Back again sadly.

[Jremtx 121]

Hello. This is not my first time going down this worry. It happened back in 2018, where I was focused on my body and twitches. For a whole year my anxiety was thinking I had ALS and it came to the point where I saw a neuromuscular neurologist, they did my EMG and it was clean. Nothing, not even fasics showing on my results. No evidence of NMD or neuropathy. I was happy to let this go and which I kinda did. It was always back of my mind but I moved on with my life. 

Now. A few weeks ago I was helping my coworker out and helped her carry two 12 packs of sodas from her car to our offices which is a pretty long walk and I can tell my hand was tired. So I sit down and I grabbed my soda and I noticed my left hand was shaking. Almost like a tremor. I decided to just relax and not over think but it was it was still on my mind. Couple days pass and I did yard work with the weed eater and my hand was again shaking. I was really concerned and got me worried even more. 

Now whenever I use my left hand I’m seeing if I shake or trembles which it does to a certain degree but nothing like it was before. Now my head is in a big cluster of thoughts thinking is this how ALS starts. I’m doubting myself and rational thoughts. I know this clear symptom is failure. But as you know we try to find certain ways that it applies to us and I can’t seem to move on from this. I even ask my family if my hands are shaking and everyone tells me no. 
 

[Ironman 198]

3 minutes ago, Jremtx said:

Hello. This is not my first time going down this worry. It happened back in 2018, where I was focused on my body and twitches. For a whole year my anxiety was thinking I had ALS and it came to the point where I saw a neuromuscular neurologist, they did my EMG and it was clean. Nothing, not even fasics showing on my results. No evidence of NMD or neuropathy. I was happy to let this go and which I kinda did. It was always back of my mind but I moved on with my life. 

Now. A few weeks ago I was helping my coworker out and helped her carry two 12 packs of sodas from her car to our offices which is a pretty long walk and I can tell my hand was tired. So I sit down and I grabbed my soda and I noticed my left hand was shaking. Almost like a tremor. I decided to just relax and not over think but it was it was still on my mind. Couple days pass and I did yard work with the weed eater and my hand was again shaking. I was really concerned and got me worried even more. 

Now whenever I use my left hand I’m seeing if I shake or trembles which it does to a certain degree but nothing like it was before. Now my head is in a big cluster of thoughts thinking is this how ALS starts. I’m doubting myself and rational thoughts. I know this clear symptom is failure. But as you know we try to find certain ways that it applies to us and I can’t seem to move on from this. I even ask my family if my hands are shaking and everyone tells me no. 
 

If the tremors come after carrying objects, that's not ALS.  That is more or less your muscles not being used to the action...even long after.

I just shoveled snow and the muscles on either side of my back get worked to the point I can tremor and shake.  The next day, it's sore.

I trim my shrubs with an electric trimmer and extend my arms out to trim tall shrubs - my muscles will shake for days because I only do that twice a year. 

It doesn't sound like ALS.

[Jremtx 121]

45 minutes ago, Ironman said:

If the tremors come after carrying objects, that's not ALS.  That is more or less your muscles not being used to the action...even long after.

I just shoveled snow and the muscles on either side of my back get worked to the point I can tremor and shake.  The next day, it's sore.

I trim my shrubs with an electric trimmer and extend my arms out to trim tall shrubs - my muscles will shake for days because I only do that twice a year. 

It doesn't sound like ALS.

That makes sense. Thank you. I’m doing yard work right now and no tremors. I noticed that both of my hands shake a bit but nothing noticeable I think that’s normal? All my family says I don’t shake but if I really concentrate I can see it. Every time I pick up something with my left hand I’m looking at it like a crazy person. I feel defeated. 

[Ironman 198]

25 minutes ago, Jremtx said:

That makes sense. Thank you. I’m doing yard work right now and no tremors. I noticed that both of my hands shake a bit but nothing noticeable I think that’s normal? All my family says I don’t shake but if I really concentrate I can see it. Every time I pick up something with my left hand I’m looking at it like a crazy person. I feel defeated. 

You're actually focusing on something expecting a disaster, though.  I'd gently stretch out the affected muscles.

[Jremtx 121]

1 minute ago, Ironman said:

You're actually focusing on something expecting a disaster, though.  I'd gently stretch out the affected muscles.

Thank you. I’ve been looking at the als forum and feeding my anxiety the last couple of weeks. I really don’t want to go back to the doctors and start this emg journey again. 

[MARC 431]

My friend's wife passed away from ALS in December 2020 and my client's brother-in-law passed away from ALS in December 2017. Neither of them had tremors. Try to also remember ALS is extremely rare with only around 5, 000 cases per year diagnosed. Compare that to cancer and cardiovascular disease and there is no comparison. 

[Bobnnat 496]

All good advice, and I’ll add this. About 6 months ago, I was kneeling on my bed putting pressure on my tight arm. I was in an awkward position, and for about 45 minutes. It was sore when I got up from that position, and a bit later, I noticed that my right upper arm had a tremor every time I raised it in a certain position. It eventually lessened and went away. I had obviously disturbed the nerves and that’s how they reacted.  
 

Seems something similar with you. Causes and effect.  NOT ALS.

[Doggielove 1]

I am in the same hell. Had EMG done month ago and all was normal. Neuro gave me exercises to do when my anxiety is bad and if I can do them, he said most people can't do them with early onset ALS but why do I continue to obsess over this. I just hate this disorder. I do my squats, I balance on each foot. I walk in my heals and tippy toes and hop on one leg 50x each. Then I do feel tremors after I do that which I am guessing is normal as I am out of shape but I still worry and can't get over it. I don't want to go back to the neuro after onky a month again. I am trying to find an anxiety med that will actually help but I also think I need therapy . I know it's a rare disease but it seems that's all I hear about in my head. 

[Mike L 86]

ALS while well known is still pretty rare. I know it isn't easy, but try and retrain how you think. You could Google the rarest of rare diseases and you will come up with horror stories. I am all but 100% certain you do not have ALS! 🙂

[sTeaLth 238]

On 12/26/2022 at 4:38 PM, Jremtx said:

That makes sense. Thank you. I’m doing yard work right now and no tremors. I noticed that both of my hands shake a bit but nothing noticeable I think that’s normal? All my family says I don’t shake but if I really concentrate I can see it. Every time I pick up something with my left hand I’m looking at it like a crazy person. I feel defeated. 

This is my current issue.  I am noticing both hands slightly shake, but nothing extreme or anything.  I am almost positive it is normal and not something to worry about but I can't stop checking for it.  I am not sure how to move past this.  Did this ever stop for you or do you still see it and no longer worry about it?  I noticed it first by holding my phone and seeing the reflection was shaky.  Then started starting at my hands all the time.  Thanks.

[Ironman 198]

13 hours ago, sTeaLth said:

This is my current issue.  I am noticing both hands slightly shake, but nothing extreme or anything.  I am almost positive it is normal and not something to worry about but I can't stop checking for it.  I am not sure how to move past this.  Did this ever stop for you or do you still see it and no longer worry about it?  I noticed it first by holding my phone and seeing the reflection was shaky.  Then started starting at my hands all the time.  Thanks.

It's normal - you just have to stop thinking so much about something that is involuntary.