Do people with ALS experience frequent muscle twitching?

Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
Updated on September 21, 2024
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Muscle twitching in people with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) can be very frequent. When muscles in ALS patients experience spasms, irritation, weakness, or fatigue, twitching is likely to occur. Muscle twitching in ALS patients is generally very frequent and is related to the disease. ALS, often referred to as motor neuron disease, is caused by degenerative changes in the central nervous system, such as the spinal cord and brain, leading to damage in the neuromuscular system, resulting in muscle atrophy, twitching, and tremors. It is advisable to seek medical evaluation and, once diagnosed, pursue active treatment which may include nutritional support, massage acupuncture, and functional exercise.

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Early symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) refers to motor neuron disease, with patients initially showing mainly reduced hand strength and clumsy fine motor activities, such as difficulty and lack of agility when using a screwdriver. There may also be atrophy of small muscles, such as the interosseous muscles of the hand and the hypothenar muscles, which are commonly seen in clinical settings. Some patients may initially exhibit symptoms like unclear speech, articulation disorders, and coughing or choking while drinking, which are important to recognize. As the disease progresses, the patient's generalized weakness becomes more apparent, with noticeable fasciculations and significant muscle atrophy developing clinically.

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What to do with respiratory failure in the late stage of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is an irreversible disease, also known as motor neuron disease. Its motor function deteriorates progressively and irreversibly. Therefore, in the advanced stages, respiratory failure can only be managed with the help of a ventilator, which assists the patient's breathing mechanically. Consequently, patients typically require a tracheotomy in the late stages of the disease. Once connected to a ventilator via a tracheotomy, the ventilator becomes a permanent necessity. If at any point the ventilator is stopped, the patient would die due to lack of oxygen and the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the body. Therefore, they must wear the ventilator for life. Inevitably, this leads to respiratory-related complications, such as lung infections.

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Do people with ALS feel soreness and pain in their legs when lying down?

People with ALS often experience soreness and pain in their legs when lying down. In patients with ALS, certain neurons in the brain and spinal cord gradually degenerate and die, leading to muscle atrophy, nerve damage, muscle weakness, and stiffness, as if they are frozen. This muscle damage can lead to symptoms such as sore legs, general weakness, and fatigue. Over time, it may also cause difficulties in walking, speaking, eating, choking while drinking water, swallowing, and breathing. This can lead to systemic damage, complications like breathing difficulties, respiratory failure, and ultimately threaten life. The symptoms of leg pain and soreness in people with ALS, when lying down, can be alleviated through acupuncture, physical therapy, massage, and heat application.

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Do people with early ALS have leg pain?

Early-stage ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) patients often experience leg pain symptoms. ALS is generally caused by factors such as inflammatory reactions, genetic factors, neuronal apoptosis, infection, autoimmunity, and metal poisoning. These factors may lead to the degenerative death of nerve cells, causing muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, fasciculations, increased muscle tone, hyperactive tendon reflexes, and symptoms of muscle fatigue, muscle tension, and muscle pain. In the early stages of ALS, muscle fatigue can occur after activity due to lactic acid not being properly expelled, leading to muscle pain. Treatments such as acupuncture, physiotherapy, and massage can be administered to alleviate these symptoms.

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Does amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cause numbness in the hands?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) refers to a motor neuron disease. Patients with this disease generally do not experience numbness in the hands, mainly because it primarily affects the motor system and does not impact the sensory system. Thus, the vast majority of patients will not have sensory disturbances or experience clinical manifestations of numbness in the hands. The specific causes and mechanisms of this disease are still not very clear, but they may be related to genetic factors, the toxic effects of excitatory amino acids, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Symptoms in patients gradually worsen, and respiratory function impairment may also occur. However, so far, there is no effective cure.