twitching

[Donna L.]

I am a 39 yr old female who has been having muscle twitching for about 4 months.  It is in both arches of my feet almost always, both legs and occasonally in my back and eye lid. I have not noticed any weakness at all in the legs or feet, but I do have occasinal cramping in my feet and calves. I had a neuro exam last month with a neurologist and she said I have normal muscle strength and does not think I have ALS.  I have a follow up appt. next week, and I am going to ask for an EMG.  I have also experienced what I think is mild weakness in my arm and hand. (this is an area that never twitches)  I am not sure if it is real weakness or just perceived.  It comes and goes and I can still grip things, open jars, etc.  It just feels kind of weird, and I also get tingling on the side of my palm.  I'm so stessed about the possible ALS, I am not sure if its even there or not.Is there a way I can test the strength myself?
I had mentioned this at the time of my exam but she did not think I had clinical weakness so she wasn't worried about it. I am very worried about these being symptoms of ALS.  This all started after a period of severe stess in my life, and also 2 weeks after the treatment of a sinus infection with antibiotics.  

What exactly is the difference between perceived weakness and real clinical weakness?  I would like to be evaluated by an ALS specialist to know for sure what I am dealing with. How long can one twitch without weakness and feel safe that they don't have ALS?  Also how long does it take to get an appointment with the Cleveland clinic?


Thanks so much

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

Some patients complain of feeling weak, but on testing and in activities of life no weakness is noted. Therefore, the doctor can not prove that a patient is weak. If you do not have clinical weakness it is unlikely that you have ALS. Also, the longer a person goes without weakness, the less likely they are to develop weakness. Depending on your tests and history other disorders should be considered. These include benign fasciculation syndrome, stress, excessive excercise, and  electrolyte abnormalities to name a few. If you wish to see an ALS specialist it is reasonable. We have many outstanding physicians in our section of neuromuscular disorders who could evaluate you. A consultation can be arranged by calling 216-444-5559. Good luck.

[caclark]

Have you had an MRI of your spine? Over a period of time I too had muscle twitching in legs and arms, eventual arm weakness then finally severe neck and back pain. It was a ruptured disc and mucle twitches and weakness was due to nerve damage. Good luck.

[Qhris]

I had a similar experience after having a bladder infection and being on antibiotics. I was also dealing with a lot of stress and then one day I got up from a chair and my knee started hurting.  Then the other knee.  Then it was the legs.  Then it was numbness and tingling and a feeling of pressure around my abdomen.  This was about 4 months ago.  All they could find was that I was EBV positive (Ebstein-Barr). I'm exhausted all the time and my throat is always slightly sore. I'm still getting more testing, but it's been a long road.  Good luck to you.

[tacketr65]

Please look up the AboutBFS.com website. You sound like you might be a candidate for BFS. Between the website & a good DR you'll figure out if it applies.