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Avatar universal

Tingling and muscle twitching

I am a 50 year old man, good health, athletic. About a month ago, I noticed a twitch in my left thigh, above the knee. It persisted for two days, then spread to other legs, then to triceps muscles. These were hard twitches, visible. The following day they stopped, then pins and needles sensations set in, mild to intense.

Since then, all intense symptons have lessened, but I still have muscle movement and pins and needles daily. The twitching is no longer intense, almost gentle, and seems concentrated in lower legs and hamstrings, although also in feet and back. Pins and needles come and go, everywhere. They itch but are not painful.

My doctor suggested I had a virus when I first spoke to him, as I had a sharp pain in the upper back when I saw him. When pins and needles started he ordered a CT, which was normal.Back pain has mostly disappeared but other sensations persist.

Can you give me some idea what might be causing these symptons? I have been feeling intense anxiety since this began, worrying about MS & ALS. Do these symptons point to either of these? I am scheduled to see a neurologist in three weeks.

Thank you.
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Avatar universal
About 15 years ago, I had a blind spot that would occasionally appear in my left eye.  It would happen randomly i.e., driving, working out, walking, standing.  I could see around this spot (peripheral), and it would only last for about a minute.  When the spot would start to disappear, it looked like I was looking through a kaleidoscope.  I could see a sort of mosaic pattern.  I did not get headaches with this problem.  I had MRI's, EKG's, and eye tests, and they diagnosed me with ocular migraines.  Fast forward to 2005, I haven't had ocular migraines for about 13 years.  Recently, I've had muscle stiffness in my neck and my right eyelid has been twitching for about 2 weeks (today, the twitching has lessened a great deal.)  I am pretty sensitive to bright lights.  One of the things the doctors were looking for when I went through my tests was MS.  I was wondering if the symptoms I had 15 years ago combined with the symptoms I'm currently experiencing exhibit possible MS.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you
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Avatar universal
Hi, Since you are healthy the one thing that stood out was you are athletic. Are you an outdoors type person; if so, you may want to request to have bloodwork for possible Lyme testing. Don't waste your money on a Lyme Titers/Elisha test; it's very low quality testing & unless this is something that has come on in the last month, it will be negative.  Do you remember getting a tick on you? Those same symptoms happen with Lyme & other tick borne infections of which there are many. You can have "spots" or lesions on your brain which would be seen during an MRI with contrast. Also, the muscle twitching, tingling, etc., could also be symptoms. Lyme, MS, ALS, & many other diseases look very much alike. I'm not saying you do have Lyme, it's just a possibility.

I was diagnosed with MS because of the lesions on my brain & swollen optic nerve. The doctors wanted me to start MS drugs right away. I was so scared & chose not to start drugs until I reseached all the info I could find on MS. As it turns out, & I have seen it posted on this site, the lesions aren't enough to prove MS. Thank goodness I found that info!! You may want to do some research on both diseases since you're concerned. There is no test, to my knowledge, that will prove or disprove MS, but there are tests to prove or disprove other diseases that "mimic" MS.

When you resarch on the internet, be very specific as to what sites you choose to view. I only look at sites posted by doctors, hospitals, universities & associations (those associated with a specific disease like Lyme, MS, ALS, etc). When looking at the info you find, keep in mind, there could be a site from a doctor, for example, that states one thought & another doctor who will state the exact opposite. Take all info you find in to consideration, but don't take anything at face value!! That's what I do & it helps!! At least you can get up a collection of questions to take to your doctor for consideration.

IF, you are concerned, have the tests done for Lyme, & your doctor isn't knowledgeable on the disease (most aren't), then you'll want to find a doctor versed in Lyme disease & it's symptoms. Write down everything you can remember. No matter who you see, this information will be good in trying to diagnose your condition. The more information you can provide any doctor the better he/she can make a diagnoses. Anything you can remember, right down to feeling like you were getting the flu & nothing came of it. There could be things that have happened to you since your muscle twitches started that you didn't even think twice about. Every little thing counts when trying to diagnose your condition.

Good Luck, Ruth H in WV
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Avatar universal
MS is due to multiple and recurrent demyelinating events - that is, damage to the myelin cover of the nerve that produces the symptoms due to attack by the inflammation system of the body
However a similar process can occur as a single event, it is not MS as it does not recur, but it could be a diagnostic consideration
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your reply. Can you tell me what you mean by a "single demyelinating events (similar to an MS lesion but not from MS) [that can] can occur in the spinal cord"?

What is a "single demyelinating events (similar to an MS lesion but not from MS)"?

Thank you again.

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Avatar universal
Although I cannot give a clinical diagnosis over the internet, it does not sound like you fulfil any diagnostic criteria for MS or ALS.
Muscle twitching in the absence of muscle weakness and wasting is usually benign. The abrupt and fairly widespread onset do not point to a chronic degenerative disease like ALS. Other possible causes include pinched nerves, viral infections of the spinal cord and benign fasciculation syndrome.
A CT unless done with contrast/as a CT myelgram, may not show pinched nerves in the lower back, and an MRI may be necessary. With the pain in the upper back, the thoracic spine should be included at least as well.
New onset of MS in a 50 year old man, would be very unusual. However, single demyelinating events (similar to an MS lesion but not from MS) can occur in the spinal cord
Your neurologist should be able to advise you on these tests when you see him/her
Good luck
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