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twiching

thanks for providing this wonderful service. It is a great help to lay people like us.
Well my problem mignt not be a problem at all. I experience this strange twiching of muscles. It is not frequent, it is infrequent actually. Sometimes they don't happen for monthes, sometimes they happen almost every day. Any part of the body can twich e.g. the eyelids, the fingers or the calf muscles. Is it a sign of something more serious? Do I need to get a EMG done? Is there any chance it might lead to anything more serious like ALS?
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A related discussion, muscle twitching can it be ALS was started.
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Dear doctor,
As I said in my last message I visited my neurologist again as my symptoms seem to be getting worse and he explained that my last EMG showed a slowed nerve response from my ulnar nerve which could explain the strange tingly feelings in my hand. Everything else was 'normal'. I still feel really achy and have these strange twitches and tremors all through my body. It's almost as if there is something moving around my body. I also feel very tired most of the time. I can't remember the last time I felt really stil. My eyes keep twitching and my legs, arms, hands and back ache most of the time. I suppose what I really want to know is if its possible I could have some terrible nerve disease that is slowly getting worse. I know it's virtually impossible to tell without an examination, but I would really appreciate your comments.
Thank you very much,
Jennie
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Avatar universal
Dear Craig:

Without muscle weakness, twitching is usually not medically worrisome.  However, without examing you I can't tell for sure.  Most of the time we do not know what causes twitching without muscle weakness or sensory changes.  They are usually time limited and cause no significant harm.  I would stay away from smoking as it is one thing known to cause earlier death.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
Im a 22 yr old male, always been in great health and lately i've been experiencing a near constant twitch in my left leg, on the inside thigh.  Its been going on for three weeks straight and it's racking my nerves.  My question is: if I eat healthy, workout and haven't had any major illnesses ever, then what could be the cause?  I did however go on vacation shortly before the twitching began and smoked for the first time (about two packs) and drank a lot of alcohol.  However it's been 2 weeks since my last drink.  I stopped caffeine and junk food but the twitches continue.  Are Magnesium supplements useful?  I feel fine otherwise but again, the twitch is almost constant day/night yet I feel fine otherwise.  Thanks.
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Avatar universal
I have been experiencing mild twiching (legs and/or arms) for the past two weeks.  I became worried and decided to go to a neurology site to see whether it contained any "twiching" information.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH!  Not only did you have informative inforation on twiching, but additional sever symptoms which one should be alert for.  I LOVE YOUR WEB SITE!  I neglected to mention that I'm on Tylenol #3 for a sever hip problem and after reading your info I will cut back on the dosages I take.  

I'm a hip replacement waiting to happen, that is, 20 years from now!  My Orthopedic doctors are amazed.  They recently told me on a scale of one to ten my hip severity is an eight!

Life goes on!

Smile
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Avatar universal
Thank you very much for your reply, I did have some blood tests but my neurologist didn't explain what they were for. I'm going to see him again next week as the aching is becoming worse. Is t inormal to ache and tingle with this sort of condition? Thank you for your time, I really appreciate it and hope you know what a difference this service makes. I will let you know the result of my visit.
Best wishes,
Jennie
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Avatar universal
Dear jennie:

I am sorry to hear about your twitching.  With a normal EMG and labs (they were normal weren't they, such as vitamin B12, CBC, etc?) the most likely etiology of your twitches is something called benign fasciculations.  We are not sure what causes them, but they are real muscle twitches.  They will go away on their own and for the most part are not treatable with medicaitons.  Some people find partial relief with benzodiazepines.  They are worst with fatigue, anxiety etc.  There is not much to do, but try to live life through them.

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
I wonder if you could help me. For seven years I have experienced visibletwitching and tingling in every part of my body. It started in my hands and feet and despite having two EMGs, which were normal, it continues. My hands now feel really strange and I tingle when walking any distance but the worst symptom is a terrible 'nervy aching' pain. My muscles, especially around my neck and lower back often feel very tense and my ring fingers visibly move from side to side. My left foot often feels very weak. I hate to keep bothering my neurologist, who prescribed Tegeratol which made me feel lousy, but I really can't go on like this. Thank you for your time.
Jennie
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Avatar universal
My 68 yo father has constant twitching, even while sleeping.  It affects his entire body, eyes to feet.  He has now lost over 40 lbs.  He has numbness in his lower arms and hands, and now is unable to button shirts or cut his food.  He has constant pain in his neck and upper back.  He also has hypothyroidism, but takes synthroid. He has seen his MD, an orthopedic surgeon and a neurologist.  All tests have come back normal and we still have no answers.  Meanwhile, he is deteriorating rapidly.  Any advice on where to turn next?
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Dear D. Mortimer:

Most of the time, eye lid spasm is not worrisome in that you have something bad happening to you.  There are a variety of reasons it can happen.  I would suggest that you talk to a pediatric neurologist.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
I am 16 years old. Quite active. Healthy. But for about the last 3 and a half weeks my left eye has been twiching(or what is more like pulsating). This has happened to me before, but never this bad and never for this long.  Is there something I am not doing or is there any thing I can do to help this?

Thanks!
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Dear Scott:

Sorry to hear about your troubles.  What you describe is common with using the cocktails that have an effect with the peripheral nerve or muscle.  They can inhibit mitochondrial function, which alot of neurologist are thinking is the etiology.  There are several trials with various medications.  I would talk to your infectious disease physician or neurologist.  Some are using lamictal, some lipoic acid, are the trials that I am familiar with.  We are beginning to see if carnitine may be beneficial.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
I have been diagnosed as beeing HIV posative, I have been using a cocktaile treatment for about a year now. Receantly I have started to notice I have an uncontrollable twitch, it can be any part of my body, legs, arms , hands, head, any where.Is this something I should be concerned with, could it be from the medications?
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Avatar universal
Dear Cari:

I am sorry but without seeing the MRI, it is not possible for me to comment.  The idea of another opinion is a good one.  An actual retethering is a possibility if fibrosis adhesions occur.  This usually does not happen, but it is a possibility.  Usually, the badder problems are persistent with or without surgery, but not always.  A lot depends on your condition before the operation.  If you developed adhesion, the pain may be a product of this, and the third opinion will help answer this.  Make sure that you take all the work-up thus far to the office visit.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
Can someone please help me or point me in the right direction?

I am trying to get info about tethered spinal cords and the chances of them retethering after i have stopped growing.
Had surgery to untether about 1 1/2 years ago, was told it would not retether because i am not growing anymore. I am 22 years old.  NO pain following surgery, but 3 months later, back pain and the  bladder problems returned. It's been 10 months and the pain does not go away. I also have twitches in my leg muscles and feet. Plese help me...
Have seen several doctors, and none know what's causing this. I've tried PT, had bone scans, steroid injections, MRI's (which one doc said it's not retethered, but even he wasn't too sure, and the other said "why did the first doc think it wasn't retethered?" and said he wasnt' sure but the other doc probably wa right). I am trying to get my insurance to approve getting another opinion from a neurosurgeon, but that takes forever. Also, I have seen a physiatrist, orthopedic specialist who didn't know. Sorry this is long. I am so frustrated and can't take it anymore. Please help.

Cari
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Avatar universal
your welcome, and let us know how it turns out.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
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thankyou very much Doc, Ive already made an appointment.
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Avatar universal
Dear Shelley:

I would see your local neurologist and family physician and get a full physical.  Certainly low B12 can cause neurological problems as well as high sugar.  I would first go to your physcial and get a workup and physical.  There are many, many problems that can give a person muscle fasciculations.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
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I also forgot to mention that I had an EKG and Thyroid test done recently and both were completely normal. EKG(heart rate was slightly high but T waves were normal).
thanks
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Dear Doctor:
HELP!
Im a 23 year old woman whos relatively healthy, I rollerblade, bike ride and run. All of a sudden my right eyelid started to twitch and I felt a slight but not bothersome headache eminating around that right eye, eventually the headache along with the eye twitches went away. But a week later my whole body started to twtich at different places, legs, arms, stomach, feet. Now the slight headache is back but Im not sure if its stress, (I have a 8 month old) or the eye problem again.
I also have allergies,chronic sinusitis, asthma and low iron or Vitamin B(which I havent gotten help for yet).And Im skinny.  Its been a long time since Ive been to the doctor, and the last time I went I was told I have a high sugar lever and low iron.(about 6 months ago) I asked the doctors if it would be beneficial for me to take a Vit. B supplement and cut down on sugar more but the doctor said it was nothing to worry about.

Im very worried and cry very often out of frustration and wondering whats wrong with me now. Please help me. Could my symptoms be related to having Vit. B difficiency, high sugar, or asthma? should I have blood work done and analyzed for these things? My gut feeling is telling me its what Im taking into my body thats causing these symptoms. (sugar or lack of VitB)So Ive made an appointment with a Internist/Pulmonolgist to figure out whats wrong. I came here because nerves are related to twitching.
Please respond!!:) I thankyou very much in advance for answering.
Shelly



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lon
I have a question for the forum. For approx. 8 years (since a car wreck where I hit the windshield) I have had recurring neck pain that a trip to the chiropractor could fix. The past 2 weeks the chiropractor cannot fix it and the pain in my neck and shoulder is accompanied by muscle twiching in my left shoulder arm and chest.  Thanks
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Avatar universal
Dear Lon:

As you can guess, I cannot tell you much without examining you.  The traumatic history and the subsequent ease of remitting the pain would indicate that the pain was likely due to something minor.  What did the MRI of the spine show?  The inability to "fix" the pain could be from many reasons.  I would see what your chiropractor says and what he/she recommends.  If there is no explanation, then I would see a neurologist.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
Dear Robert:

Without muscle weakness, you do not have ALS.  Just for your information we have diagnosed ALS in very young patients.  My latest was 19.  Sorry you have benign fasciculations.  Now you will have to become a neurologist and figure out how to treat this disorder.  We do know that fatigue and stress make this worse.  The duration can be from days to weeks to months and even years.  I hope your's is short.

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
About the Fasciculations.

I'm a 2nd year MD student, and I really do suffer from intermittant fasciculations anywhere in the body !!
however, these are not associated with any weakness or wasting, however I'm quite concerned.

They were always present....but after testing positive for Epstein Barr virus (Infectious Mononucleiosis) They seem to have increased substanially.

All my teachers (obviously doctors) say I'm suffering from stress
and fatigue......they are probably right, after all I'm only 20...but as we all know age does not protect anyone from any disease, I've heard of 24 year olds with ALS !


Regards
robert
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