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ALS Concern
Hi, Let me give you a little back ground befooure I get to the issue at hand...
I am a 35 year old male who is married with 2 children, I workout several times a week, and have been practicing martial arts for 15 years. I have been suffering from a chronic gnawing nerve pain that migrates throughout my body for about 18 years, but it has never caused weakness, just loads of anxiety. I also suffer from chronic crushing pain in the cervical and upper thoracic spine for longer than I can remember.. and it sometimes results in violent headaches, and causes what I percieve to be Tingling dead patches on my shoulder blades.
Now to the problem at hand. about 10 weeks ago I experienced several days of sever neck pain periods of light headeness I was axious about this so I saw a nerologist, He told me that the dizziness was a combination of anxiety, and Bening positional vertigo, and that the neck pain was muscular in nature..he also told me that he thought I had a fibromyalgia type condition which is what was causing my diffuse pain over the years.
I was happy with those answers.. anyway about 10 days later I began having fasciulations in my left hand causing my index finger to twitch siedways THis lasted about 3 days than I had a spasm of my right trapezius which and than my right hand began twitching as well...Both hands and occasionally a leg would twich regularly for about 2 weeks.. All the while that old diffuse Nerve pain was worxde than ever in the effected limbs, as was my neck and upper back pain.. after aout the first 5 days of twitching i called the neurologist to make another appointment... but found out he would be out of touwn rfor 3 week... I couldn;t wain so I saw another Neurologist.. she didn;t seem alarmed but sent me for a cervical MRI which revealed only a buldging disc in (I think ) She felt like it wasn;t significant enough to ause my symptoms she prescribed me xanax to take incase I got really anxious and told me to come back in 2 weeks. the fasciculations calmed down allot, but the nature changed now the ywould pop up in a part of my body and stay for a a day and than go away only to pop up somewhere else at a different time. The gnawing pain was ever present and worse than ever sometimes working its way up into my right eye.
I went back to the Neurologist, She told me she wants to give me an upper and lower EMG. and that her office would call me when they could schedule it (as they only do this sporadically) it's been 3 weeks,, I've called twice in that time period, but they have nothing avail in the near future.
a couple of days ago I noticed that when I flex my hands hands out the pinky on my left hand twitches side to side, and my right index finger does the same... My muscles feel as if they should be weak.. But when I go to the gym so far there has been no notcable difference. (although my recovery time has been a little loger than ususal)
I have been going to phyiscal therapy.. and noticed that after using a tens machine the pain and twitching usual disappear for around 24 hours. My PT says it is all caused by pinched nerves.. which are being crushed by a muscle imbalance in my back.. (i'm not so sure)
one other thing I noticed is that when I extend my righ hand out and attempt to extend my index finger and pinky while keeping the other fingers curled (like making a Rock and roll symbol) that my pinky can only come up about half way unless I move the ring finger as well ... the left hand does not have this issue.. also as of late there appears to be a dull feelingin my legs when I wal or touch them in the right spot...
I am really axious about this... I can;t seem to keep it under controll (which I;m sure is making the problem much worse.. I also haven't had more than a 3 or 4 hours of sleep at night in weeks.. I know this is not a diagnostic based thread but I'm just looking for some peace of mind..I toccupies allot of my conversation time with my wife, and I havent been racticing martial arts since this whole thing began. So any help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.
I am a 35 year old male who is married with 2 children, I workout several times a week, and have been practicing martial arts for 15 years. I have been suffering from a chronic gnawing nerve pain that migrates throughout my body for about 18 years, but it has never caused weakness, just loads of anxiety. I also suffer from chronic crushing pain in the cervical and upper thoracic spine for longer than I can remember.. and it sometimes results in violent headaches, and causes what I percieve to be Tingling dead patches on my shoulder blades.
Now to the problem at hand. about 10 weeks ago I experienced several days of sever neck pain periods of light headeness I was axious about this so I saw a nerologist, He told me that the dizziness was a combination of anxiety, and Bening positional vertigo, and that the neck pain was muscular in nature..he also told me that he thought I had a fibromyalgia type condition which is what was causing my diffuse pain over the years.
I was happy with those answers.. anyway about 10 days later I began having fasciulations in my left hand causing my index finger to twitch siedways THis lasted about 3 days than I had a spasm of my right trapezius which and than my right hand began twitching as well...Both hands and occasionally a leg would twich regularly for about 2 weeks.. All the while that old diffuse Nerve pain was worxde than ever in the effected limbs, as was my neck and upper back pain.. after aout the first 5 days of twitching i called the neurologist to make another appointment... but found out he would be out of touwn rfor 3 week... I couldn;t wain so I saw another Neurologist.. she didn;t seem alarmed but sent me for a cervical MRI which revealed only a buldging disc in (I think ) She felt like it wasn;t significant enough to ause my symptoms she prescribed me xanax to take incase I got really anxious and told me to come back in 2 weeks. the fasciculations calmed down allot, but the nature changed now the ywould pop up in a part of my body and stay for a a day and than go away only to pop up somewhere else at a different time. The gnawing pain was ever present and worse than ever sometimes working its way up into my right eye.
I went back to the Neurologist, She told me she wants to give me an upper and lower EMG. and that her office would call me when they could schedule it (as they only do this sporadically) it's been 3 weeks,, I've called twice in that time period, but they have nothing avail in the near future.
a couple of days ago I noticed that when I flex my hands hands out the pinky on my left hand twitches side to side, and my right index finger does the same... My muscles feel as if they should be weak.. But when I go to the gym so far there has been no notcable difference. (although my recovery time has been a little loger than ususal)
I have been going to phyiscal therapy.. and noticed that after using a tens machine the pain and twitching usual disappear for around 24 hours. My PT says it is all caused by pinched nerves.. which are being crushed by a muscle imbalance in my back.. (i'm not so sure)
one other thing I noticed is that when I extend my righ hand out and attempt to extend my index finger and pinky while keeping the other fingers curled (like making a Rock and roll symbol) that my pinky can only come up about half way unless I move the ring finger as well ... the left hand does not have this issue.. also as of late there appears to be a dull feelingin my legs when I wal or touch them in the right spot...
I am really axious about this... I can;t seem to keep it under controll (which I;m sure is making the problem much worse.. I also haven't had more than a 3 or 4 hours of sleep at night in weeks.. I know this is not a diagnostic based thread but I'm just looking for some peace of mind..I toccupies allot of my conversation time with my wife, and I havent been racticing martial arts since this whole thing began. So any help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.
Hey dude I had almost all the same symptoms as you earlier this year. I thought for sure it was ALS... Because let me guess you googled finger twitching?? I went to the doctors and was told that it was my anxiety that I have had all my life. And he told me that ALS usually starts in the feet and mouth as in you wouldnt be able to talk as well and you would be tripping over things and have lazy feet then your body starts with the twitching. And it isnt minor it is non stop! He told me that my fingers were because of not sleeping, being nervous, and possible working typeing etc... ALS happens to people in their 50s. However if by some chance in say 20 years you develope it you should watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDhEZe4O7Ck Seems like thier is hope!
Thanks so much.. I've seen a neurologist since my Original Post. and had an emg done.. He did the emg himself (it took about 5 minutes) he said there was no sign of als but said that in addition to Fibro I have Benign Fasciulation disorder.. I am slightly leery of the diagnosis however as I;ve read that an EMG could take 20-30 minutes.
I felt better for a bit, but it has since came back again thistime causing twitches primarily in my hands with tightness and sore sensations in the fore arms.
Thanks again for the advice.
I felt better for a bit, but it has since came back again thistime causing twitches primarily in my hands with tightness and sore sensations in the fore arms.
Thanks again for the advice.
Hi!
I was diagnosed w/fibro this summer and my symptoms are very similar to yours. I work in the fitness industry and have been active all my life just like you. I get the same 'crush' pain in my thoracic spine and sometimes my chest and side. My lats and traps are usually very sore, as are my hands, hip flexors, glutes and sometimes knees & feet. I still lift weights and am as strong as ever (except a little in my back b/c its so panful) but like you, it takes me longer to recover.
My worst pain seems to come from performing high impact cardio, I still do it but I know I will usually pay, sometimes for days.
I have the muscle twitches, and the medicine I take (Neurontin) numbs the pain some but doesn't seem to affect the twitches. I do take d-ribose, malic acid w/magnesium, and creatine to help w/muscle recovery.
My mom had ALS; her symptoms were nothing like mine. Unfortunately, the more you worry, the worse you are going to feel, and it does seem to make the fasciculations worse as well. I really think you have fibro or something else, not ALS.
Hope this helps some!
I was diagnosed w/fibro this summer and my symptoms are very similar to yours. I work in the fitness industry and have been active all my life just like you. I get the same 'crush' pain in my thoracic spine and sometimes my chest and side. My lats and traps are usually very sore, as are my hands, hip flexors, glutes and sometimes knees & feet. I still lift weights and am as strong as ever (except a little in my back b/c its so panful) but like you, it takes me longer to recover.
My worst pain seems to come from performing high impact cardio, I still do it but I know I will usually pay, sometimes for days.
I have the muscle twitches, and the medicine I take (Neurontin) numbs the pain some but doesn't seem to affect the twitches. I do take d-ribose, malic acid w/magnesium, and creatine to help w/muscle recovery.
My mom had ALS; her symptoms were nothing like mine. Unfortunately, the more you worry, the worse you are going to feel, and it does seem to make the fasciculations worse as well. I really think you have fibro or something else, not ALS.
Hope this helps some!
One more thing I forgot to mention.. I donl;t know if it;s significant or not.. Anfter the initial dizziness thing and approx 4 day before the fasciculations began... I was camping .. in the middle of the night my shelter was swarmed by biting ants (not fire ants) I sustained well over 100 bites on the hands and ankles which became inflamed and itched worse than any bug bite or allergic reaction I have ever felt..for about a full week, before finally subsiding (at first si didn;t think this was relevant so I didn;t mention it to the neurologist.. but than I thought perhaps it might have triggered an autoimmune response.. (just grasping at straws I guess) wither way in my head I feel almost convinced that I have ALS or Parkinsons or something.. I keep thinking about my children and my wife, and it drives me nuts. Sorry Rant over.
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