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Benign fasciculation syndrome (BFS)
Brain & Nervous System | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (415)Comment receiving replies
My son is 20 years old and about 3 months ago, he starting having random headaches and twitches all around his body all day long.
He got a CT scan and an MRI of his brain and they both were fine. His headaches have stopped but his twitches continue. His twitches occur on his shoulders, arms, legs, knees, stomach, and, chest, they last for a few seconds and stop. He does not smoke, does not drink (alcohol or coffee) and does not seem to be stressed; however, he has been in quarantine since March.
He has many blood tests done, also his neurologist checked his strength, did a nerve conduction study and EMG and both were negative. After visiting different doctors, about 2 weeks ago, he was finally diagnosed with BFS.
His muscle on his left calf feels a little different (as if the muscle were tearing), he doesn’t feel any weakness and had some pain about 3 weeks ago, however, his pain has subsided. He got an ultra sound and an X ray of his leg and they were both fine. He is scheduled to have and MRI of his left next week.
His regular doctor recommended him to take vitamin D, magnesium and vitamin B12. He has been doing all that but nothing has changed.
To make it even worse, my younger son (17 years old) started having twitches all around his body about 3 weeks ago. He already got some blood work done and is scheduled to see a neurologist in 2 weeks.
I know the world situation with the Covid 19 (the quarantine, the confinement, the uncertainty of the virus) can make anyone anxious and can cause anxiety and stress to anyone, which I know could be a cause of these symptoms.
It is very bizarre to me that they have both developed the twitches. I don’t know what to do and would like to get an explanation!
As a mother, I am very concerned as my sons are very young.
Replies to "My son is 20 years old and about 3 months ago, he starting having random headaches..."
Hello @tutina, I would like to add my welcome to Connect with @colleenyoung and other members. Here's some information that hopefully will help you understand the condition in layman's terms.
Benign fasciculation syndrome: What causes muscle fasciculations?
– https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320388
To repeat Colleen's questions, are your sons by chance taking the same medication, for example allergies? How long has your eldest son been taking the additional minerals and vitamins (D, B12 and magnesium)?
Hi… I was in my 20s when I got a flu shot and within hours had jumping muscles all over. I went to the emergency room saw numerous doctors and eventually a neurologist. I went to him for a yearfor tests and an MRI and a CAT scan and it was determined I had BFS. In this case I should’ve googled!! My uncle has ALS and just assumed I had some dormant version of ALS that could be turned on at any time. I recently got Botox and it said do not get if you have ALS so I told her I think I have a benign version of ALS. She had never heard of BFS and said she would look into it. She said I can’t believe you haven’t looked into it to see what it is and that she was going to take the time to do it. I told her I didn’t want to know if I was dying. I also told her I could not get the Covid vax because I was afraid to after having that reaction from a flu shot. I think she really wanted to look into it because I really wanted to get the Covid vaccination and just figured I could not. She’s not gotten back to me but she was going to talk to her doctor as well she is a nurse practitioner. After I was told it was benign I never went back to a neurologist again I was too terrified to be told I was dying but after googling it for the first time after this Botox appointment a couple weeks ago I feel like I wasted the last 21 years of my life terrified for no reason. My 17-year-old son has known me only as incredibly anxious always think I’m dying mom. Tell your sons not to worry it’s an annoyance but it will be ok.
I'm so curious that this is happening to both of your sons. I'm also experiencing fasciculations that have been called benign due to stress, but I'm not really stressed (other than about these recent symptoms). It started right after Thanksgiving that my tongue felt like it was alternately burning and numb, then I managed to get Covid over Christmas (meaning I caught it sometime earlier in December). It was relatively mild, and just as the fever was breaking, I started feeling like my limbs were heavy. It went away after a week, but then the fasciculations started above my right knee, and then weakness to the point where I was hobbling around for about two weeks. During that time, the fasciculations spread to other parts of my body and they are still there. The weakness in my legs has almost gone, but oddly has moved from the front of my thighs (just above the knees) to the back of my thighs and calves, and it's turned into spasms instead.
The fasciculations are pretty much everywhere, but mostly in the knees, shoulders, biceps, back, and abs. During this time I went to several doctors, got MRIs for my head, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, and EMG/NCS. All were negative, which I'm told definitely rules out MS and MND (i.e., ALS, etc.). My tongue however has started to feel weak in addition to the numbness and burning. I have no idea if that's related or not, but it seemed to happen in close proximity to the fasciculations and other weakness.
I also, just anecdotally, got fasciculations when I got the Covid vaccine and boosters. Just for a few days up to a week, I would say. Didn't think much of it until this (fasciculations and weakness) started happening.
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Hi @tutina and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion about benign muscular fasciculation. I did this so that you can connect with @captainanxiety8 @summer49 @lizaa and others talking about BFS. I can imagine your concern as your sons are young and that this may be affecting both of them.
Are you sons by any chance taking the same medication, for example for allergies? How long has your eldest son been taking the additional minerals and vitamins (D, B12 and magnesium)?