CONSTANT FASICULATIONS

[awzem]

I have a very complicated story.5 months ago I had back pain that led to a MRI dx of t10 disc with marked cord compression. 3 days after the MRI I developed fasiculations in my right calf. A week later I had emergent endoscopic Disc resection out in California. Post op the pain improved but not the fasiculations.  2 weeks later the twiches showed up in my left calf. Over the past 4 months they have progessed throughout my body: shoulders, biceps, lip even hands. They seem to migrate sporadically and in no definite pattern.
Well I repeated the MRI 4 weeks ago and found  that there was very little improvement in the disc and a huge free fragment was still present with significant cord compression. I now opted for formal thoracotomy with T10-T11 fusion with a Pyramesh cage and fibula allograft.I am now just 3 weeks post op and recuperating. Nevertheless the fasiculations continue throughout. I have never experienced any weakness and already walking around the block.The twichings are continuous esp in the original right calf.It feels tight and tender but not really weak. I can understand the legs from the cord compression but why the arms and occ lip? Could there be 2 processes at once? One neurologist I saw after the first surgery thought it to be BFS but what a coincidence with the disc. I have not had an EMG because he thought it not necessary. But the fasiculations were mild and early when I saw him. As an aside I also have had some night numbness in my 3rd and 4th fingers rt> lt and do not know how that plays into this. Sound like ALS? I am 49 yo. Thanks

[steve48]

A related discussion, fasiculations was started.

[schway01]

A related discussion, Clumsy hands and feet, hard to swallow was started.

[barbaralou]

Try vitamin B12. Some of you sound like you might have that deficiency. A simple blood test won't show it.

[Alice Surtees]

There are apparently so many things that can cause this that it's quite frustrating.  It doesn't help that just about everyone with, e.g., ALS has slightly different symptoms and that there can be different types of onset.  In my experience, neurologists tend not to take one seriously until there is substantial loss of function.  

Alice, still getting worse and still trying daily to post her own symptoms and request for help/ideas!

[betty38]

I am a 23-year-old female and I been experiencing odd symptoms for someone my age.  I am having constant muscle twitches in my calves, shoulders, neck and hands.  I have noticed that I don't have the same strength that I used to.  The other day I literally could not get my hand to open a bottle of soda and my 50-year-old mom did it with no problem.  My legs hurt for no reason on and off.  I have also noticed myself tripping a lot and I feel very clumsy.  I have looked on the internet and these are all symptoms of ALS.  However, I realize that at age 23, my chances of having ALS are slim.  I am trying to figure out if I should see my doctor and what could be causing my symptoms.  IS there anything else I should look out for?  Keep me posted.  thanks.

[Karli]

i HAVE SUFFERED FROM EXTREME FATIGUE OF MY LIMBS, AND MUSCLE SPASMS (TWITCHING) WHICH HAS MANIFESTED iTSELF MAINLY ON MY THIGHS, BUT IT HAS ALSO TRAVELLED TO OTHER PARTS OF MY BODY SUCH AS MY CHEST AND BUTTOCKS. bLOOD TESTS SHOWED NO ILLNESS, DESPITE ME GOING TO THE CASULTY DEPARTMENT OF MY HOSPITAL ON 4 OCCASIONS. a NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT SHOWED UP NEGATIVE. bLOOD TESTS SHOWED UP NEGATIVE. i WAS DIAGNOSED WITH POST VIRAL MYALGIA DESPITE NOT HAVING ANY SIGN OF A VIRUS.i HAVE NO WEAKNESS IN MY MUSCLES YET HAVE BEEN BARELY ABLE TO WALK. tHE PROBLEM IS MORE OF A MUSCLE ENDURANCE PROBLEM. i HAVE FOUND THAT MAGNESIULM HELPS A LOT. i TAKE MAGNESIUM TABLETS, BUT NOT ALL WORK. tHE TABLETS i FOUND WORKED WERE MAGNESIUM WITH MAGNESIUM OXIDE, OROTATE AND AMINO ACID CHELATE AND SOME ZINC AND CALCIUM. iT IS BY CENOVIS AND IS CALLED MAGNESIUM PLUS. aLSO MAG-PHOS CELL SALTS WORK. i TAKE 5 40MG MAGNESIUM TABLETS A DAY.

i TAKE LOTS OF VITAMIN C (3000 MG A DAY), A MULTIVITAMIN, IMMUNE BOOSTING HERBS,AND A LIVER DETOX AND SOME AMINO ACIDS.

aT THE MOMENT THE SYMPTOMS ARE REDUCING. (iT HAS BEEN 6 WEEKS)
SINCE THE SYMPTOMS STRUCK. i SWALLOWED SOME AMALGAM A WEEK OR MORE BEFORE THE SYMPTOMS (WHICH INCLUDED A VENTRICULAR HEART ARRHYTHMIA) STRUCK.

a VEGA MACHINE LADY SUSPECTED MERCURY POISONING FROM THE AMALGAM AND TOOTH LEAKING. cHECK OUT THIS WEB SITE WWW.BCD.COM.AU TO CHECK OUT IF THE SYMPTOMS FOR MERCURY POISONING FIT YOU. i FOUND REFERENCE TO MOTOR NEURONE LIKE SYMPTOMS AND AN ALS TYPE DISEASE AT THIS SITE, BUT YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH THE SITE THOUGHLY TO FIND THE INFORMATION.

i CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE INFORMATION AT THIS SITE IS VERY INTERESTING. tHEN CHECK THE NET FOR AMALGAM AND MERCURY POISONING SYMPTOMS.

i WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN OF ANY HELP TO ANYONE? AND PERHAPS SOMEONE MIGHT ENLIGHTEN ME AS WELL?.  

[awzem]

One other point is that I have had a negative brain MRI and Cervical Spine MRI in between the 2 surgeries. All labs normal except for a once elvated CK that was normal on follow up. Thanks for your thoughts.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Please keep in mind I have never personally examined you nor have I reviewed your history in detail.

Ok, first of all it doesn't sound like ALS.  Second, it's actually quite possible that you do have BFS as the disc problem in your lower back certainly wouldn't be causing the symptoms in your lips and arms as you say.  One of the triggers of BFS is stress, both physical and psychological.  And it sounds like you had your fair share of both.  So (just a theory) it's possible that your complex back problem brought out or triggered your current bout of BFS.  If of course you develop progressive weakness and wasting of muscles, then go back and see your doc. Otherwise the twitching tends to go away on its own in most people.  As for the numbness, again that doesn't go along with ALS, but it could represent early carpal tunnel.  If it gets worse, consider a neuro consult and possibly an EMG. Good luck.