HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Are Tremors And Twitching Of Arms And Legs Symptoms Of ALS?

default
Posted on Thu, 25 Jun 2015
Question: 3weeks ago I had a tremor in my thumb when it was bent. I now feel really weak and feel like I'm shaking all over. I still have muscle strength though. My bottom lip trembles when drinking out of a bottle. I'm having small muscle twitches in arms and legs. They are not painful. It's causing me alot of anxiety. I've been to dr 3 times. They keep telling me it's anxiety. They did blood work. Everything was fine. They just checked my vitamin levels friday and I'm waiting to hear back from them on that. Help please. Also have tight/ heavy feeling in quad muscles.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dariush Saghafi (57 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
ALS is highly unlikely- how about virtually IMpossible?

Detailed Answer:
Good evening. I am an adult neurologist and have reviewed all of your other questions including the ones involving tremor in the thumb and your concerns with ALS.

I agree that ALS based on your symptoms is extremely unlikely in the absence of weakness or other more classical signs of onset for the disease. Furthermore, people who are younger and diagnosed/confirmed with ALS tend to have familial types of ALS as opposed to sporadic. I'm sure you would've mentioned if anybody in your family was positive for ALS.

It is NOT impossible or even unlikely that the trembling be due to other processes such as benign fasciculation syndrome, essential tremor, or as is usually more the case, anxiety syndromes which can be due to stress, fatigue, insomnia, etc.

If blood work and good complete neurological examinations are negative for any type of motor neuron disease, muscular dystrophy, or organic cause of tremor then, I would take all that as very good news because everything else can either be successfully treated or confronted and very successfully dealt with.

Please relax...although I do share your concerns perhaps on "How the Heck could the University of Kentucky get knocked out of the tournament?" LOL.....

What I'm going to do now is settle back now and see if my CAVALIERS can get a little revenge on the West Coast Wazoos! HAHA!

Just keep in mind that your presentation is not consistent in any remote way with ALS or even any type of primary neurological disorder that I can imagine in a 31 year old patient with your symptoms.

You said it yourself, the FEELING of general weakness with COMPLETELY PRESERVED strength constitutes 3 strikes for ALS just based on that fact....we good?

I hope this answer satisfactorily addresses your question. If so, may I ask your favor of a HIGH STAR RATING with some written feedback?

Also, if there are no other questions or comments, I'd appreciate it greatly if you would CLOSE THE QUERY on your end so this question can be transacted and archived for further reference by colleagues as necessary.

Please direct more comments and questions to me in the future at:

bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and I would be honored to answer you and continue this discussion.

All the best.


The query has required a total of 15 minutes of physician specific time to read, research, and compile a return envoy to the patient.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dariush Saghafi

Neurologist

Practicing since :1988

Answered : 2473 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Are Tremors And Twitching Of Arms And Legs Symptoms Of ALS?

Brief Answer: ALS is highly unlikely- how about virtually IMpossible? Detailed Answer: Good evening. I am an adult neurologist and have reviewed all of your other questions including the ones involving tremor in the thumb and your concerns with ALS. I agree that ALS based on your symptoms is extremely unlikely in the absence of weakness or other more classical signs of onset for the disease. Furthermore, people who are younger and diagnosed/confirmed with ALS tend to have familial types of ALS as opposed to sporadic. I'm sure you would've mentioned if anybody in your family was positive for ALS. It is NOT impossible or even unlikely that the trembling be due to other processes such as benign fasciculation syndrome, essential tremor, or as is usually more the case, anxiety syndromes which can be due to stress, fatigue, insomnia, etc. If blood work and good complete neurological examinations are negative for any type of motor neuron disease, muscular dystrophy, or organic cause of tremor then, I would take all that as very good news because everything else can either be successfully treated or confronted and very successfully dealt with. Please relax...although I do share your concerns perhaps on "How the Heck could the University of Kentucky get knocked out of the tournament?" LOL..... What I'm going to do now is settle back now and see if my CAVALIERS can get a little revenge on the West Coast Wazoos! HAHA! Just keep in mind that your presentation is not consistent in any remote way with ALS or even any type of primary neurological disorder that I can imagine in a 31 year old patient with your symptoms. You said it yourself, the FEELING of general weakness with COMPLETELY PRESERVED strength constitutes 3 strikes for ALS just based on that fact....we good? I hope this answer satisfactorily addresses your question. If so, may I ask your favor of a HIGH STAR RATING with some written feedback? Also, if there are no other questions or comments, I'd appreciate it greatly if you would CLOSE THE QUERY on your end so this question can be transacted and archived for further reference by colleagues as necessary. Please direct more comments and questions to me in the future at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and I would be honored to answer you and continue this discussion. All the best. The query has required a total of 15 minutes of physician specific time to read, research, and compile a return envoy to the patient.