I have a tight feeling in my left calf for a month with some tingling. Is it ALS?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have a tight feeling in my left calf for a month with some tingling that I can see. I feel some other tingling as well. The onset is sudden in case of tightness or when I am in bed uncomfortably. I have faced no issues of weakness yet. I have been doing calf raises and such to check the calf muscle. I would like to know if these symptoms could represent ALS, in your opinion. Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You have complained of tightness in the left calf for a month. Secondly, you have mentioned tingling, which you can see likely to be fasciculations (twitching of individual fibers seen), which gives you the fear of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). It is not ALS as ALS will not be associated with an asymmetrical onset of calf muscle tightness. Twitching is a common phenomenon, and all patients who have twitching do not have ALS. Twitching can also occur when the muscles are fatigued due to exercise or excessive use, say cycling, etc. Twitching is more common under these circumstances. I feel that the tightness and twitching are due to muscle overuse and will disappear. It does not fit in with ALS, and you have no ALS.

Regards.