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I Am Struggling With Some Symptoms, And I Am Hoping
Question: I am struggling with some symptoms, and I am hoping that you can provide me with some guidance. I have been really scared for the last 11 months that my symptoms could be a neurological disease such as ALS. I’m 37 years old, 180 lbs, 5’11”. Here are my symptoms:
- Pain in left thumb when squeezing something hard (for the past 11 months),
but no weakness.
- Pain in the right index finger when it is pushed to the right (for the past 11 months),
but no weakness.
- Muscle twitching:
- About 9 months ago I had a twitch in my right bicep that would occur
on and off most days, but it has been gone for 3 months now.
- My right ring finger twitched on and off for several months but has been
gone for 3 months now.
- Various widespread twitches (totaling 10-20 per day) for the past 9 months.
- I believe I also have had something called “post micturion dribble”
for approximately 6 months (occurred after gaining 20 lbs).
- I’ve noticed that my wrists have an electric shock sensation when I bump
the underside of the wrist hard with something. This seems to have subsided some.
- If I wake up and try to go back to sleep, I’ll sometimes feel a couple of my fingers
make a random movement, like a “sleep jerk”, but not violent. This seems
to have subsided some.
- For the past month or so, my upper arms seem to get sore easily.
I’ve seen two general practitioners, and both did a basic clinical strength test and found no weakness. I’ve had bloodwork done, and the only thing found there was high bilirubin.
Do you think this could be motor neuron disease? These issues came up right at the culmination of a year of extreme mental stress in my life, including me stressing about my blood pressure being too high (which it wasn’t). I’ve been really paranoid about all of this ever since it started, so maybe I’m creating these problems?
- Pain in left thumb when squeezing something hard (for the past 11 months),
but no weakness.
- Pain in the right index finger when it is pushed to the right (for the past 11 months),
but no weakness.
- Muscle twitching:
- About 9 months ago I had a twitch in my right bicep that would occur
on and off most days, but it has been gone for 3 months now.
- My right ring finger twitched on and off for several months but has been
gone for 3 months now.
- Various widespread twitches (totaling 10-20 per day) for the past 9 months.
- I believe I also have had something called “post micturion dribble”
for approximately 6 months (occurred after gaining 20 lbs).
- I’ve noticed that my wrists have an electric shock sensation when I bump
the underside of the wrist hard with something. This seems to have subsided some.
- If I wake up and try to go back to sleep, I’ll sometimes feel a couple of my fingers
make a random movement, like a “sleep jerk”, but not violent. This seems
to have subsided some.
- For the past month or so, my upper arms seem to get sore easily.
I’ve seen two general practitioners, and both did a basic clinical strength test and found no weakness. I’ve had bloodwork done, and the only thing found there was high bilirubin.
Do you think this could be motor neuron disease? These issues came up right at the culmination of a year of extreme mental stress in my life, including me stressing about my blood pressure being too high (which it wasn’t). I’ve been really paranoid about all of this ever since it started, so maybe I’m creating these problems?
Brief Answer:
Clinical features are not suggestive of ALS.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and I would try my best to help you.
I have noted your clinical details. Based on this, the most likely diagnosis is benign fasciculations syndrome (BFS). ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is unlikely in your case. In ALS, there would be muscle weakness as well as muscle wasting (thinning of muscles), which are lacking in your case.
Muscle twitching commonly occurs in BFS, and tends to get aggravated with stress and anxiety.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Clinical features are not suggestive of ALS.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and I would try my best to help you.
I have noted your clinical details. Based on this, the most likely diagnosis is benign fasciculations syndrome (BFS). ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is unlikely in your case. In ALS, there would be muscle weakness as well as muscle wasting (thinning of muscles), which are lacking in your case.
Muscle twitching commonly occurs in BFS, and tends to get aggravated with stress and anxiety.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Brief Answer:
Post micturition dribble is a separate issue.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Post micturition dribble is a separate issue. Moreover, bladder/urinary symptoms are not seen in ALS.
Similarly, muscle soreness and finger pain are also unrelated to BFS. They are likely related to some local issue with muscles.
Electric shock like sensation on bumping wrist is normal (occurs due to mild pressure on nerves located under the skin) and there is no need to worry about it.
Post micturition dribble is a separate issue.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Post micturition dribble is a separate issue. Moreover, bladder/urinary symptoms are not seen in ALS.
Similarly, muscle soreness and finger pain are also unrelated to BFS. They are likely related to some local issue with muscles.
Electric shock like sensation on bumping wrist is normal (occurs due to mild pressure on nerves located under the skin) and there is no need to worry about it.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
So are all of the symptoms I mentioned, including muscle soreness and pain in the fingers, associated with BFS?
Also, do you think the post micturion dribble is a separate issue?
Also, do you think the post micturion dribble is a separate issue?
Brief Answer:
Yes, muscle pain is not a feature of ALS.
Detailed Answer:
Muscle pain is not a feature of ALS.
If dribbling of urine is minor, it can be ignored. However, if it is recurrent, or getting worse over time, it would need to get evaluated by a Urologist.
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM
Yes, muscle pain is not a feature of ALS.
Detailed Answer:
Muscle pain is not a feature of ALS.
If dribbling of urine is minor, it can be ignored. However, if it is recurrent, or getting worse over time, it would need to get evaluated by a Urologist.
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Ok, good to know.
So my understanding is that the muscle pain also points away from ALS, is that right?
And if the dribble isn’t causing me any problems, is that something that I should have checked out?
So my understanding is that the muscle pain also points away from ALS, is that right?
And if the dribble isn’t causing me any problems, is that something that I should have checked out?
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