Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Question Title: Fasciculations that hurt!

Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Fibromyalgia


I have had a cyclical malady for 8 yrs. The cycles are not regular, sometimes last for weeks or months. When "it" hits, I have chronic fatigue to the point of not being able to get out of bed, my "bones" hurt & I ache all over w/severe pain, my calves fasciculate constantly at a rapid rate & thus my muscles ache, & I have irritable bowel syndrome. When "it" goes away, almost automatically I wake up & don't have these other symptons. No one has been able to diagnose the problem - Neurologist said CIDP, then said NO. In my reading, my question is, "should fasciculations if they are benign, hurt?" What medication can be taken to lessen fasciculations? And does fibromyalgia cycle like this? HP

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Fasciculations are sometimes described as annoying but rarely painful. I wonder if in the muscles that might be fasciculations could be experiencing cramps. In syndromes with fasciculations, cramps can occur and can be quite troubling. There are no treatment for fasciculations (and as they are not troubling, none is needed), but frequent and disturbing Cramps can be treated with medications such as Quinine, phenytoin, or carbamazepine. Obviously, these medications have there own side effects, so if you suspect these are cramps, your neurologist would be able to tell you more.
Lastly, your question re: Fibromyalgia. As I've stated before on this forum, a neurologist is often the wrong person to ask about fibromyalgia, because many disagree with rheumatologists about it's incidence, diagnosis, or even its existence. It is a vaguely defined syndrome with little objective findings. That being said, descriptions of fibromyalgia are generally not the cyclical course you describe.

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