I had normal EMG and a Nerve test results, but I’m worried about bulbar.

[Glasseswatery]

I had a nerve test done last summer because I had twitching in my legs. My test results came back normal. At the time my neurologist said “I’m going to prove you that you don’t have ALS.” He assured me that I was fine.

I’ve had more twitching since then in other places like my arms and sometimes my eyelids. I got worried again so I got a referral for another test. This time he tested my legs, arms, neck, and back. This was today. He reassured me that I was fine.

I felt relieved until I read some stuff about bulbar. I guess he didn’t check that region. So I'm worried that ALS is still a possibility. Also, sometimes I’ve noticed that I can’t rapidly move my tongue from side to side. Other times I can.

I was reading about some tests for speech and motor function. I can say “Pa-Ta-Ka” pretty fast, but not really “La-La-Lala” super fast. I have full range of motion with my tongue, but I feel like maybe these things are concerning.

 

[lgelb]

My advice is to stop self-testing and keep living.

Benign twitching all over, including the eyelids, is very common. Hydration, diet, and sleep, along with stress, can all play a role and so they are all worth thinking about to see if you can do better.

It's not necessary to test bulbar nerves to rule out ALS, and it's not going to be ordered without reason since there is usually some discomfort.

 

[Nikki J]

Neck sounds like you did indeed have a bulbar screen tested