Aa
neurological issues
2-14-07 I had a headache and stiff neck. A week later I started having muscle twitching all over my body.A week later my tongue started twitching. Now I am having twitching and tongue biting and drooling. It first started on one side,now it is on both sides. No trouble swallowing.I received numerous tick bites over a 5 month period a year ago. I tried for a year to have a lyme disease test done. I finally had one on Thur but have not received the results yet.I have no extremity weakness.I am worried about ALS but cannot see a neurologist for 2 months.What will the neurologist test for?
Well I was just trying to help, today I am not the happiest bunny in the world considering that it has just been confirmed that I have muscular atrophy in my left hand. My orthopedic surgeon told me that you can expect about 10% difference in strenght between your dominant side and your non dominant, but anything more than that is not good news, and whatever it is that has done this to me, ALS or common or garden neuropathy it is never going to get any better.
As for pain, I have plenty of it.
Oh and the hand that is atrophied does not twitch!
As for pain, I have plenty of it.
Oh and the hand that is atrophied does not twitch!
Ok i see capital h has not done his/her homework on ALS, so please let me help both of ypu with your very important questions on this subject that we all wish we knew the anwers too.
For one yes there is a possible cure if not a drug that has been around for a while now, and that drug is called naltrexone!
LOWDOSENALTREXONE.ORG here you go connie, just for you.lots of info.
Second miss capital h, there is PAIN with als, its just most people have mild forms of it, the ones that do have severe pain, are quite frankly going through hell because of it.
Also it goes unreported a lot, because most patients dont want to bring it up because they fear the entire subject and also there are to many people like CAPITAL H, who choose not to do their research on the whole subject of PAIN&ALS.
Please people lets stop the nonsense when it comes to pain, it is getting old now, you people think pain has no connection to this at all....and your wrong!
For now on the first question we should start asking is are you in any pain today, and how bad, and the ask all the other questions after they have been made comfortable.
Too many times we rush to judgments without getting down eye level to eye level and asking these really important questions.
Because most patients who are suffering do not want to complain any further about their illness because they feel the care givers are doing enough as it is, and they do not want to burden them any more than they have to! now do you understand why we do not think there is no pain with this illness.
So the question has been answered, YES THERE IS PAIN WITH ALS. and sometimes there is a lot!
Now to CONNIE, im sorry for making you wait, but i had to clear that up so i can spend some quality time on this possible new cure, maybe, from what i heard is that this drug stops progression in MS patients completelty, yes completely!
Now if i was just hearing this for the fisrt time, i would say no way, get out of hear, but think about it for one moment, who's been keeping this secret?..mmmmm ,,,i wonder? DRUG COMPANIES?
But why would they do that?
Because they do not have a us patent on this drug anymore since the drug was FDA approved back in 1984, so theirfor they would rather see it disapear.period.
By the way if you go to the MDA website and look up NALTREXONE nothing pops up in their site about it, thats how new this new discovery is, unless they choose not to look in to the research about this new off label use.
Away connie i hope you to do your research on this new possible cure for als and from what i have learned i kwnow once word gets out, people are going to question our healthcare system, and demand that this drug gets the national attention it needs so every one who is suffering from ALS gets to choose life instead of a feeding tube PERIOD!
O, CONNIE by the way, i am currently taking ms-cotin and have been for three years now.
The reason i am telling you this is that the narcotic, and thats the only drug i take is because, i a had a minor back injury three years ago, due to a weak back. Infact my left leg became weak about 6-8 months before my back did, leading me to believe that this was all connected somehow, anyway my point being, is that i was just officallaly diagnoise with late stage ALS this july.
I never once got on the internet and started freaking out about this ALS thing untill last year when my breathing mucsles began to weakin a lot and also ended up with a respratory infection due to inhaling small food chunks.
AND BY THE WAY EVERYONE, yes i have als but i got through the shock part of it quickly and started living life again.
My doctors and i now believe that i have had this ALS for at least FIVE years now and that considering the fact that i can still walk eat and talk allmost normally is due to the narcotics that have been keeping my nerve conections strong and therefor keeping my mucsle sthrenghth up aswell.
Now when i stop taking my medication thats when all the symtoms come back and it hard for me to get out of bed.
The real big symtom that i notice first 3-4 years ago was the extreme fatigue that came first, as far as the rest of symtoms they just started about 2 years ago, so all you people out there who are worried, dont! becuase it takes a lot of these symptoms to make up ALS.
The best thing for you to do if you cant get off your mind is go speak with a phycoligist firts, that would be the first place i would go not the doctors office.
WHY? becuase 9 out 10 your symtoms are going to be stress related.
Thank connie and thank you karin. and good luck to the rest of you, getting over your anxiety issues.
ONE LAST TIP: relax.... your here to experiance life, not worry about it!
spelling?who cares!!!!!they dont.
And most of all to you care givers ...THANKYOU SO MUCH, THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE WHO DONT STOP CARING. NO MATTER HOW TIRED THEY ARE.
For one yes there is a possible cure if not a drug that has been around for a while now, and that drug is called naltrexone!
LOWDOSENALTREXONE.ORG here you go connie, just for you.lots of info.
Second miss capital h, there is PAIN with als, its just most people have mild forms of it, the ones that do have severe pain, are quite frankly going through hell because of it.
Also it goes unreported a lot, because most patients dont want to bring it up because they fear the entire subject and also there are to many people like CAPITAL H, who choose not to do their research on the whole subject of PAIN&ALS.
Please people lets stop the nonsense when it comes to pain, it is getting old now, you people think pain has no connection to this at all....and your wrong!
For now on the first question we should start asking is are you in any pain today, and how bad, and the ask all the other questions after they have been made comfortable.
Too many times we rush to judgments without getting down eye level to eye level and asking these really important questions.
Because most patients who are suffering do not want to complain any further about their illness because they feel the care givers are doing enough as it is, and they do not want to burden them any more than they have to! now do you understand why we do not think there is no pain with this illness.
So the question has been answered, YES THERE IS PAIN WITH ALS. and sometimes there is a lot!
Now to CONNIE, im sorry for making you wait, but i had to clear that up so i can spend some quality time on this possible new cure, maybe, from what i heard is that this drug stops progression in MS patients completelty, yes completely!
Now if i was just hearing this for the fisrt time, i would say no way, get out of hear, but think about it for one moment, who's been keeping this secret?..mmmmm ,,,i wonder? DRUG COMPANIES?
But why would they do that?
Because they do not have a us patent on this drug anymore since the drug was FDA approved back in 1984, so theirfor they would rather see it disapear.period.
By the way if you go to the MDA website and look up NALTREXONE nothing pops up in their site about it, thats how new this new discovery is, unless they choose not to look in to the research about this new off label use.
Away connie i hope you to do your research on this new possible cure for als and from what i have learned i kwnow once word gets out, people are going to question our healthcare system, and demand that this drug gets the national attention it needs so every one who is suffering from ALS gets to choose life instead of a feeding tube PERIOD!
O, CONNIE by the way, i am currently taking ms-cotin and have been for three years now.
The reason i am telling you this is that the narcotic, and thats the only drug i take is because, i a had a minor back injury three years ago, due to a weak back. Infact my left leg became weak about 6-8 months before my back did, leading me to believe that this was all connected somehow, anyway my point being, is that i was just officallaly diagnoise with late stage ALS this july.
I never once got on the internet and started freaking out about this ALS thing untill last year when my breathing mucsles began to weakin a lot and also ended up with a respratory infection due to inhaling small food chunks.
AND BY THE WAY EVERYONE, yes i have als but i got through the shock part of it quickly and started living life again.
My doctors and i now believe that i have had this ALS for at least FIVE years now and that considering the fact that i can still walk eat and talk allmost normally is due to the narcotics that have been keeping my nerve conections strong and therefor keeping my mucsle sthrenghth up aswell.
Now when i stop taking my medication thats when all the symtoms come back and it hard for me to get out of bed.
The real big symtom that i notice first 3-4 years ago was the extreme fatigue that came first, as far as the rest of symtoms they just started about 2 years ago, so all you people out there who are worried, dont! becuase it takes a lot of these symptoms to make up ALS.
The best thing for you to do if you cant get off your mind is go speak with a phycoligist firts, that would be the first place i would go not the doctors office.
WHY? becuase 9 out 10 your symtoms are going to be stress related.
Thank connie and thank you karin. and good luck to the rest of you, getting over your anxiety issues.
ONE LAST TIP: relax.... your here to experiance life, not worry about it!
spelling?who cares!!!!!they dont.
And most of all to you care givers ...THANKYOU SO MUCH, THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE WHO DONT STOP CARING. NO MATTER HOW TIRED THEY ARE.
All this is freaking me out. I have had body twitching for the past 4 yrs its been getting worse. I have never seen a dr. To scared to find out if its ALS. Should i be concerned I just turned 30.
I was recently diagnosed with Perhiperal Neuropathy and BFS by my Neuro.
The thing is, my brother had the same dx for seven years. Two years ago he was dx with ALS. Its horroble. I am seeing a new Doc. nesx week that studies underlying Neurpmuscular disorders. Good luck to you! I hope it is BFS.
With BFS the twitches could happen anywhere in your body. Thats a good sign.
Get him to do EMG and NVC test.
The thing is, my brother had the same dx for seven years. Two years ago he was dx with ALS. Its horroble. I am seeing a new Doc. nesx week that studies underlying Neurpmuscular disorders. Good luck to you! I hope it is BFS.
With BFS the twitches could happen anywhere in your body. Thats a good sign.
Get him to do EMG and NVC test.
Did you experience these same symptoms - thanks for helping. I am seeing a Rheumatologist tomm.
Please Karin do not be concerned about ALS, if you have it there is nothing you can do about it, and if you have BFS which is far more likely there is not a lot you can do about that either.
It is very easy to see atrophy where it is not there when you are worried, our bodies are not symetrical, but a neurologist would not be able to mistake true atrophy or weakness.
You need to see a neurologist to reassure yourself
I have been there myself with the worry and come out the other side.
Pain is not a symptom of ALS
It is very easy to see atrophy where it is not there when you are worried, our bodies are not symetrical, but a neurologist would not be able to mistake true atrophy or weakness.
You need to see a neurologist to reassure yourself
I have been there myself with the worry and come out the other side.
Pain is not a symptom of ALS
I am a 40 year old female, and started having muscle twitching, mostly in my legs, but have experienced it all over my body. I recently noticed that it looks like my muscles in my left thigh are getting a lot smaller. I just thought it was from not exercising and getting older. I have pain in my upper arms, like a burning sensation, that comes and goes.
I went to the doctor and have had two muscle tests done by blood, not sure what they were. The Dr. called me yesterday and wants me to come in and do another test, that both tests have come back a little high (not sure what that means either).
I am very scared that I have ALS. Has anyone ever experienced this with BFS? I am hoping that is what I have.
I went to the doctor and have had two muscle tests done by blood, not sure what they were. The Dr. called me yesterday and wants me to come in and do another test, that both tests have come back a little high (not sure what that means either).
I am very scared that I have ALS. Has anyone ever experienced this with BFS? I am hoping that is what I have.
Connie,
There are not many treatments for ALS. You can try antioxidants (vitamins) and there is one approved drug, but it's not very effective.
Sorry, we cannot help further.
There are not many treatments for ALS. You can try antioxidants (vitamins) and there is one approved drug, but it's not very effective.
Sorry, we cannot help further.
Hi Dr. Choi,
My uncle is suffering from serious Motor Neuron Disease in New Zealand and was told that there is no cure.
He is unable to move, talk, or eat for over 6 months. I am desparate in looking for information that can give us hope in healing him. Would you be able to point me to the right direction?
Are there any treatments available to cure this? Thank you very much.
Connie
My uncle is suffering from serious Motor Neuron Disease in New Zealand and was told that there is no cure.
He is unable to move, talk, or eat for over 6 months. I am desparate in looking for information that can give us hope in healing him. Would you be able to point me to the right direction?
Are there any treatments available to cure this? Thank you very much.
Connie
I am a 38 year old, fairly active male. While I have never been officially diagnosed with scoliosis, my body is definately asymetric--one should is higher than the other, etc. The bad part is that when I adjust my body in the mirror it seems as if I am having to lift my right shoulder to my ear to straighten-out my back. What I mean here is that my lat muscle becomes straighter, etc. In short, it seems like my back is getting more twisted--which worries me.
This, however, is not my greatest concern. My neck has always been fairly thin and shoulders (trapezius--neck to shoulder group) has been mostly non-exisitent--perhaps due to my poor posture. Anyway, since last year, my neck has become progessively weaker and stiff. It also seems that the muscles have become atrophied--ligaments have become more pronounced. In addition to the weakness, it feels like it needs to be popped/cracked. I do this fairly often when it stiffens-up.
Finally, on occasion, I have some muscle twitching. I have been in a few minor car wrecks, too. Should I be concerned about ALS?
This, however, is not my greatest concern. My neck has always been fairly thin and shoulders (trapezius--neck to shoulder group) has been mostly non-exisitent--perhaps due to my poor posture. Anyway, since last year, my neck has become progessively weaker and stiff. It also seems that the muscles have become atrophied--ligaments have become more pronounced. In addition to the weakness, it feels like it needs to be popped/cracked. I do this fairly often when it stiffens-up.
Finally, on occasion, I have some muscle twitching. I have been in a few minor car wrecks, too. Should I be concerned about ALS?
I'm sorry for your headache, stiff neck, tongue & whole body muscle twitching.
Please be advised that answers are given as general health information, not intended guide your specific treatment. MedHelp physicians can comment on treatment options in general, not specific to your case, so it helps to ask the quesion in such a way: 'If someone had headache, stiff neck, tongue & whole body muscle twitching for 2 months... what could this represent and what can they expect from a neurologist's care?'
This forum is not intended to give advice for diagnosis or treatment of your symptoms. It's intended for general information not specific to a single patient. Please see your doctor for your concerns about your pain and twitching. There's a lot more that can be done to look into your symptoms.
When patients complain to me of headache, stiff neck, tongue & whole body muscle twitching, ALS is not the first disease that comes to mind. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a combination of upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron degeneration. The upper motor neuron degeneration leads to weakness, overresponsive reflexes, and spasticity. The lower motor neuron degeneration leads to weakness, twitching, and shrinkage of muscles. Other than the twitching, you haven't described any of these other symptoms. Yes, it's posisble, but you need to be examined for the other signs.
Please see your regular doctor, and ask for the neurology visit to be bumped up if you're getting worse.
Enoch Choi, MD
Please be advised that answers are given as general health information, not intended guide your specific treatment. MedHelp physicians can comment on treatment options in general, not specific to your case, so it helps to ask the quesion in such a way: 'If someone had headache, stiff neck, tongue & whole body muscle twitching for 2 months... what could this represent and what can they expect from a neurologist's care?'
This forum is not intended to give advice for diagnosis or treatment of your symptoms. It's intended for general information not specific to a single patient. Please see your doctor for your concerns about your pain and twitching. There's a lot more that can be done to look into your symptoms.
When patients complain to me of headache, stiff neck, tongue & whole body muscle twitching, ALS is not the first disease that comes to mind. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a combination of upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron degeneration. The upper motor neuron degeneration leads to weakness, overresponsive reflexes, and spasticity. The lower motor neuron degeneration leads to weakness, twitching, and shrinkage of muscles. Other than the twitching, you haven't described any of these other symptoms. Yes, it's posisble, but you need to be examined for the other signs.
Please see your regular doctor, and ask for the neurology visit to be bumped up if you're getting worse.
Enoch Choi, MD
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