@dashboardben
You may want to get checked by a neurologist for a pinched nerve in your neck causing radiculopathy down your arm. You could also see an orthopedic spine specialist since this could be a structural/mechanical issue and not necessarily a nervous system disease.

@dashboarden
I definitely think your doctors need to rule out everything else before landing on ALS. It is important to look at symptoms and diagnoses that mimic ALS.

I thought I might have ALS and my neurologist ruled out MS. I had a lot of autoimmune and neurological blood work to check for deficiencies and toxicities plus autoantibodies.

Take a look at the links below. I needed to work through 8 years of diagnoses to get to iron deficiency, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, cervical degenerative myelopathy and radiculopathy plus lumbar spinal stenosis/disc degenerative disease and neurogenic claudication which was behind my long list of symptoms.

1.
https://www.healthline.com/health/diseases-that-mimic-als
2.
https://www.als.net/news/als-mimics/
3.
https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.90.15_supplement.P4.465
4.
https://scarysymptoms.com/2017/09/22-diseases-mimic-als-symptoms-can-lead-misdiagnosis/

@dashboardben
See response above. My @address got shortened.

I can see that you are justifiably concerned, and anxious, and worried! My reaction was very similar to yours, so I truly understand, and can surely empathize with you! If a patient is concerned about symptoms, that they perceive to be possibly serious, suspecting an extremely debilitating condition like ALS, it can cause overwhelming anxiety. So, when I had fasciculations with my forearms, in particular, on and off, for around 6 months, I was concerned too! In the small town I lived in, there were no neurological specialists, and so my General Practitioner gave me an EEG test, and brain scan tests, at the local hospital! Nothing was found to be out of order, according to the results. So, over the next several years, the fasciculations eased up a bit, but I had several other neurological symptoms, like freezing and falling episodes. After one bad fall, where I lost consciousness, and had a concussion, 2 black eyes, and blunt force head trauma, with further testing, the GP couldn't determine what was wrong, Frustrated, my daughter decided that we should move from our small town, to the bigger city, where there is a major regional hospital, with specialists, where she and her family lived. We moved there, and she made an appointment for me, with an Internist! After examining me closely, he said that he found some troubling neurological signs, that went along with symptoms I was experiencing, so, before I could leave the office, he called a neurologist and made an emergency appointment for the next day! The neurologist, a very experienced clinician, suspected that I was suffering Parkinsonism symptoms. After testing, including a trial run, of my being prescribed Levadopa, the neurologist diagnosed me with Parkinson’s Disease! I was glad that ALS was ruled out; however, Parkinson’s has it’s own set of neurological signs and symptoms, that can be very challenging, especially as the disease progresses! I was diagnosed 7 years ago, and progression set in the last several years, where now I have great difficulty walking, and my autonomic system is sometimes, compromised! I’ve had physical therapy, which helped, and my levodopa dosages have been increased, but, especially this last year, mobility has become a big issue for me! Wishing you good luck, as you are seeking a diagnosis, for your fasciculations!

I would not be too concerned. ALS usually manifests with fasciculations in multiple muscles, and since you are only experiencing infrequent fasciculations in a single location a neurologist would likely just follow your situation for several months to see if there are any changes. If you do not have any muscle weakness or atrophy that would also be a good sign. It could be nothing, or it could be something innocuous like BFS.

While you shouldn't ignore it, I doubt that you have reason to panic.

I have to have a three limb EMG on Feb. 11 since I am having nonstop fasciculations in several muscle groups and have been having sporadic facsiculations in various muscles. I'm crossing my fingers that it is BFS rather than ALS. All other causes have been ruled out is it coming done to one or the other.

Good Luck!

There are motor neuron diseases besides ALS. Mine started in May 24 when I was lifting some dishes to put away. All of a sudden there seemed not enough strength. I also had some nerve twitching and my left arm got worse. My right arm is still pretty strong and although my legs are weak, I can still walk short distances, need help with steps. I won't bore you with further info.
Specific info I am glad to answer. It is good to get nerve testing done. Also get your neurologist
to get you into PT and OT, physical therapy and occupational therapy. If you have ALS, the plan is to try and keep your strength but NOT to overdo it. Keep busy, don't be a couch potato. Best to you.

Hi my names wez I'm 36 and I'm worried sick I might have als , about 7 or 8 years ago I noticed my left triceps had disappeared overnight and I was much weaker in the gym on 1 side as started physio for a while and wasn't getting better any about 3 years later I had an emg test which came back good as far as I know there was no mention of ALS, but my arm is getting smaller I've got twitches all over , it's now Been atleast 7 years since my first symptom n now I've just had an MRI n there saying they think I've had c7 nerve compression and I meed another emg , now I'm confused I'm worried I feel like I'm wasting away and counting down the days