Internal Shakes Won't Go Away

[radrhatr]

Several months ago, I had sensation of "bugs" crawling under my skin in my arms, spread to my trunk. At night I would have terrible limb jerks, but these symptoms seemed to subside within a week. I had a hysterectomy several days later and felt fine the first day, but when they gave me Percocet for the pain, I started feeling shaky and the jerks returned. I wrote it off as side effect of medication. However, after returning home, the shakiness has not subsided. In fact,it feels worse. You can't see my body shake, I just feel shaky. My muscles feel jerky when I use them (walking down steps, lifting heavy objects etc.) You can actually see me shake when I hold a pencil to write, or tense up a muscle to use it.

I am also having incredible insomnia. My "shakes" won't let my body shut down to go to sleep. There is some evidence that this may be thyroid related (2 blood tests, elevated T4 of 14.7 and 13.3, uptake with elevated levels at 6 hour reading but normal at 24 hour reading.)I have been on Tapazole for 2 weeks with doses starting at 20 mg/day and now up to 40/mg since yesterday. But the shakes and insomnia have not subsided whatsoever. I have an appointment with an endocronologist next week, but I am skeptical now that this is thyroid related.

Neurologist exam normal, EMG normal. These symptoms are much worse in the morning than in the later part of the day.

I also have some stiffness/weakness in my left hand,pinkie and ring finger stiffen at night.

What can be causing these internal jitters? What can I do to get a diagnosis if it's not thyroid related?

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

Without examining you and reviewing your records, I cannot provide an accurate clinical diagnosis. However, the hyperthyroid state would be high on the list of possibilities. Once this has been adequately controlled other disorders could be considered. To control the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, a small dose of a beta blocker (high blood pressure medication) would be reasonable. The normal neurologic examination and EMG exclude many other diagnoses. The inability to sleep with excessive movements could be related to the thyroid or restless leg syndrome. If this persists after the thyroid is controlled you could ask your neurologist about this possibility. If you still do not find an answer, I would recommend a second opinion at an academic center. Good luck.

[radrhatr]

Also forgot to mention that MRI on brain was normal, MRI on neck was normal. My teeth chatter when I use my muscles to put my top and bottom teeth together. And I also have developed a hypersensitivity to sound in the last few days. Sudden noises or loud sounds pierce through my head. Memory and cognitive skills seem to be impaired, can't recall names or words like I used to.

[debbes01]

Have you had any luck finding out why you have inner shakes and your teeth chatter?
I too have inner shakes (tremors) only visable to me,
and my teeth chatter day and night.
I have had these shakes for two years and do not take
any meds for it.
They haven't become worse or better since I first got them
in October of 2002....and I do not have any other symptoms that accompany this.
My mother says its nerves,(I HAVE been through a lot in the last two years, but things are slowly getting back to normal) my Neuro surgeon felt like it was nerves also, but this has been going on for two years straight now.
I don't smoke, drink or take meds for anything other than an occasional plain aspirin for a head ache.
I have had a diabetes test done in 12/02 but everything showed up normal on that and my thyroid blood test.
I would love to know if anyone else has what I have described.
E-mail anytime. ***@****

[PodPea]

My sister was being driven to distraction with shakes & tremors.  To make a long story short it came down to mercury poisoning from her fillings.  It did not show up on the normal simple blood test.  I am sorry I forget the name of the more extensive procedure for testing but after chelation treatment and removal of fillings that particular problem has subsided.   There was much difficulty finding doctors & dentists who would confirm that amalgam fillings could cause such severe problems but she perservered and licked the problem. I am sure she would give you particulars if you are interested.

[radrhatr]

I did have a mercury test done and my level came back at 0. It was a simple blood test though. I would be very interested in the details of what the test was that your sister had done, how she found a doctor/dentist that treated her, and getting any other particulars. Please let me know any more info. (Sorry it took me so long to respond. I hadn't checked my thread in a long time because it seems like no one responded for a while so I kind of gave up!)

[missboo]

My daughter has been having body shakes and tremors.  Sometimes waking her up at night.  There seems to be no trigger.  MRI and EEG are normal.  She does have 2 yr history of migraines.  Headaches seem to get better as tremors increase.  Any ideas?

[lirio479]

A related discussion, my body shake was started.

[parre]

A related discussion, I'm shaking during my sleep was started.