symptoms of ALS?

Posted by Kelli  on May 08, 1999 at 10:17:23
I have been having muscle twitches since Jan.1999.  In this time I have had muscle pain in my arm (at the elbow) and in my thigh (3 inches above knee)  The muscle twitching has been prett much everywhere.  Recently I have had pain in my palm at the base of my thumb( the meaty section under you thumb, palm side) and pain in my arm at the shoulder, where the arm meets the body.  The pain is hard to describe it's like the muscle in my upper arm is tight, like a string is pulling it, perhaps something like a pulled muscle. The pain in my palm near the base of my thumb is just pain and it does hurt all the time.
I have also had what can best be described as vibrations in my arm.  I can actually feel this when I touch my arm with my other hand.  These vibrations I supppose could be VERY rapid muscle twitches, but it seems more like the feeling you have when you put your hand on a running car.  This sensation has only occured for a short time and only when I am laying down at night.
I have also had a feeling like bubbles from an coming to the surface of pop in my calves and once in my foot, which caused my toe to quiver.
I have had blood test and an MRI nothing has shown up yet.  Doctor says it's stress.I should mention that I am 30 year old female. I do not feel I have any weakness.  I can walk on my toes and heel toes walk. Most of these symptoms are on my left side though the twitch occurs every where.
My question is Are these symptoms of ALS?  What should I be doing next?
Thank you.

Posted by CCF MD mdf on May 08, 1999 at 11:17:48
The twitching is, from your description, probably fasciculations. Fascics can indicate nerve damage. Of course, many people think ALS when they see fasciculations, but more commonly there is a different cause. In young people such as yourself, the most likely cause is