Constant Twitching

[Christina123]

I am a 31 year old mother of one. I began twitching shortly after a bout with the flu.  Since November 4, 2001 I have had a CONSTANT twitch (never stops) under my right foot that moves my toes constantly.  In the middle of this year both of my elbows developed constant twitches.  My husband can see all of these and doesn't know what to say about it.  Now, within the last month, my left foot is beginning to twitch like my left.  It is not strong enough to move my toes and it comes an goes. But I am afraid it will become as bad as my left foot is.  I did see a neuro off and on before I began having the serious left foot twitch due to random twitching all over my body in 2000.  I have a family history of MS and she ran 2 separate MRIs (the last one with and without contrast) on both my head and spine.  They were totally clear.  She has ruled out MS.  My EMG was conducted before the constant twitch developed in my right foot.  She said the needle part was clean but the nerve conduction showed slow responses in both lower legs.  She said it wansn't a huge difference from normal but it was "slightly" off.  The neuro advised me that I have a peripheral neuropathy but did not suggest treatment.  I do not have any weakness at all so I am not worried about ALS. Shoud I be? What I do wonder is if peripheral neuropathy could spread throughout my body and present in twitches in various places. What can I do to make them go away? Should I return for an additional EMG? I'm scared to learn something serious may be wrong. Is it normal to have this in the same place on both sides of my body?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Doesn't sound like ALS to me either. A peripheral neuropathy (which is usually symmetric, affecting both sides of the body) can cause muscle twitching in the areas that are affected. There is also a possibility that this represents benign fasciculation syndrome. Quinine can be helpful for muscle cramps and twitching, although this needs ot be cleared by your doctor as some people with pre-existing heart disease can run into cardiac rhythm trouble. Soda water contains small amounts of quinine that's relatively safe and has been helpful for some patients. Magnesium and Calcium supplements can also help to some extent.  A repeat EMG is something to consider to further evaluate the possibility of a peripheral neuropathy. Blood work should also be considered to look at potential causes. I can understand your concern about this being something serious, but in my opinion it's better to know what it is so you can get the right treatment as needed. Good luck.

[mineandours]

Christina, I'm having almost the same kind of problem. Perhaps we could e-mail each other. Sure would like to talk with someone who has the same "worry" as I do. I feel so alone.  My neuro told me that I have benign fasciculations but no one can imagine what it's like. (And I can't still help but wonder where it's going to lead or if will end up being something else.) Actually, I would appreciate hearing from ANYONE who has this affliction.  Maybe we could start a support group.  My e-mail is:  ***@****        My name is Carol.

[ravox]

The benign cramp catch-all is a strange and mysterious basket to be tossed into. Most general practitioners in Canada haven't ever heard of it, and the specialists are busy and vauge enough to be of little use in the area of emotional support. I was given this diagnosis, as a probable, 2 years ago. I was worried about ALS, some doc at a walk-in clinic gave me gen-alprazolam to calm my nerves and it magically reduced the twitching. Several months ago my symptons backed off enough so I could take my life back, the pain, numbness, and cramping really faded. Still have tiny twitches all the time, but I did get my life back, and I don't feel afraid anymore. Ride it out Carol, relax as much as you can. My feeling is that they can spot ALS easily enough, and that there are a number of things that are not as sinister that simply have to be toughed out. I know it is hard. The stress and fear work against you. You'll get through it.

[Christina123]

Hi Carol,

Have you visited the Neuromuscular forum at www.braintalk.org?  Most people on that forum have our exact problems.  I'm so sorry you are frustrated too.  What are your symptoms and what do you think caused them to begin?  I think mine are stress related and also related to a very bad flu I had during the 7th month of my pregnancy in 2001. Christina

[MarcusFarcus]

This is Me:
Extraordinarily fit – very muscular since puberty, yet quite flexible.  Nutritional supplement/Performance Enhancer-Free weightlifter with perplexing strength.  Natural martial artist due to speed, strength, flexibility, and balance.

Nerve Problems – started at age 25 with annoying twitches over my entire body.  Over 7 years, have become more pronounced, and include sensations of pain and heat, especially in the hands and feet.  Also developed at same time “fits” during sleep (as reported by former spouse), consisting of violent kicking of both legs for several minutes.

My suspicion:  The same genetic predisposition that has given me freakish physical abilities is the same factor that has caused enough pain and suffering to cause me to contemplate suicide on many occasions. (This note is being composed at 4:30 a.m. due to extreme discomfort in the feet).

Less formal explanation:  I think I’m screwed.  I’ve been reading FAQ’s on Parkinson’s, MS, and all kinds of other neurological disorders for a couple of years now, and undergone different tests in the military to try and find out what’s causing my problems.  All have been fruitless so far. After reading the postings of many, many people who have similar symptoms, I think I’m bound to live the rest of my life in a real uncomfortable state without every knowing the exact cause.  I hate to sound so negative, but I’m getting worn down by the condition, and the lack of hope.
Since this is a “Question Forum”, my biggest question is ‘how much worse could I get’?

Good Luck to anyone else who may receive this note.

My name is Marcus Anthony Anderson, and my e-mail is marcus_anderson_wi***@****

[Christina123]

Marcus -

I am sorry to hear of your problems.  I know how you feel.  I really do!  Have you tried reducing strees, vitamins and yoga?  Also, are you the Marc Anthony that posts on braintalk?

Christina

[scaredy cat]

I also have been affected by twitching, burning numbness and pins and needles. I am 31 and shudder at the thought of living with this my whole like or even worse - it getting worse. I'm a mystery to all the doctors and have now considered eastern medicine as a help..such as acupuncture. Has anyone tried this route? Did it work?

Also - for all of you who are in the throws of this experience - make sure you ask your doctors to test you for b-12 deficiency. I have been checked and found that I have no b-12 in my system which can lead to nerve disfuction. Have been getting b-12 injections for 2 years - it helped the twitching a bit but it still comes back now and again, plus new symptoms of pins and needles have appeared since. Also - I am considering that I might have been exposed to too many solvents over the years - as I am a painter and I have been around nast solvents for years. I'm sure it has something to do with.

For the gentleman who feels powerless - the only thing I can recommend is to try and take charge of your life. First - go see a therapist. You need a support system to deal with this. Second, take charge of your health...try cutting out bad eating such as your caffine intake. Caffine is very nasty for twitches. Adjust everything harmful that you do to yourself and see if it changes your symtoms. Take charge of your problem and figure out if anything YOU are doing that is making your symptoms worse or better.

Since this has started for me about 3 years ago I have changed my eating and my life and found if does help. Being ill is the great clarifier. If there are behavors in your life that are toxic or people that are toxic - get rid of them. You are ill and you have to put yourself first - and this includes taking care of yourself. I swear taking charge of your own health can help. At the very least it gives the illusion of progress which is comforting.

I am also interested in corresponding with people with the same symptoms. I can be reached at kitty_craft***@****

Best.
Pamela

[scaredy cat]

I also have been affected by twitching, burning numbness and pins and needles. I am 31 and shudder at the thought of living with this my whole like or even worse - it getting worse. I'm a mystery to all the doctors and have now considered eastern medicine as a help..such as acupuncture. Has anyone tried this route? Did it work?

Also - for all of you who are in the throws of this experience - make sure you ask your doctors to test you for b-12 deficiency. I have been checked and found that I have no b-12 in my system which can lead to nerve disfuction. Have been getting b-12 injections for 2 years - it helped the twitching a bit but it still comes back now and again, plus new symptoms of pins and needles have appeared since. Also - I am considering that I might have been exposed to too many solvents over the years - as I am a painter and I have been around nasty solvents for years. I'm sure it has something to do with.

For the gentleman who feels powerless - the only thing I can recommend is to try and take charge of your life. First - go see a therapist. You need a support system to deal with this. Second, take charge of your health...try cutting out bad eating such as your caffine intake. Caffine is very nasty for twitches. Adjust everything harmful that you do to yourself and see if it changes your symtoms. Take charge of your problem and figure out if anything YOU are doing that is making your symptoms worse or better.

Since this has started for me about 3 years ago I have changed my eating and my life and found if does help. Being ill is the great clarifier. If there are behavors in your life that are toxic or people that are toxic - get rid of them. You are ill and you have to put yourself first - and this includes taking care of yourself. I swear taking charge of your own health can help. At the very least it gives the illusion of progress which is comforting.

I am also interested in corresponding with people with the same symptoms. I can be reached at kitty_craft***@****

Best.
Pamela

[armistead]

About eight years ago I developed twitching in my legs. I was told they were benign fasiculations. Then two months ago my whole body fell apart. I spent three days in cardiac ward, had
a cath done, everything was fine. I stayed dizzy for a month, then started getting burning pain in my flanks and groin. Then the twitching took over my whole body. The pain got so bad in my groin that I couldn't walk, then it spread to my testicles and penis, buttocks, and back of thighs. The neurologist has ran several test, all normal results. The urologist has done the same. All blood work is norma. HIV negative. I just spent three days in the hospital because of the pain and had a complete MRi of my spine, results normal. EMG and NCV also normal. having muscle biopsy done next week. My life is a nightmare now. On so many meds that I can hardly function. Why can't I get an answer?

[sindiveri]

Just wanted to mention i'm new to this board but i've had trouble with the twitching all over my body also. My events we're weird though.  I started off with pain in my knee that eventually ended up in my right quadricep being paralized with marked atrophy.  Eventually my use did return. Ive done it all like you have, EMG (was messed up when the leg was paralized), spinal tap, and Tons of MRI's.  All we're normal which gives relief.  But the day after my lumbar puncture i started to twitch. Her it is 6 months later and though my leg still works, it gets pain like athritis in the knee and itchy.  But what annoys me is my twitchin in my ankles, back, triceps, feet.  Hell there everywhere.  IT's hard for people to understand cause sometimes i feel like one of my twitches is gonna keep going into a seizure or something.  SOmetimes it's just a quick jerk, other times it's like 5 to 7 seconds. Never more than that though.  Occurs alot more when im sitting still or going to sleep too.   I wonder like the rest of you if it's something bigger that's coming after all i went thru and that i'm only 26.  ALl i can do is live my life to the fullest. But everytime i get sick now (for istance right now i have strep throat)  I freak out, thinking it will develop into something bigger, or i'll go paralized or something.  WEll if anyone who twitches wants to chat, drop me a line....  I take no meds for anyof thise and see a neuro every 6 months.

***@****, ***@****.

[uk_paul]

Hi, My name is Paul, a 37 year old father of two living in Surrey, England.

Since about August last year I have been experiencing a twitch in my left eyelid.  A couple of weeks before Christmas, looking on the internet I worried myself finding that it may be a symptom of MND (ALS) or MS. I immediately booked a doctors appointment, and was told it may be due to stress and too much caffeine.

I spent most of the Christmas period very worried that it was more serious than this. I also have started experiencing twitching in my other eye (although strangely my first eye has almost stopped completely), constant twitching in my right leg (especially calves), random twitches in various places (thigh, arm, lips, hip) and a sort of tingling under my eyes.

The twitching in my leg is difficult to describe. It is more a tingling as though a constant small electrical current is passing though my calves.

Anyway, today I came across a couple of forums, including this one, which have given me some reassurance. I don't think I have any other symptoms such as muscle weakness, and am still able to go running, etc. So I am hopeful that what I have is BFS.

regards and hopefully a Happy New Year to us all.

Paul Speller
(***@****)

[lilmomyt]

Hi, I've been having the same nerve twtchings as most of you have.  It first started in January 02' were I was getting these weird movements in my lower legs at the side.  I thought I was having bad circulation or even a blood clot.  I would stretch my leags and elevate my feet.  I even went to the ER thinking this pulsating clot would turn into an embolism and got to my heart.  The ER doctor sian I had no clot and everything is fine.  I just needed to stretch my legs and stop having it in one position for a long time.  But this clot I thought I had was something different.  It now felt like my muscles were jumping and I could even see it as I sit in bed.  I told my practitiomer about it and she said I may have low calcium, so she would check my calcium levels.  This was in July 02'.  It is now october 02' and the muscle twitches started moving else where in my body.  IT went to my thighs.  The nerves in my thigh were firing for 5 secs. then stopped for a few and will happen again.  Then it started in my upper arms then the muscles around my eyes were jumpimg like crazy.  This was when people could actually see the twiching, I knew something is going wrong with me.  I called back my doctor and told her that the nerve twiching in my legs has progressed to wher my eyes were twitching.  She said that my calcium levels are normal, so it's not that.  She told e that she would give me a referral to see a nuerologist.  I made an appointment to see the neurologist. My twiches had progressed whee I would now get it in my lower arms, shoulders and even the muscles in my head (which first I thought my brain) was wiching the same. It was like something was moving in my head.  This was when I got really scared. It then progressed to my thumb.I went to see the neurologist in December.  He interviewed me and asked if I had Epilepsy and I said no.  He then asked if I have family with any neurological problems and I said no.  I then explained briefly about the symptoms that I was having and how i thought it was probalbly due to stress fo school.  He did a neuroloical exam in which he tested my reflexes in mu knees,elbows, foot, etc.  He even tested my hand strength.  He asked me if I had any type of pain from my shoulders down to my arms before and I told him yes.  He said that he does not know what it is that he is treating so he gave a prescription for Zenaflex which is a muscle relaxant.  He said that I would have to get my muscles tested by EMG. Now I waited for January for the test.  During my witing period, the twiches moved to the muscle in my abdomen and thoacic area then I even felt slight twitches in my neck muscles. I now get these pin point paint in the muscles.  This even got me real scared because I've been surfing the internet on what I might have.  I clicked on a site about ALS in which one of the symptoms are muscle twitches that leads to loss of functioning of your respiratory muscles and the ability to breathe on your own. Now I am totally freaked out, worrying I have ALS. It' like every other day i'm on the internet looking for what I may have and praying to God that I don't have ALS. I went to get the EMG done.  The doctor first did a nerve conduction test.  He said that everything is fine.  Then he did an EMG (the one in which they stick you with these electrode needles).  HE asked me if I have these muscles twitches occur on one side of the body than the other and I told him yes.  HE said that I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on my left hand (I guess it's due to my excessive writing in Nursing school).  He also told me that I have another nerve disorder which I forgot the name of because it is hard to say.  But he said it's an inflammation of the nerve plexus in the spinal column. It was a relief that it's not ALS but my diagnosis is not confirmed until my doctor sees it and tell me what I actually have, so I am still nervous and waiting for the end of January to get the news from my neurologist.  Pray for me...
                                         Pam

[thesickone]

A related discussion, random twitching... was started.