what are doc's looking for?

[mav01]

Dear Doc,

I've seen two different neuro's, one two years ago and one a week ago.  The first gave me a basic neuro exam and sent me on my way with a benign fasciculation syndrome. The second gave me a basic exam, emg, and lyme blood test.  All came back normal.  He also said probable bfs.  My symptoms have been present a bit more than 2 years.  They include tingling sensation in fingers, legs, and various other parts of body.  Muscle twitching occassionaly during the day that last only a few seconds at a time, this occurs anywhere on my body.  Other symptoms inlcude occassional headache, pressure feeling under right eye, eye twitching, very suttle tremor I've noticed on left thumb that only lasted a couple of days.  This tremor only occurred when I would apply pressure on my thumb (laying it on the edge of a table).  ALso brief and short lasted pains in arms, hands, and head that occur rarely.  These symptoms seem to have no pattern but have been present for two years.  SOme weeks symptoms seem to be more pronounce than others.  For the most part wHen I am physically active I would not even know I have these symptoms.  NO weakness, numb areas, or ON have been observed.  So what do you doc's look for to start thinking onset MS and do you think my neuro's answers seem right?  One other thing is about twitiching.  Does mucslce twitching occur at early, middle, or late stages of MS, or at any time?  Thanks for the response


Mav01

[skipatro]

Stop over at the MGH neurology forums under the neuromuscular web and you will find plenty of other twitchers with the same types of symptoms you are describing.  You will find lots of information and support there!

[JamesT]

Hey, im a twitcher 2!!  Have been suffering for 6 months with unexplained symptoms and often feel like throwing things!!  Have a look at my previous posts in the archives called "woozy, drunk feeling/twitching" and the recent one called "symptoms still here" on 3/27/01
The twitching has come back and know it to be a pain and very scarey, although the neuro's comment about muscle twitches not being part of MS is quite reasuring, plus the fact u experience no weakness!
Hope u find a solution to your problem!:O)

[mav01]

Thanks for the additional comments, and it is good to know that this probably is a benign condition and that other people are going through it.  I look at it in a way where it could be a lot worse and if this is what symptoms I have for the next few years I can live with it.

thanks

[BJP]

Hi,
  As I sit here I too am twitching away..The lip, the eye, the leg, the foot comes and go's in different spots..annoying aggravating and just plain terrible..I get tingles and num and painful tingles in the bottom of my feet too...Paresthesias galore..Sometime my left leg gets weak and my face feels like its melting off..My speech seems strained but its normal, my head will buzz..I do get migraine aura..
Have had Brain MRI several times even recent with diffusion scan..no contrast(allergic and a CT scan all normal..Spine and cervical MRI  Buldge(mild)- at C-5and6 some spinal compression and stenosis at that area and degeneration..doc said not diagnostic..go figure..emg normal  NCV-somewhat diminished..told maybe BFS, maybe Migraine, maybe stress..who knows but your not alone..Take Care

[LS]

HI--WHAT DID YOUR EMG SHOW? DID IT SHOW FASICULATIONS? I TOO HAVE BEEN BATTLING THIS ALMOST A YEAR- I AM A NURSE AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE WITH THIS SYNDROME OTHER THAN ON THE INTERNET. DID YOURS START AFTER AN ILLNESS, OR ANTIBITIC THERAPY- I AM CONVINCED MINE WAS TRIGGERED BY ONE OF THE ABOVE, NOT TO MENTION I HAD A VERY BAD FALL ON MY BACK SHORTLY BEFORE THIS ALL STARTED TOO- CERVICAL SPINE MRI DID SHOW SOME FLATTENING OF MY SPINAL CORD AND BULGING-I THINK IT IS FRUSTRATING.--WHAT ADVICE HAVE YOU BEEN GIVING FROM YOUR NEUROS-I AM INTERESTED IN ANY INFO-MY S/S ARE MOSTLY TWITCHING -JUST WHEN I THINK IT HAS WANED FOR 2 WEEKS, IT COMES BACK FULL BLAST- ALSO VERY VISIBLE FASICS IN MY L INSTEP-HAD 2 OR 3 EMGS THERE, CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER ANYMORE AND ALL SHOW A FASICULATION -THANK GOD AND THAT IS IT.--ANYWAYS, I TOO HAD WIERD TINGLY SENSATIONS AND BUZZING SENSATIONS MOSTLY FOR 4 MONTHS WHEN THIS ALL STARTED-AS IF SOMEONE LET A MATCH TO MY NERVOUS SYSTEM- I AM INTERESTED IN ANYONES INPUT WHO TOO IS SUFFERING FROM THIS-I HAVE READ A MILLION STORIES ON THIS INTERNET RE: BFS, AND IT SEEMS EVERYONE HAS THE SAME STORY- WHEN CAN WE FINALLY STOP WORRYING-LS RN

[CCF Neuro[P]-M.D.-RPS]

Dear Mavo1:

Sorry to hear about your fasciculations.  Muscle fasciculations are usually not a part of MS.  MS is an upper motor neuron disease and this type of central nervous system problem does not give the symptoms of muscle fasciculations.  MS can begin as sensory changes or unco-ordination due to muscle weakness.  There are usually MRI changes and the CSF usually showes immunoglobulin synthesis.  Your symptoms, as stated previous do not sound like MS as they come and go with no distinctive changes on neurological exam, and symptoms not characteristic of MS.  Fasciculations can last for years, although not commonly.

Sincerely,

CCF Neruo MD