Twitching

[lisaalyssa]

I started experiencing twitching in my legs, feet and arms about 7 months ago. I have had twitching in other muscles too, butt, abdomen, hands,face,  but mainly legs. I saw a neuro who did a full evaluation, and said everything was normal, and therfore would not order an EMG.  The twitching only occurs when my muscles are relaxed, as in I never notice it when I am walking or anything, only when I sit still.  I have not noticed any weakness, and the neuro said no atrophy or reflex change.  I had my reflexes checked again today by a PA, I work with, she said they were normal.  I have noticed that my right bicept is significantly larger than my left, although I have not noticed weakness in my left. The twitching seems to wax and wane, as in it is much worse on some days, and other days I barely notice it at all.  How long does it usually take for someone to start noticing weakness if a neurodegenerative disease is present. My fear is ALS, do you think I should push for an EMG, or should I rest assured that the neruo exam is enough.  Oh I am a 25 year old cacausian female.  Thanks

[paulak]

I HAVE HAD MUSCLE TWITCHES SINCE SEPT. IT FIRST STARTED IN MY ARM IT WAS TWITCHING SO HARD IT WOKE ME UP. THEN FOR A WHILE I HAD NOTHING THEN MY FINGER STARTED TO TWITCH EVERYDAY FOR A FEW WEEKS. THEN IT JUST SPREAD EVERY WHERE UNDER MY RIBS,LEGS FEET,ARMS,AND EVEN IN MY HEAD. ABOUT 5 TIMES SINCE DEC. IT HAS WOKE ME UP WITH A FEELING OF TAPPING IN MY HEAD AND IT REALLY SCARES ME. MY DOCTOR SAYS HE THINKS IT ANXIETY. I DO HAVE ANXIETY PRETTY BAD I'VE BEEN ON XANAX FOR TEN YEARS. SOMETIMES I WONDER IF THAT COULD BE THE CAUSE. BUT MY QUESTION IS HAS ANYONE FELT THE TWITCHING IN THE HEAD.

[lotsacats]

Paulak, the comment just before mine asks if anyone has ever felt twitching in the head.  I had this experience when I was on the drug Paxil.  I could feel the nerves twitching in my head at times.  Now I have brain damage (they are not sure from what exactly, it is suspected that it is from a herpes virus transmission infection).  When I take any kind of medication, I feel a pulling in my head.  Hope this helps.

[twitchynurse]

Hi,
This is new to me. I have been experiencing twitiching all over my body for about 10 months now. I am a nurse and have of course been totally freaked out about possible MS and/or ALS.
I have been to a neurologist had an MRI of which was negative for MS. I don't think I have had "weakness" as such. Although I now have read on some websites in reference to ALS weakness more described as "fatigue" in the arms or legs. Of which I have noticed such way back in the past once in a blue moon where if I went up a flight of stairs it felt like the blood would kinda go out of my legs and they would feel extremely tired like they were going to give out but never did. I have that same sensation still and it seems more often then I used too but wonder if I just don't notice it more since I've had the twitching. It happens more so when I am carrying something heavy up stairs etc.
Has anyone experienced this?? My neurologist says if any of my symptoms get worse we can do a LP. I also find that I trip more. Of course all my friends say they do the same thing. I have also had an emg of which was negative also.
SCARy.

[davidlisaalyssa]

Hi twitchynurse.  As the original poster of this twitchy sequence, I know what you are going through.  I too have been twitching for about 8 months, and at one point was totally freaked out.  I think that worrying only makes it worse.  I too think that I experience weakness, but I think it is only because I am looking for it, as in I think it is in my head.  I wouldn't have even thought of weakness until you read on the internet that weakness is the hallmark "bad" sign.  I too trip and freak out, and even think that I catch my self slurring my speech occasionally.  If it makes you feel better, from what I have read and researched (which is quite a lot), if you had a serious neurological disorder associated with weakness, the weakness would have presented before the twitching, and usually by the time there is twitching, the nerve damage will show up on the EMG.  A simple rule is that muscle twitching in a relaxed muscle is never indicative of a neruo disease unless associated with weakness, atrophy, or reflex change.  I would assume that your neuro cleared you of those 3 things, and if you were truly weak you wouldn't be tripping, you would be falling to the ground.  I hope this helps, of course you would want to be reevaluated if symptoms of weakness worsen, but there are millions of people who just twitch, no rhyme or reason to it, and it never turns into anything more serious that an annoyance and a source of most likely unecessary anxiety.

[davidlisaalyssa]

oh yeah, I'm not sure how old you are or if your male or female, but 80 percent of cases occur in people over 50, and in younger ages ALS, which is rare to begin with is even more rare in younger females.

[john3434]

Im a 19 year old male I have been experiencing twitches all over my body for 9 months.i just want to try and find out if my twitching is the same as yours. When i have twitches my whole muscle does not twitch it feels more like a part of it does and when i look at it, it looks like a line which is pulsing rapidly and with no specific rhythm and when i put my hand on it does not stop. i get around 20 to 40 a day. I went to my doctor and he said it wasn't ms or any muscular problem. I had a few blood tests done and it just indicated that i have slightly elevated liver enzymes. I have got over my worrying stage and now i just want to figure out how to get rid of them cause they cause great discomfort and also break my concentration. i dont think i have any anxiety problem because im pretty much a relaxed person. So if any of this rings a bell or if anyone has any suggestions id be grateful for some counsel.