also normal. He has now referred me to Mayo Clinic, which I spoke to yesterday, but they have to write down on your symptoms and then have the neurologist look at it and then they will call you back in 7-10 days with the appointment.  So now I sit here and wait for at least another week.  Last night I woke up my hubby because I thought I was going to have to go to the ER...I literally felt like I was dying. My neuro says since my c-spine MRI was negative and my brain MRI was negative in April 2005, I do not have MS. I am hoping Mayo decides to do one just to make sure.  I too, am very concerned about ALS, even though it's a rare disease.  Oh, my lyme titer came back normal too.  Good luck to you!

[jmomtotc]

If there's anything I understand it's the waiting.  Do you also have anything going on with your face? Mine is very strange feeling, almost like my lower half has to work harder?  
Do you notice any speech problems?  I feel like I have to make an extra effort to make things sound right but I seem to be the only one to notice a difference. The arm, hand and leg weakness is also starting to affect the things I can do with my kids.  It is very frustrating.  I am also getting quite a lot of cramping in my calves.  Good luck also to you and let me know what happens at your appointment.

[who_is_this]

Is there anything in your book, that ISN'T a symptom of Lyme disease?

Just curious.  There's an overwhelming "flavor" in all your posts suggesting that this person or that person needs to look into Lyme disease.

[jmomtotc]

I noticed on another post you mentioned skin blotches/freckles.  I have noticed strange freckle like things on the insides on my arms (where the sun doesn't see) They are very small and there are lot's of them.  It almost looks like they have a root? (hard to explain) Anything like you've noticed.  I also noticed heart skipping beats about a month ago and problems with my ears as well.  When you had the muscle problems and twitches, were they just once in a while or all the time.  Only in your limbs or all over?  Did your muscles ache and feel tired after you used them? Sorry about all the questions but I am really trying to understand what is going on with me and lyme disease sounds better than als.  Thanks

[zguz]

I am 18 years old and I have been experiencing muscle twitching and cramps. The twitches are all over my body (calves, thighs, forearms, lip, eyelid, shoulder) and the cramps are mainly in my legs but sometimes occur in my arms as well.  For the most part the cramps only last a  few seconds or sometimes just a few minutes,but when they do happen they happen for awhile,  and they are very sudden.I'll get a cramp and it'll go away and i'll get a cramp and it'll go away. Today (sunday) was my day off and i didn't really do anything but mow (on a riding lawn mower)but my legs have been cramping. My legs and arms haven't weakend ( I lift weights to check) but at times they feel weak.  I play baseball and I am playing about 6 days a week right now.  What I am getting at is my grandpa was diagnosed wtih ALS about 6 months ago and I was wondering if I should get tested for ALS based on these symptoms.  My family has checked the background of passed family and there is no indication that anyone else has or has had ALS. I understand that it is extremely rare that ALS occurs in someone my age but it's just the thought of my symptoms and that my grandpa has ALS that worries me. I would also like to know if muscle twitches and cramps occur after the loss of muscle tone or before?  Thank you for your time.

[zguz]

my muscle twitches have decreased but im still having them all over my body but now my legs are aching and occasionally my arms and hands will to. any other ideas

[tormod]

There's a lot of muscular problems with twitching , cramping ,weakness,etc . I have Myotonic Dystrophy and there are 3-4 types of this, and these are some of the symptoms of my disease , I've had it "on & off" for 40 years . When I was 12 the Drs said I'd be lucky to see my 18th b/day (I'm now 52). Don't automatically think you have a particular disease , see a Neurologist and get thoroughly checked out , biopsies etc , before you start worrying , Worrying causes stress & sometimes stress can be worse than the disease . Sometimes you may have gradually got the symptoms and not realised until they get to a certain level . So relax , see your Dr. and don't worry unless you find there is something REALLY serious.
    If you find you do have a problem , and have good days & bad days , live the good days to the Maxium (makes up for the rough ones)
    Take Care , hope you get a good report.