polyphasia both legs??? ALS?

[nd10]

Thank you in advance for your attention - I am a 27 year old female -

The arches of both of my feet started twitching about one year ago.  It seems to be worse at night, but happens all day too.  They are single fire twitches typically.  Sometimes I kind of feel them in my calves as well.  I do not have any weakness or atrophy and I have had a normal neuro exam - my neuro was unable to see the fasics while I was in his office and has told me repeatedly NOTHING is wrong with me.  He ordered an EMG to calm me down at it came back slightly abnormal showing mild to mederate poyphasia in both anterior tibial muscles (L5).  The neuro doing the EMG said this does not look like ALS and not to worry - he asked me to get another MRI because the one I had two years ago showed a protruding disc at L5.  Both neuros are saying NO ALS.  I am seign another practice to get a second opinion as my neuro said he is unable to convince me - he really think I am ok and that the results mean NOTHING.

I did my own research to find that polyphasia means reinnervation which would mean dameage.  Could this be the VERY first sign of ALS or do EMG findings in early ALS look quite different?  Still no wweakness - thank goodness.  I also read that emg findings are typically asymetrical with ALS and both anterior tibial muscles are showign the same exact thing. Would this be more suggestive of a disc problem.  Would twitching for a year without weakness be VERY SLOW ONSET OF ALS?

I am pertified b/c my neuro has offered to explanation and keeps tellign me I do not have ALS  - Is the EMG finding early ALS or do you think it is from the buldging disc.  I am so worried.

[pneeb419]

You appear to be very insistant on being diagnosed with ALS.  Because ALS is a fatal disease, I am having a hard time comprehending why "NO ALS" wasn't enough.  If I had been that concerned, getting a "NO ALS" would have been cause for a party.  Now, just because bulging discs are common doesn't mean that you shouldn't treat it somehow.  If for no other reason, then just to make sure it doesn't worse.  Disc problems can be extremely painful and relief can sometimes be a very lengthy process.  And sometime that doesn't even relieve all of the pain.  So maybe be a little grateful that your twitching might just be a bulging disc that if treated early can prevent unnecessary pain.
And on the very slim chance that you were misdiagnosed and you do have ALS (because mistakes can be made - we're all human after all), then end result will be no different....whether you get diagnosed on Day 1 or Day 10.000.....same end result.  But not knowing now will have saved months/years of worrying about something that no one could have fixed anyway.
That all being said, you do need to pursue an answer that will satisfy you.  But please try to remain optimistic during your pursuit......positive attitude is just as important as any medical treatment

[neur0]

Well, look at it this way...bulging disc symptoms are very common whereas ALS is very uncommon...