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What Causes Fluttering Sensation In The Lip, Legs And Abdomen While Having ALS?
Question: I am experiencing a flickering sensation in my lip, legs, and abdomen. I try to look at the area when the sensation arises, but it always stops before I can look. My concern is I have ALS.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question and I understand your concern, a common one for many people (I suspect since the ice bucket challenge).
However I do not think that to be the case. Your age alone makes it very unlikely to have ALS, it is very rare before the 40s (not impossible, but very rare).
Furthermore the symptoms do not fit either. It is true that in ALS there is muscle twitching, fasciculations. However that twitching is usually on top of muscle weakness, not alone, it indicates that the muscle has lost its nerve supply for some time and starts to contract on its own. Also fasciculations are not usually on the lips and abdomen.
The typical manifestation of ALS is weakness in one limb which over several months spreads into other areas, in an insidious fashion. Often the patient is not aware about the fasciculations, notices them only when asked specifically.
So this widespread pattern you describe along with the lack of weakness at your age would be enough to say confidently that you do not have ALS.
What could be the cause....the most common one is BFS, benign fasciculation syndrome. It is commonly related to anxiety, however some blood tests for other causes such as electrolyte abnormalities (calcium and magnesium in particular) and thyroid dysfunction are advised.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question and I understand your concern, a common one for many people (I suspect since the ice bucket challenge).
However I do not think that to be the case. Your age alone makes it very unlikely to have ALS, it is very rare before the 40s (not impossible, but very rare).
Furthermore the symptoms do not fit either. It is true that in ALS there is muscle twitching, fasciculations. However that twitching is usually on top of muscle weakness, not alone, it indicates that the muscle has lost its nerve supply for some time and starts to contract on its own. Also fasciculations are not usually on the lips and abdomen.
The typical manifestation of ALS is weakness in one limb which over several months spreads into other areas, in an insidious fashion. Often the patient is not aware about the fasciculations, notices them only when asked specifically.
So this widespread pattern you describe along with the lack of weakness at your age would be enough to say confidently that you do not have ALS.
What could be the cause....the most common one is BFS, benign fasciculation syndrome. It is commonly related to anxiety, however some blood tests for other causes such as electrolyte abnormalities (calcium and magnesium in particular) and thyroid dysfunction are advised.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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