Is this ALS

[Tom361]

I am a 35 year old male. I will try to make this as brief as possible. In march of 2010 I began with twitching in my right leg. This twitching within weeks spread all over my body (legs,arms, face, eye lids etc.)right side more than the left. I went and saw a neurologist. he conducted an emg on my left side (came back normal). knee reflexes were brisk. The nuero sent me for an MRi of the brain and cervical and lumbar. The brain MRI showed a single T2 Hyperintense white matter lesion involving the anterior limb of the left internal capsule and it may reflect a demyelinating plaque. Lumbar MRI showed a mild annular bulging disc without canal or foraminal stenosis at L4-5. The cervical MRI showed a small herniated disk at c5-6 with mild impingment of the left neural foramen. The neuro concluded I had Benign Fasciculations.over the next couple of months i began having tingling and burning sensations. like little hot spots. my hands also became numb. I also have achy pains in my right leg hands and feet. These sensations have came and gone over the last year. During the last nine months i have had three emgs, with one emg coming back with fascis only and cpk came with a slight elevation 406. I became frustrated because i knew something was wrong in my body. In february 2011, I found a different neuro during the appointment he conducted the standard physical exam and noted the brisk reflexes.He conducted an EMG and NCV of my right side. The findings were The Right Sural Anti Sensory nerve showed decreased conduction velocity (calf-lat mall, 36 m/s). The needle evailuation of the Right AntTibilias muscle showed slightly increased Polyphasic potentials and diminshed recruitment. All remaining muscle showed no evidenceof electrical instability. The Neuro said he was not concerned with the findings. Since then my legs feel as if they have became weaker and and i get quivers (muscle flikers) in my thighs when i bend down. My joints seem to pop a lot more as well.This neuro also conducted all the same MRI's with the same results. The neuro is going to conduct an emg of the left side next week and plan s to send me to Miami University to meet with a different neuro for a consult. The neuro says he does not beleive it to be ALS, but could not give me an answer on what it could be. Sorry for such a long post, I did not want to post on the site with out giviing it some time... Your opinion on this would be greatly appreciated.....Thanks in advance

[Tom361]

Thank you Peter. I happy to hear that. I was just worried about the EMG changes and pain in my right leg which dont seem to go away... Thank you again for your reply. its just hard to feel these things and not have an answer yet.....Hopefully soon i will get to the bottom of this...

[peter20962]

This sounds nothing like a neurodegenrative disorder and here's why:

-The EMG's are consistently showing that your muscle fasciculations are benign (your brain is sending the correct electrical signals to your muscles)

-Itchiness, burning and tingling sensations are not consistent with ALS

-You say your symptoms began in March 2010. A year is a long time in the medical world. If you had a neurodegenerative disorder you would definitely know by now (for example, you would wouldn't be able to walk down the stairs properly, or fasten buttons on a shirt)

-In ALS, muscle weakness and other such problems do not just 'come and go'.Once they weaken they are weakened permanently.  

Make of this what you will but I am a postgraduate in medicine (currently involved with research into degenerative disorders) and from what I have read you seem to be suffering from benign fasciculation syndrome.