Is muscle weakness/tension an anxiety symptom? (ALS anxiety)

[elly2978]

Hi there,
I've been having a lot of anxiety about ALS recently, and thought I'd ask around... does anyone experience muscle weakness or tension as an anxiety symptom? Last week, I started having a lot of pain in my legs, accompanied by twitching. Yesterday, the sharpish cramping pain is gone, but my lower legs (in my shins) ache like they would the day after you exercise a lot. They also feel stiff and twitchy, and then feel weak when I walk or stand, because they are stiff. The pain was only in my right leg, but this weak/stiff feeling is in both. I didn't exercise much before, and I haven't at all since this started, besides walking around campus. I'm also only 19, so I do know I'm not exactly in the risk bracket.

I did see my doctor, and am getting an X-ray (to test for a slipped disk or pinched nerve) and an EMG (I assume to test for neurological issues?) next week.

Does this sound like an anxiety symptom to you? I often get physical anxiety symptoms, usually shortness of breath, but I've never had this one before. Also, has anyone else had ALS issues in the past?

Thanks for your help :)

[hoov22]

Yep, I get pain in my feet with twitching, tingling and buzzing and sometimes pain in my hands...like I have been on my feet all day or lifting heavy things with my hands (which could be the case as my daughter is about 11kgs now!). I have been given a slip to go and get a lower back MRI as I do have back issues which come and go so I'm not sure if it anxiety related or back realted...probably both!!! Will get the MRI donw once my flu has gone. I remember sickpack telling me once about ALS and how the twitching etc.. comes on once the illness is well developed and the weakness is such that you can not function normally....therefore I don't and I seriously, seriously doubt you have ALS. Weakness associated with anxiety does allow you to function, you just feel weaker and out of sorts...

Hope this helps :)

[sixpack]

yes---pretty much a hallmark of anxiety.

ALS is a common fear but it is rare and even moreso for people under age 50.  What you are describing doesn't sound like ALS at all to me.

[elly2978]

Thank you both :) I'm glad it doesn't sound like ALS. I guess when I read "muscle weakness" on a symptoms list, I'm not really sure what that means- how much weakness? Stiffness-like weakness? Etc Etc.

[shade]

OMG when my anxiety is high, my legs always feel weak.  Sometimes for weeks.  Then if you google it, well, you know how that goes...Your symptoms do not sound serious and DO sound like good ol' anxiety!

[sixpack]

The weakness is substantial.  It is not what folks with anxiety experience---feeling weak.  It is actual measurable weakness----like you can't grasp the handle of the frig door....

[elly2978]

Ah... just read the sticky about MS, and I feel somewhat silly now. I'm sure ALS worries are a frequent repeat post- sorry! The weakness I have does sound like anxiety weakness then (plus probably an actual strain in my quad muscle or something)- I've just never had anxiety weakness before, I usually have breathing issues. My mind must be getting more creative 

[jack1000]

ALS is an on again off again fear of mine and many others here

Still suffering with mouth tension and the mind wanders

On the other hand did manage to dig a 500 ft trench today ... I did use a trencher, but it was like pushing and pulling a reluctant hippo up a hill backwards.   I don't think I would have managed that with ALS.   

I had a close friend with ALS and he died he couldn't even move his arms at all enema fairly soon after his diagnosis, but he could walk, he couldn't talk well.   He did amazing things after his diagnosis, but it is very very rare.     I think you have about the same odds as being hit by lightning but anxiety hits at least 7% of the population more or less chronically, or so I have read.

[jack1000]

Enema ..... Hahaha ..... iPad changing wprds on me ...tried to type even

[elly2978]

So when my legs ache at the end of the day (like they do today)... is that just from anxiety, or leg pains from a specific cause (like straining a muscle, etc.)? They're not aching more because they are weaker than they used to be, and I was walking on them?

[elly2978]

Ok, sorry to be so paranoid... but I just read an article about a 19 year old Georgia Tech student who was diagnosed with ALS when he was 19... I know this is a very rare case, but its still freaking me out- any help? My legs still feel a bit weird when I walk, especially my right leg, but this is probably perceived weakness... it's not a sign of actual weakness, is it? Does actual weakness come on gradually, or hit all at once?

Thanks... sorry...

[SkittishSari]

OMG when my anxiety is high, my legs always feel weak.  Sometimes for weeks.  Then if you google it, well, you know how that goes...Your symptoms do not sound serious and DO sound like good ol' anxiety!

ditto!

[elly2978]

So, lo and behold, I woke up this morning and my legs weren't sore anymore.

I have absolutely no explanation for this. I was more anxious about it really being ALS last night than I had been in a while, so it wasn't me letting go. I didn't exercise or not exercise more than I have been. Maybe it had something to do with cracking my ankle and knee really REALLY hard last night. Or maybe magical anti-hypochondriac fairies fixed it for me.

However, I do know that ALS doesn't go away, get better, and then come back. It is always getting worse. So, any weakness I have is not from ALS. And yes, I have twitching, but really, I don't know many engineers that haven't had a twitching problem at once time or another.

So, I have no idea what the problem might be (perhaps a pinched nerve as the doctor suggested?  ), but I'm not going to die this year (as long as I stay away from city buses and the hydrofluoric acid at work). Woot 

[sixpack]

So, lo and behold, I woke up this morning and my legs weren't sore anymore.

I have absolutely no explanation for this. I was more anxious about it really being ALS last night than I had been in a while, so it wasn't me letting go. I didn't exercise or not exercise more than I have been. Maybe it had something to do with cracking my ankle and knee really REALLY hard last night. Or maybe magical anti-hypochondriac fairies fixed it for me.

However, I do know that ALS doesn't go away, get better, and then come back. It is always getting worse. So, any weakness I have is not from ALS. And yes, I have twitching, but really, I don't know many engineers that haven't had a twitching problem at once time or another.

So, I have no idea what the problem might be (perhaps a pinched nerve as the doctor suggested?  ), but I'm not going to die this year (as long as I stay away from city buses and the hydrofluoric acid at work). Woot 

someitmes legs get tired/jerky/achy etc from just daily use.  And sometimes it is the residual anxiety just wearing a body out.  Think about an adrenalin rush.  Don't you feel jittery or exhausted and tired muscles afterward?  I sure as heck do.  Anxiety makes your adrenaline go almost none stop.  It will wear you out.