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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Does amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cause numbness in the hands?

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Is it necessary to perform a tracheotomy in the late stages of ALS?

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How do people with ALS eat if they can't swallow?

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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.