recurring symptoms

[kevin53]

I am a 50 yo male who has been experiencing muscle twitching and jerking for about 4 weeks now after feeling numbness in my foot which has since disappeared.  I was treated with cortisone and prednisone for the numbness.   Also, I experience dizziness that seems to be brought about by congestion and is alleviated with sudafed (15mg dose).  About 5 years ago I was diagnosed with vestibular neuronitis which is brought about by congestion,etc.  I have had blood tests, EMG and nerve conduction and they come back all normal.  My primary care physician mentioned MS but thinks it is highly unlikely.  My muscle twitching is in my legs, arms, hands and some times in back and chest (very transient).  So, I am left with nothing conclusive other than it still happens.   The twitching occurs only at rest and my strength, flexibility and endurance are all very good.   However, I am concerned that it could remotely be MS....kinda scary.  My sister believes it may be anxiety as I had some headache, began dreaming vividly and so a great amount of concern (focus) on this health issue.   Is this anxiety related or is it neurological....any help?  thanks

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

It certainly could be anxiety, and could be anxiety that is exacerbated because of the health scare...In the absence of neurological signs, it is your best bet.  You might try a course of anxiolytic medication and see how that helps...or have a consultation with a therapist.

[Raylee]

I have also experienced muscle twitching in my hans, toes, arms, face, eyelids, and also toe cramps at night. I started taking calcium/magensium,potassium and this has helped alot. Also I have had the dizzness with symptoms of vertigo off and on for about 1 year or more. It feels related to my ears, they seem to get congested and I have just this last year developed some allergies like stuffy nose, red, dry, swollen eyes when I go outside. I had a couple bad episodes of dizziness, near faint and had an MRI but is is okay. I think it could be anxiety as I have gotten worse and seemed obsessed with the fact that it could be something serious which makes the symptoms worse. General anxiety disorder can cause muscle twitching, dizziness and all sorts of weird pains and sensations. Read Claire Weekes books on anxiety, she is on the web. You can get her books at amazon.com  Also I have recently gotten in to meditation, 30 minutes a day and this helps. Get a good tape and do it every day.  Good luck.... and don't let the doctors scare you. It is probably just anxiety. Valerian root helps at night to sleep. Just don't get hooked on Xanax as it is hard to get off the stuff. Very addicting but does get rid of dizziness and other neurologic type symptoms.  Our own brain is very powerful and can usually be used to heal anxiety. I am also 50 and my symptoms started when my hormones changed. This can be a very stressful time of change in one's life. Men go through hormonal changes also. My husband had a meltdown at age 50 with anxiety but he came out of it after a few years. If there are emotional pressures happending at the same time this can aggravate things.  Good luck.  Raylee

[Try_to_be_social]

For diagnosis of MS please refer to the link:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Sourcebook-Diagnosis.asp

For symptoms of MS please refer to the link:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/%5CSymptoms.asp

Please consult a neurologist to rule out physical causes of your symptoms before you consider mental causes.

[kevin53]

Going to another Neuro next Tuesday, the 23rd but currently very anxious that the doctor even mentioned MS.   Thanks for you comments.

[TOMCOMPLER]

Kevin, we are just about in the same age group and I am experiencing the same symptoms as you are. One poster did give you a good advise: try meditation.  It's very easy. Here how to do it:

Find a quiet place. You don't need to sit up like Buddha but you can make yourself comfortable. Close your eyes. Concentrate on something such as listening to your breathing. Do not think about any thing so your brain wave can slow down. Let your mind drifting away, away...you will feel some darkness and start to relax. Do it twice a day, each time about 20 to 30 minutes. That does help your symptoms. Good luck.

[kevin53]

Thank you Tom!   How long have you been going through it and what have physicians told you?   I have found the while everyone is reassuring,  I sense some hold back too.  It is very nerve racking to say the least.   Hopefully, I get some clarity on my next visit to the Neuro.

[Try_to_be_social]

Most likely your neurologist will find you are free from physical conditions including MS. This might relieve you most of your anxieties.
You may practice some anxiety managements. One is deep breathing. Take one or more big breaths when you experience any one of your symptoms.
Another is deep muscle relaxation. That is well described by Tom. There are other meditation techniques, namely transcendental meditation. For detail, please refer to the link: http://www.meditationcenter.com/
You can try exercise. Please refer to the link: http://www.wellnessguide.org/staywell/exercise.htm
Prayer will help you if you have a religion.
You may try psychotherapy. Cognitive psychotherapy probably identities your irrational belief that your symptoms mean you are suffering from a serious physical illness, e.g. MS. Then you have to realistic in your thinking. You have no serious illness. The symptoms are just mild anxiety and tension and they are self-limiting. The symptoms may or may not recur. Should they reappear you will treat them in an understanding, realistic and relaxed way.
If nothing works SSRI antidepressants or benzothiazepines will certainly help you.
Finally, you have friends here to help you.

[TOMCOMPLER]

Go back to around the end of August when I first came to this board and asked my first question.

My first symptoms started about 3 years ago. I thought I got a fatal disease. Fortunately, it was not. Once you got those anxiety symptoms, they just linger on and never leave you. Medecines and meditation will help a lot. They do for me.

Good luck.

[Raylee]

Sounds like anxiety. I thought it was my ears but went to ear doc and my hearing and ears are okay. I am reading Claire Weekes books, they are great. "Hope and Help for your Nerves" and "Help from Nervous Suffering". Both describe me to the hilt. What happens is a person's nerves get sensitized and then normal reactions to stress or anxiety get intensified. This can be dizziness, twitching, feelings of weakness,tingling, etc. The nerves just are very sensitive and then with all the obsesscing it becomes and endless cycle. Anyway read her books. They are old, but still worthwhile. They are helping me and I have been suffering for 1-1/2 years. I am finally convinced that I do not have a fatal illness and so just have to work on "floating", as Clarire Weekes says, through the anxiety and not letting fear make it worse. Good luck.

[Suze-ee]

Oh my gosh!  I was just trolling this website for the heck of it and you all have made me very happy!!  I am a 37 year old female, planning to see my doctor next week because I'm just so convinced I have something horrible like - MS!!!  I, too, have been experience things similar to what you are describing.  At night, at rest only.  Usually my legs twitching - you can't physically see them shaking or anything.  It just feels like the insides of them (blood or something) fluttering like mad.  And I've been having vision symptoms too, at rest.  Anyone else?  My vision fluttering upon waking - as though my eyes can't adjust in a room when there's light/dark contrast.  But it all goes away during the day.  I have had the feeling this is all due to stress (I am VERY stressed).  Anyone else with the eye symptoms??