Aa
Worried again...after 3 years!
Hello,
First of all, thank you for your kind attention.
- Year 2005:
I was 29 years old. On april I ran my first marathon. After the marathon I gave me a break for rest and travel and stopped the exercises. One month later I felt muscle twitches in my rigth knee. I was scared and went to a doctor specialized in neuromuscular diseases. He did a neuro clinical exams and the results were all normal. After a few days I had widespread fasciculations (legs, shoulders, forarms, abdomen, back,...), not constants (just rapid fires) and not everyday. On june 2005 I back to my doctor and after I persisted a lot he did an EMG (4 limbs). Everything was normal. The fasciculations didn't stop and on september I back to my doctor. He did all clinical exams again, all normal and after I persisted a lot he did an another EMG. All normal again (just rare fasciculations was showed but he told me it is normal). Then I put my worries out of my mind.
- Year 2009:
I am 32 years old. Since 2005 (marathon) I stopped my regular/intense exercises, my weight up from 220 lbs to 275 lbs. Nowdays I just practice some jogging and playing tennis (once a week). The widespread fasciculations have never stopped completely (always rapid fires and not every day). These twitches never last more than 5 seconds and it stops when I move the place.
On last december I stopped my exercises and ate a lot (gained 8 lbs). Together with it came some vague pains, never in the same place (sometimes in foot, sometimes in calf, sometimes in arm, sometimes in leg,...), just for few minutes and when I am at rest (mainly after I wake up). When I am moving me, no vague pains!
No weakness or atrophy (that I noticed...).
1) Should I be worried with these vague pains?
2) And about the widespread twitches for almost 4 years? Is it normal? Whats the difference about fasciculations 'rapid fires' and 'constants that never stop'?
3) Could I put my worries out of my mind?
Thank you for your time.
First of all, thank you for your kind attention.
- Year 2005:
I was 29 years old. On april I ran my first marathon. After the marathon I gave me a break for rest and travel and stopped the exercises. One month later I felt muscle twitches in my rigth knee. I was scared and went to a doctor specialized in neuromuscular diseases. He did a neuro clinical exams and the results were all normal. After a few days I had widespread fasciculations (legs, shoulders, forarms, abdomen, back,...), not constants (just rapid fires) and not everyday. On june 2005 I back to my doctor and after I persisted a lot he did an EMG (4 limbs). Everything was normal. The fasciculations didn't stop and on september I back to my doctor. He did all clinical exams again, all normal and after I persisted a lot he did an another EMG. All normal again (just rare fasciculations was showed but he told me it is normal). Then I put my worries out of my mind.
- Year 2009:
I am 32 years old. Since 2005 (marathon) I stopped my regular/intense exercises, my weight up from 220 lbs to 275 lbs. Nowdays I just practice some jogging and playing tennis (once a week). The widespread fasciculations have never stopped completely (always rapid fires and not every day). These twitches never last more than 5 seconds and it stops when I move the place.
On last december I stopped my exercises and ate a lot (gained 8 lbs). Together with it came some vague pains, never in the same place (sometimes in foot, sometimes in calf, sometimes in arm, sometimes in leg,...), just for few minutes and when I am at rest (mainly after I wake up). When I am moving me, no vague pains!
No weakness or atrophy (that I noticed...).
1) Should I be worried with these vague pains?
2) And about the widespread twitches for almost 4 years? Is it normal? Whats the difference about fasciculations 'rapid fires' and 'constants that never stop'?
3) Could I put my worries out of my mind?
Thank you for your time.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
With two normal EMGs of all four limbs, a serious neurologic condition is unlikely in your case. The more likely explanation for your symptoms is called benign fasciculation syndrome. Benign fasciculation syndrome, which I will abbreviate as BFS, is a condition in which there are involuntary twitches of various muscle groups, most commonly the legs but also the face, arms, eyes, and tongue. If the diagnosis is confirmed and other causes are excluded, it can be safely said that the likelihood of progression or occurrence of a serious neurologic condition is low. It must be emphasized that in the MAJORITY of cases they are BENIGN meaning that they are of no consequence and are not resulting from a serious cause. In such cases, the twitches may be related to anxiety/stress, caffeine, and often occur after recent strenuous activity or muscle over-use. It is important in such cases to reduce stress/anxiety levels and to reduce caffeine intake.
When BFS is present but not particularly bothersome or disabling, treatment is not necessary. If severe and it requires treatment, there are a few medication options though this condition is not very common, and the research that has been done on its treatment is limited. Minimizing caffeine and stress, and treating anxiety if it is present, will improve your symptoms.
In the setting of 2 normal EMGs, muscle cramping is also less likely to be due to a worrisome neurologic problem and more likely due to strain or disuse ("out of shape" muscles"). However, certain metabolic abnormalities such as low potassium or thyroid problems can also lead to muscle cramps. Thyroid problems can also lead to weight gain. There are rare muscle disorders that also lead to muscle cramping on exertion, such as one disorder called McArdle's disease, in which the muscle has an enzyme defect preventing it from utilizing sugar (glucose) normally during exercise).
I recommend continued follow-up with your neurologist. While I can not comment definitively without being able to examine you and obtain a history, I will say that the likelihood that you have a serious neurologic disorder is low.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
With two normal EMGs of all four limbs, a serious neurologic condition is unlikely in your case. The more likely explanation for your symptoms is called benign fasciculation syndrome. Benign fasciculation syndrome, which I will abbreviate as BFS, is a condition in which there are involuntary twitches of various muscle groups, most commonly the legs but also the face, arms, eyes, and tongue. If the diagnosis is confirmed and other causes are excluded, it can be safely said that the likelihood of progression or occurrence of a serious neurologic condition is low. It must be emphasized that in the MAJORITY of cases they are BENIGN meaning that they are of no consequence and are not resulting from a serious cause. In such cases, the twitches may be related to anxiety/stress, caffeine, and often occur after recent strenuous activity or muscle over-use. It is important in such cases to reduce stress/anxiety levels and to reduce caffeine intake.
When BFS is present but not particularly bothersome or disabling, treatment is not necessary. If severe and it requires treatment, there are a few medication options though this condition is not very common, and the research that has been done on its treatment is limited. Minimizing caffeine and stress, and treating anxiety if it is present, will improve your symptoms.
In the setting of 2 normal EMGs, muscle cramping is also less likely to be due to a worrisome neurologic problem and more likely due to strain or disuse ("out of shape" muscles"). However, certain metabolic abnormalities such as low potassium or thyroid problems can also lead to muscle cramps. Thyroid problems can also lead to weight gain. There are rare muscle disorders that also lead to muscle cramping on exertion, such as one disorder called McArdle's disease, in which the muscle has an enzyme defect preventing it from utilizing sugar (glucose) normally during exercise).
I recommend continued follow-up with your neurologist. While I can not comment definitively without being able to examine you and obtain a history, I will say that the likelihood that you have a serious neurologic disorder is low.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck
Please, consider these 2 more questions:
4) The fact of gain/lose weight in a small period of time could increase the fasciculations start these vague pains?
5) And about anxiety? I am also drinking a lot of coffee at my work!
Best wishes.
4) The fact of gain/lose weight in a small period of time could increase the fasciculations start these vague pains?
5) And about anxiety? I am also drinking a lot of coffee at my work!
Best wishes.
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