Question: I got my left side only EMG on August 6th and the neuro said I was fine (the needle part was only in my left arm and leg and three muscles were tested in each and the electrical part was in all four limbs), but I am terrified I still have this. I had two neuros basically say I don't have it and just said it was all due to stress, but I have read so many different things on the internet I don't know what to think anymore. The symptoms I am experiencing now started on XXXXXXX 12th, but started to get worse around August 13th or 14th.

My first neuro who actually worked with different ALS patients, said that you can't have symptoms months before leading up to a diagnoses of ALS (since I first came to him after only feeling weird symptoms for about 2 weeks). I watched a documentaries of people in their 20's like myself and read things and people will say they felt twitches or a stiff muslces months or even a year before they were actually diagnosed. I also had heard a guy had cramping/stifness start in his forearm, that lead him to the doctor and eventually a diagnoses. That scared me as well, since that's basically what happened to me.)

Also, around last week I went to see another neuro (third one) and I don't believe he was specialized in ALS. He said my lower right leg and a little bit of left had the (hyper reflex) or whatever and it made me even more scared, since I know that can be related to an UMN issue. My other two neuros had never said anything in the past about this.

My current symptoms include, 24/7 cramping/stifness in my right hand, forearm, bicep, shoulder and back and right thumb. I also have twitches all over my upper right side that sometimes hurt, when it jerks the part of the body. I rarely have twitches anywhere else in my body, which made me believe it was not BFS since these twitches seemed to be more focused on my right arm and hand and upper side for that matter. I also occasionally get twitching/spasms right above the right breast and near the armpit and also on the back of my bicep/tricep area as well. Sometimes these twitches can cause a small jerk in my body. Most of the jerks/twitches are centralized right below the inner elbow, more on the forearm. Some are small and some I can see go "boing, boing" if that makes sense.

I also have a buzzing sensation/fast twitching between my right thumb and index finger and for about two weeks now, I have experienced stiffness in the joint of my thumb. Ex: When I go to pick up change from a tray I have in my car, it feels weird and awkward to pick up the coins and hard sometimes because of that stiff thumb and pincher grasp. Even as I type right now, I can feel buzzing or fast twitching in lower palm of right hand.

My right arm also feels weaker and more shaky, compared to my left arm. My right arm gets rather fatigued doing simple things such as brushing my hair, or putting on makeup and especially when I have to use my "pincher grasp" like when writing with a pencil or putting on eyeliner.

I also have stiffness and pain in right knee and sometimes my right foot, but not as often as the arm and twitching in my right calf and thigh area.

I had heard that ALS usually starts with one limb then spreads (that would currently be my right arm). That also scares me too and I have had a lot of blood work done (thyroid, potassium,calcium,electrolytes, etc), and MRi of head and neck, and a spinal tap (the MRI and spinal tap was NOT done by my neuro. The MRI was in March and spinal tap was in XXXXXXX (for pseudo tumor). Is it something I will have to keep an eye on for a couple of months and then get another EMG?

Also, sometimes all the twitching happens at once, like one on right hand and chest or shoulder, etc.

I am taking Celexa (10mg). This is my fifth week and it hasn't done much for me. Neither had Vitamin D supplements or multivitamins I take daily. Also, how fast would weakness proceed if you did have ALS or atrophy, just to get an idea. Thank you.

I also provided pictures of what I perceive as atrophy in right hand and forearm.


Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you. Do you think that these weird symptoms would have been picked up on the EMG two weeks before, when I had it on August 6th? Does ALS progression happen this quick, after an EMG is done? Can stress make one part of body a hotspot for twitching or can BFS be the cause? Thank you.

Thank you. Also one more questi

I'm sorry my question had cut off. Should I be concerned about the fact my thumb on right hand always feels cramped? Could this be due to early ALS symptoms and the contstan twitching and cramping in the same exact places on right side, back, bicep, etc. Like I had mentioned I feel tired in my right arm often, but I am still able to use thumb to text and button up a shirt. Just feels so tired when using a utinsil or having to grasp something. Same thing with arm. Can still do things, just feels so shaky when I move it and also looks shaky as well. Thank you.