Muscle twitching and arm/leg numbness

[NP0601]

33 y.o. male.  In Sept of 2007 I was in a car accident where I was hit from behind.  I sustained a bruise to the back of my head from hitting the seat and some neck stiffness for a few days.  Within a week I thought I was fine. During the next two months, however, I noticed a significant increase in muscle twitching (all different locations, from the top of the hand to the calf).  Sometimes a single twitch, sometimes a series of twitches.  Then, two months after the accident in December, I experienced a constant, dull numbness/tiredness in my forearms and hands.  I also experience muscle fatigue and muscle tightness (I feel like I have to stretch them out often).  I do not experience muscle cramping, vision issues, speech issues, or muscle weakness (they are tired and fatigue quicker than usual, but they are not any weaker than they were before if I apply full force).  When the numbness persisted I saw a Neurologist in ealy Jan 08.  I am currently scheduled for some blood work and an EMG.  As of a couple days ago, I now also feel some numbness in my thighs, and even in my face.   Also, my neck/back (in the cervical/upper thoracic regions) are is often mildly sore and needs to be cracked a lot.  I am hoping these symptoms are a result of the accident (whiplash?) and I have some pinched nerves or something similar.  I have a lot of anxiety that it's something much worse, like ALS, however.  Are there any other indicators to look for?  Is ALS a real possibility or is this still highly unlikely?  Any advice would be appreciated.  Thank you.  -N

[whiplashed]

I was in an accident 7 days ago - I'm already experiencing the twitching and numbness. I was rear ended as a passenger. I'm going to chiropractor and neurology. Had a concussion. The crash caused me to hit the back of my head on seat, whiplash, immediately had sharp tailbone pain, lower back pain are all progressively getting worse. It's now the 8th day and there's involuntary twitching/jerking of my extremities. Memory problems, anxiety, fear, loss of appetite and nausea.  Along with my bosses harassing me this is a horrible situation. I have an attorney to help get specialist.

[bluestreak1961]

I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT DEC.2, 2012..IN MT.VERNON, MO..I WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WAITING FOR IT TO TURN GREEN WHEN A VAN COMING UP BEHIND ME GOING 45 HIT THE REAR END OF MY CAR...A POLICE OFFICER SAW IT ALL...AN AMBULANCE WAS CALLED FOR ME...I SMACKED THE BACK OF MY HEAD REAL HARD ON THE HEAD REST...I HAD MY SEATBELT ON TOO....I GOT SHOVED 3/4 INTO THE INTERSECTION...I JUST HAD AN EMG/NCV TESTS...THEY CAME BACK OK..NO NERVE DAMAGE.. BOTH MY HANDS TWITCH QUIET OFTEN REGARDLESS IF THEYRE IN USE OR NOT...MY RIGHT HAND GETS THE SHAKES..HAD AN X-RAY AND CT SCAN DONE THE DAY OF THE AUTO ACCIDENT...THE DR IN MT. VERNON, MO SAID THEY CAME BACK OK.. MY DR ORDERED A CERVICAL COLLAR LAST WEEK FOR ME TO WEAR IN HOPES IT WOULD HELP OUT...I AM IN SO MUCH PAIN WEARING IT...IT ALSO CAUSE NUMBNESS IN MY RIGHT ARM TO MY ELBOW AND FROM MY ELBOW TO MY HAND WENT DEAD...MY DR WONT RETURN MY CALL...THIS IS REALLY SCARRING ME....I WANNA KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE TWITCHING IN BOTH MY HANDS...

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The accident may have injured the neck. The injury was not severe enough to manifest immediately. But over a period of time, the discs bulge. Please get an MRI of the neck, along with the EMG. Results of both the tests will throw some light on the diagnosis.

Regards