TWITCHING, SPASMS, CRAMPS

[jayne]

IN JULY 2001 i HAD AN CORTIZONE INJECTION FOR A FROZEN SHOULDER, A FEW DAYS LATER i started to have spasms and strange feelings in the damaged muscles ,a week later I started to have spasms UNDER MY RIBS THEN A FEW DAYS LATER in both my legs,they originally lasted for three days and were so tight I COULD NOT SIT DOWN--EVENTUALLY THEY LOOSED BUT HAVE CONTINUED TO TIGHTENED THEN RELEASE ALMOST CONTINUALLY. THEN THE twitching started in both my legs and never stops,there are different types of twitches--quick, slow, ones that feel like bubbles moving under the skin. Then the same happens in my left arm aswell as twiching all over my body. Then the spasms started all over my body--some are a quick sharp pain --other as if i was being gripped tightly,my back, jaw, in my ears, my scalp--then the cramps started in my hands and feet,my FEET ARE CRAMPING MOST OF THE TIME,DAY AND NIGHT.After two months I went to see a consultant neurologist who after an examination said he was 101% sure I did not have ALS AND PRESCRIBED clozepam FOR ANXIETY . MY BREAST AND STOMACH SHAKE CONTINUOUSLY, NEVER STOP--AGAIN THE NEUROLOGIST AND THE DOCTOR SAID its anxiety. I asked for an emg  both the nerve and the muscle test which was done two days later on my four limbs in various places and I WAS TOLD the emg WAS NORMAL and there was no evidence of ALS. MY MIND is still not at rest as the cramps in my hands and feet have got worse AND i AM TERRIFIED I have ALS AND THE emg did not detect it. My cousin died from ALS. I expect the anxiety is making things worse--can you help me PLEASE.

THANKS

jayne

[David_M_M]

Sorry to hear that you are so stressed out about your symptoms. My doctors diagnosed me with benign fasciculations summer 2001. I started to get twitching in just a few spots, but they have spread all over. My EMG and NCV were normal in September, but I get flare ups with cramping, aches, numbness (bee sting numbness), itching, stiffness to accompany my twitching. It's not fun with the specter of ALS lurking in the back of your mind. I'm 99% sure I'm just a sufferer of an annoying disorder, but every now and then the doubt creeps in my mind, especially when I get flare ups (like the last two weeks!!!). I'm on anti-anxiety medication (celexa), which helps, but only time will remove the doubt.

Hang in there! There are a lot of people who share the same symptoms and fears. We are here for you, I can assure you!

Happy New Year. Resolve to not fear death tomorrow so much that you forget about living today. :-)

[lizbeth219]

I constantly twitch and have cramps and spasms of all kinds ans strengths I ASKED THE dR IF THE CAUSE was the injection- he says no-- the neuro says anxiety and i am terrified its ALS--lifes  a nightmare I am terrified
JAYNE

[soni]

After reading your article!!!!

I wanted to tell you about my mothers condition.
Over the past 2yrs my mother has been suffering of back & neck problems.
The specialist advised that my mother be injected with a steriod injection to help ease the pain.
He reassured us that there are no side effects.
My mother attended the day surgery & was injected with a steriod injection on her lower back.

minutes after the injection her body began jerking they were severe spasms all over the body.
It was as if something was travelling inside her.
I could see the muscular spasms in her whole body then she would have sudden fits of laughter. She was in intensive care for over 3 days.

Her symptoms lasted over 2 wks.

They then gradually stopped. However my mother tells me that she does get the odd jerk in her body when at rest & usually at night or early morning.

last week all the jerking returned my mother is in hospital at present. Her body is still jerking and the doctors dont know what it is.
They have done various tests such as MRI of the brain & back, CTI  brain scan. Nothing serious has shown up.

What the doc have now said is that she is depressed!!!!
this is not the case!!! Are your symptoms similar?

[Adele]

Jayne, cortizone is a steroid, and steroids can cause a lot of the problems that you have....  I, myself, have had problems with steroids in the past, to the point that I could not take them for awhile... steroids can alter the body chemistry...have been known to contribute to osteoporosis, and can also cause anxiety, depression... muscle cramping, as well as other side effects.  I speak from experience; the after effects can also last a very long time.  Please go to the following link to research any meds that you take...... Good Luck!

http://www.nursespdr.com

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Sorry to hear about your symptoms. I can see how concerned you must be about the diagnosis of ALS as your cousin had the disease. Although I cannot say that you absolutely and positively do not have ALS as I have not examined you nor did I perform your EMG, I can tell you that your described onset and course of your symptoms are NOT typical of ALS. Reassuring is the normal neuro exam and EMG. The symptoms could certainly represent anxiety and stress as both can manifest itself physically without you purposefully doing so. There are other diseases that can cause cramping and stiffness with little twitches such as Isaac's syndrome, but all of these diseases would also be picked up on an EMG.

If you are still convinced of the possibility of ALS I would recommend either getting a second opinion with another EMG at a major institution such as the Cleveland CLinic (Dr. Erik Pioro is our ALS specialist - he's very good and extremely thorough) or followup with your old neurologist and get another EMG from him/her down the line for comparison. Other simple things to do to make sure something's not being missed are routine chemistry blood tests that check your electrolytes and muscle enzymes and thyroid testing. Talk to your primary doc about this. Best of luck.