ALS, otherwise called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a type of degenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscles. The symptoms include difficulty walking, falling, leg weakness, muscle cramps or twitching, and behavioral changes.
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I have been experiencing muscle twitches all over my body. Kindly help.
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 48-year-old male in generally good health. For the past year, I have been experiencing muscle twitches all over my body, not all at once. My right thigh may twitch for several days then stop. Then my left shoulder, or ankle, or bottom of my foot. I searched plenty about it and c... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I am gone through your history. You are having unexplained twisting movements of muscles and weakness on the left upper limb. Your history does not mention any sensory symptoms or urinary bladder symptoms. Hence, I am assuming it normal. You are suffering for a year, ... Read Full »
Can anxiety could cause foot drop and twitches in the body?
Query: Hi doctor, I am a 26 year old female, and I developed foot drop five weeks ago, the foot was numb, and I could not dorsiflex it. But, now I can dorsiflex, and the steppage gait has disappeared unless I walk long distances. I have more power in the foot now, but it is still a lot weaker than the othe... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is good that your foot drop is improving in a five weeks period. The twitches that you are feeling may be due to anxiety also. If it was ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), the foot drop would be unlikely to improve. As it is improving, it is unlikely to be ALS. D... Read Full »
I have had muscle spasms and twitching constantly. Please help.
Query: Hi doctor,I have had full body twitches for one month now along with muscle spasms that sometimes wake me up at night or during nap. The twitches are non-stop. I am concerned about ALS. I have muscle tightness in my left thigh as well. Recently I had two large spasms in that same thigh, which were e... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, We welcome you to the icliniq.com family. I appreciate the confidence you place in me for your healthcare consultation. I understand how you must feel with those twitches, cramps, and the constant fear of ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). It sounds hard and I am so sorry you are experienci... Read Full »
I am worried about having ALS. Please help.
Query: Hi doctor, I am worried about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). I have had a twitch in my left hypothenar muscle intermittently for three weeks or so. Perhaps a few twitches per hour followed by hours of no twitching. I also have twitches in other parts of my body quite regularly though this one ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read carefully your question and would explain that your symptoms are not typical of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Benign fasciculation syndrome, an electrolyte imbalance or thyroid gland dysfunction could mimic this clinical situation. Coming to this point, ... Read Full »
I feel like something is stuck in my throat, that is causing me difficulty swallowing. Please help.
Query: Hello doctor, I began having fasciculations after getting the second dose of COVID vaccine. Then I got COVID last year. For eight months, I was struggling with weakness in my arms and legs, fatigue, and more body twitches. I got an EMG and it was normal. In the eighth month, I was able to start cyc... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. However, I can reassure you that your neurologist is right and your throat and swallowing symptoms are not a kind of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) as it does not cause any sensory symptoms. Instead, I suggest you set an appointment wi... Read Full »
I am suffering from thumb stiffness and muscle pain. Please help.
Query: Hello doctor, Two months ago, I first noticed my right-hand thumb being stiff when using my phone. It subsided after a few minutes and returned to normal. A few days later, while sipping a cup of tea, my thumb began to feel stiff once more and to shake somewhat. I began to worry then. I struggled fo... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read the query, and I can understand your concern. Your symptoms do not seem to be related to ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Your symptoms are more suggestive of carpal tunnel syndrome or a bulging disc in the cervical vertebral column, leading to pain ... Read Full »
Can twitching in the legs occur due to ALS?
Query: Hello doctor, I have a question about twitching in my legs. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Muscle twitching can be related to differential medical disorders: 1. Neuropathy (nerve damage) 2. Thyroid gland dysfunction. 3. Electrolyte imbalances. 4. Muscular disorders. 5. Epilepsy (seizures) or central nervous system disorders. 6. Benign fasciculation syndrome... Read Full »
Can my difficulty in swallowing and left jaw muscle spasm be due to ALS?
Query: Hi doctor, I have had three EMGs in the last 17 months. The doctors say I do not have ALS, but I have new symptoms that correlate with the disease. I was told the last EMG (the other two) were normal, but on the report where the T9 paraspinal was tested, the poly, amp, duration, recruitment, and act... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern and would explain that with three normal EMGs (electromyography), we can exclude ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). I would like to know more about your symptoms and complaints. There are some specific EMG criteria for ALS that a neurologi... Read Full »
Why do I have muscle twitches in the erector spinae while lying?
Query: Hi doctor, I have muscle twitches in my erector spinae when I lie down and relax. Is this common, or could it be ALS? I am so afraid.Kindly help. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Thanks for trusting us with your health care. I can understand your concern. I would like to know some details about your symptoms: Since when did you start experiencing these twitches? Are these twitches visible to family members or only felt by you (but not visible to others)? Do you n... Read Full »
Do I have twitching of different muscles due to ALS?
Query: Hello doctor, The last week and a half every few minutes, I got a muscle twitch in random parts of my body. My left eye twitches more constantly than that. I have general anxiety and major health anxiety which I am wondering can play a role. I have no muscular weakness at all, and no atrophy from wh... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Frequent muscle twitches without any muscle weakness or atrophy and normal reflexes can be due to anxiety. The other possibility can be benign fasciculation syndrome. But before labeling this, it is advisable to rule out other possible grave diseases. Let me suggest a... Read Full »
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