Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Second opinion in twitching

So I'll just attach the email I sent to the "second opinion website" from which I never got a response. It was written on Aug 29th
I have already scheduled an appointment on tomorrow, but should I cancel it and save $200?

Email:
Hi,I am a 20 year old male with no hisory of als in my family
for about two months now, I've been experiencing muscle jerks and twitches all over my body. They may be in my legs, they may be in my arm, basically everywhere. I also thought that I've had some problems with walking and/or keeping up the balance. And I had some mouth problems with sore throat, trouble with excessive/not enough of saliva and some swallowing problems too
So after about a month of those symptoms I went to my PCP, who said that since the twitches are generalized they are most likely benign and nothing to worry about. She also conducted a neurological exam when she asked me to touch my nose, to walk on my heels, on toes, push her hand and etc. She said I did great and she sees no problem with my reflexes.
Like a week before the visit and further after, the symptoms have decreased in freqency, the twitches have become more rare and the bulbar symptoms were gone, so as the balance issues were gone too
But now the twiches are back with a big freqency, I think I also have the balance problems back and I also have weird sensation in my hands, some kind of dullness, my hands and figers feel weird when I hold them together, when I hold objects and when I type on the computer, this feel comes and goes and right now for example I think im fine. I also have pulling sensation in my muscles, but this is maybe from me walking around a lot, not sure
I can't honestly tell if there is muscle thinning, my right calf seems bigger than the left one when I lay down, but I tried to measure them standing up, the difference is like 1 cm or less. I am also right footed. My left hand figers seem less "meaty" but the difference is not that big and maybe again just part of my normal body
And when it comes to seeing twitches, Im not sure, I can see the muscle jerks, when I get my figer jumping up, I can see it. Regular twitches, I either can't see them or I just can't catch them as they are far in my leg or shoulder.
Weakness, I can't also tell. I can do regular everyday things no problem, I can walk few miles, I can run and jump. But I'm not sure if I have weakness and if it is maybe precieved. They say that the ALS weakness is hard to miss,and if you do have one, you'll know that is is weakness. For me, I can't tell
So my question is, should I consider scheduling an appointment with an actual Neurologist and maybe consider looking for ALS or mutiple sclerosis? Or as my PCP said, this is probably mostly stress related?
Thank you

P.S. Now the situation is not much different. I've had a decrease period with twitches when they haven't bothered me for a while. Then they again increased with the big force. Now they are again on the low level since yesterday. They are also now mostly in the form of my joints jumping up all over the place. Could be foot, could be finger
Balance is mixed again, one time I feel really oddly weak in my legs, 2 hours later I'm fine. Today I felt good for the most part
Thanks
1 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Multiple Sclerosis is not really associated with twitches, and ALS rarely starts with them (there's some anecdotal evidence of people with inherited ALS twitching for years). Schedule an EMG with a MND specialist to put your mind at ease, then start to look for other causes of your twitches (e.g. magnesium/B12 deficiency, thyroid problems, stress)
Helpful - 1
2 Comments
p.s. Increased/not enough saliva is definitely a subjective symptom. People with bulbar ALS have a normal amount of saliva, they just can't swallow it
Thank you so much. I did end up going to the neuro who said basically the same thing my physician did. He told me that he doesn't think i need an EMG and did prescribe me some blood tests, which i havent yet done
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Neurology Community

Top Neurology Answerers
620923 tn?1452915648
Allentown, PA
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease