Several months ago I began having mild muscle cramping in the the legs and forearms. Then the legs began to tighten up & get sore. About 6 weeks ago I began to notice fasiculations in the feet, calves, upper legs, back, shoulders, & upper arms. About 4 weeks ago I started to notice cramping in the hands. During this whole time I have been clearing my throat a lot with a bit of mucus. I have had the muscle under my chin cramp up on me about 4 times while yawning. I had to massage the muscle a little to relieve the cramp. Now the muscle under the chin just feels a bit crampy - not right. Also while completely relaxed in bed before falling asleep I'll feel a shaking feeling in my throat, upper chest area. I'm not sure if this is a throat fasiculation, an esophogeal spasm, or if the portion of my tongue that is in my throat is shaking? Sometimes I sound a little hoarse and have to clear my throat. I also thought I had a little trouble swallowing steak and pork ribs a few days ago.I had a normal EMG in early June that included my arms, legs, back, & 1 muscle in the neck (not the tongue and no facial muscles). Normal Neuro exam. Neuro thinks I have benign cramp fasiculation syndrome.
1 Can you have widespread cramping and fasiculations with Bulbar onset of ALS? One fasiculation in the leg was picked up on the EMG.
2 Have you heard of this shaking feeling in the throat area when completely at rest?
3 Is cramping under the chin a symptom of bulbar onset?
4 Does my normal EMG rule out bulbar onset even though it didn't include the tongue or face?
Thank you.