Posted , 5 users are following.
hello people for the past week my right thumb has been cramping and twitching. my arm and forearm feel weird as well. ive been getting mini cramps and spasms all over the body. my anxiety has kicked on hardcore and looking to vent and see if anyone is in the same boat. my blood work has been good but im still super scared of als. im 37.
1 like, 7 replies
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jan34534 john75220
Edited
hi John. I’m sorry you are so concerned. anxiety can really do a stress job on our mind..
this is a little long but I wanted to share it with you so you feel a little better.
i I have had anxiety for over 30 years so I know what you’re talking about. I have been through the same concern that you have with ALS starting in my late 20s. I suddenly felt horrible with muscle twitching all over, lightheadedness, floaters in my eyes, weakness, ringing in my ear , and several more sensations. I told my parents I thought I had a neurological disease. My dad took me to a neurologist and all my testing was normal. Basically he told me to go take a vacation. After thinking about all of my symptoms I came to the conclusion that all of my symptoms were due to long-term stress and anxiety starting at the age of six. What happens is that when the body is under a lot of stress, you can have a sort of breakdown and that’s where we get all the weird symptoms. It’s like the straw that broke the camels back. The body can only take so much stress and the symptoms are its way of telling us that there’s too much stress.
years later when I was under stress once more, my symptoms came back and I had the muscle twitching once again. I went and re-search neurologists and I found a very highly rated one. He had a lot of experience and his patients loved him. So I went to him and once again I was terrified of a neurological disease because I also had a very strange sensation in my thigh I could not explain it but immediately I thought of ALS. ( of course my mind always jumps to the most serious conditions )
so this doctor tested my arms and legs strength which was fine. he said that the weird feeling in my thigh is just due to compression of a nerve from the weird way that I sit.
He told me that ALS is not a sensory disease. in other words a person isn’t going to feel sensations such as twitching, cramping, burning or any other weird sensations.
that made me feel 100% better! I have had those muscle twitches on and off for over 30 years. so that alone says that those are not serious. they as well as many other symptoms can definitely be due to anxiety.
of course everyone should get a complete physical check up at least once a year. Of course I cannot diagnose anything but what you have going on really does sound like anxiety. if you want to visit a doctor for peace of mind you could do that and at the same time get your yearly physical. But do you things to relax your mind as much as you can and you should see the symptoms subside at least a little. Take care! ❤
john75220 jan34534
Posted
Are you sure?
joaquin00537 john75220
Posted
Hi, I am experiencing the same thing and also have been having muscle twitches and cramps all over my body. I was also scared that i might have als or also ms which scares me but after going to many doctors and hospitals they were sure its anxiety and not something terrible. I am seeing a neurologist tommorow and he will most likely do a head mri and more test to rule out these diseases but im sure i dont have them. I just want to be sure since my health anxiety also isnt letting it go and i keep having the symptoms.
joaquin00537 john75220
Posted
Hi, I am experiencing the same thing and also have been having muscle twitches and cramps all over my body. I was also scared that i might have als or also ms which scares me but after going to many doctors and hospitals they were sure its anxiety and not something terrible. I am seeing a neurologist tommorow and he will most likely do a head mri and more test to rule out these diseases but im sure i dont have them. I just want to be sure since my health anxiety also isnt letting it go and i keep having the symptoms.
john75220
Posted
My pcp referred me to a neurologist to get their opinion. It is very strange and just as I thought I was coming out of it it hits me again and I start to sit in forums wondering what to say to family and friends if it is really the diagnosis.
vanessavee john75220
Posted
John!
I swear to you that I could have written the exact same post. My right thumb has been so stiff. My forearm feels numb or just "off" at times. I get terrible pins and needles. And I often think that my coordination isn't what it used to be. I even have horrible cramping in my feet and ankles as well as occasional shooting pain in them.
I'm in my mid-20s, so it seems statistically unlikely. but it keeps me up at night, same as you. Been to two neurologists, and they feel quite certain it's not MS or ALS. But the sensations are very scary.
jan34534 john75220
Posted
yes absolutely I am sure. Are you getting the cramping in your dominant hand and arm?
have you thought of possibly having carpal tunnel syndrome in your arm? Do you use that arm for a lot of computer work, etc.? I know you’re getting little spasms and cramps in the rest of your body but they could be due to the anxiety of you worrying about this.
do you get any weakness at all?
Maybe get some peace of mind by talking to a neurologist but
I really think you’re going to be OK.
I really trust and have faith in that neurologist I talked to.! He’s really smart and does lots of research ❤