Fear of ALS
February 16, 2015 | 25,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring
Hello. I am a multiple sclerosis patient and have been experiencing muscle twitching all over (stomach, legs, arms, buttocks, etc.) for about three weeks, as if something is moving underneath the skin. However, my limbs are not actually moving or jerking. Additionally, I have noticed weakness in my left leg. Sometimes my legs and joints hurt, but it usually goes away after about an hour. Now I have read too much on the internet. Everywhere it says ALS. I am only 28 and I am terrified. It started with just my left leg, then after 2 days it was everywhere.
Good evening,
ALS is an extremely rare disease; all the more unfortunate that so many people are afraid of it because it causes such nonspecific symptoms at the beginning. Nervousness and exhaustion can cause muscle fibrillation, rarely are both legs equally strong, and pain in the legs does not fit at all with an early stage of ALS.
The leg weakness could also be due to MS. I believe that the worsening of symptoms is due to nervous tension.
The likelihood of you having both MS and ALS is so low that it can hardly be quantified. So try to compose yourself again. Stop reading about ALS and talk to your neurologist about your symptoms when you have the chance.
I wish you all the best!
Sincerely, Dr. Höllering
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