Muscle Spasms (when to be concerned?)

[Ness_is_a_mess]

I am pretty sure that my spasms and twitches are caused by stress.  But, I was wondering,  when should I really worry?  I mean,  I get these strange twitches,  or jumping sensations, in my head as if a nerve wants to pop out. My GP says that those are muscle spasms.  They are consistent and can be scary at times. They rotate sides and twitch (or "jump") just about every night when I am at rest.  Sometimes,  it feels like I have creepy crawlies in my head. =0

Now other parts of me are twitching like my legs,  knees, and arms vibrate and twitch. (No jerking or shakes).

[CaliJesz]

Hi, I’m getting those same spasms right now. Did you ever find out what they were?
Thanks!

[amy7231]

i know how you feel it started out just cramps then got worse twitches all over body face stomach anywhere. i had it now for about three years its getting worse though. my doctor keeps telling me its fibromologia i dont think so. any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Ness_is_a_mess]

If the twitches are caused by nerves/stress then how long will it take to go away???

[Ness_is_a_mess]

My protein is good. I had some blood work done and all is good.

That is why I am puzzled by these darn twitches.  The temple twitches are just muscles, right? Because I can see and feel the twitch.  I get them at least a dozen times a day.

[ioana72]

I get spasms and stiffness daily in my back, legs, arms,hands,face basically allover my body. Twitches i get are in my toes, fingers, eyes. Being you have these things prominantly on one side than the other leads me to believe that warrants a GAD test. Its blood drawn and take two weeks to get the results. What this test measures is the proteins in our body. You see Stiff Person Syndrome in a short term is your own bodies protein attacking itself. So its a slow progressive disease that happens over time like years. months of one or two symptoms, then another adds on, you see the docs get diagnosed over a period of one to two years with arthritis, fibromyalgia etc...Have you ever had an EEG or MRI done on your back? Sometimes they draw fluid from the spine. But if you want to learn more go to: www.ninds.com; www.clevelandclinic.com; go to google type in stiff man syndrome. it will lead you to sites and info you never even knew existed. I don't want to alarm you but you need to be your own advocate. ask for what you want done, don;t sit on the side and allow others to do what they want. remember doctors are practicing medicine, they don;t know everything and they are not God. Put your trust in your higher power and with your gut instinct. Just anote what does trigger episodes of spasms, stiffness,twitches in this disease is flashing lights like ambulance, fire trucks police sirens, being startled or scared. what studies have shown is SPS people have three things in common breast cancer, diabetes and throid problems, hypo to be specific. if you have one or two out of three, i would request for all three test done. be safe and god bless you on your journey.  

[Ness_is_a_mess]

I have had some stiffness due to the way that I lay down when I sleep. I wake up in funny positions so a cramped neck isn't rare to me.

To Bruce37---I have all of my strength BUT I have noticed that whenever I bend down to pick something up my head will twitch.  Or, when I am sitting on the computer.  Or when I exercise it will twitch. What could that possibly be a sign of?

I noticed that it happens often and the twitched rotate side although the right side is more prominent. How normal is this?  

I think that stress is a natural part of life. I have had my share of stress. I wonder why I am getting these awful spasms. They scare me.  Has anyone had several spasms in one day...even on other parts like head, legs, and arms???

[ioana72]

from what i read here about the twitches & spasms, have you ever had stiffness in any part of your body? this can become a major concern because over time you can develop a rare disease called Stiff Person Syndrome. Sounds funy but i have it. It took 5 neuros and about 3 years being misdiagnosed and multitude of meds before fiding the neuro who is a pro with neuromuscular diseases. only a few docs know this disease, alot will treat it differently. 3 yest can either rule out or diagnose you with it. A blood test called GAD, EEG and MRI. IT WOULDNT HURT TO ASK YOUR DOC TO TEST YOU. it is rare,incurable and progressive. There are treatments but no cure, over time its  the meds nd the side effects that get you.

[BRUCE37]

Yes, and I've had them above my ears as well. And, by-the-way, ALS twitches are painless, in fact, sometimes people diagnosed with ALS cannot feel them and don't notice them. However, bfs(benign fasciculation syndrome) lists this as a major symptom. And stress can cause them most definitely. You don't list strength loss as a symptom nor atrophy so I think its all stress-------get ahold of it NOW! Nip it in the bud----easier said than done, huh? I know, I haven't just been there--I am there!!!

[Ness_is_a_mess]

HI. My blood pressure is normal. It is pretty good. About 110/70 on average unless I am stressed from fatigue which is more like 130/80.  I went to medical school (not to be a doctor though) and checking blood pressures was one of the things that I learned how to do for the job that I took on (I worked in a retirement home).  I have my own BP kit here at home so I check my BP regularly.

Anyway, yes, I do get some headaches. Either caused by sinus pressure (pain by my temples and sharp pains in or behind eyes) and sometimes the back of my head will hurt.

Yes, I can raise/lower eyebrows, whistle comfortably, smile/frwon fine, and I can hold my head straight. No jerking there. Lol. I just get those odd spasms/twitches in my head, by the temple, mainly aove left ear. The twitches randomly rotate sides. Sometimes,  the twitches can be painful.  They happen everyday for almost a month now. I think that there was 5 days when it didnt happen. Did I mention that I also get sporadic twitches in my les and arms?

Hmmm...can stress be doing this?  The way I sleep?

[BRUCE37]

I guess so(lol), I guess anything is possible. How is your blood pressure? Do you get headaches? Also, I wasn't laughing at you, it just caught me off-guard, that question. But the twitches are likely in the muscle and not vascular(in the vessel). Quick questions----can you raise and lower your eyebrows, smile and frown, grimace( you know, when you tense your neck muscles and drop the corners of your mouth down), keep you your head still and see if you can look straight up(like you're trying to look thru your eyebrows) for about 30 secs straight? Can you whistle?

[Ness_is_a_mess]

I'll admit that I tend to worry about my health but not without good reason.  My imagaination ruyns wild and I cannot control it.  

The twitches in my head (or spasms) are very real.  Persistnat,  comes often,  and twitches strong. The feeling is so scary. I am worried that a piece of my vessel/brain/whatever is going to burst from the pressure.

Is that possible?

[BRUCE37]

Yes, but there would be other symptoms. They can run tests that can determine relatively easy if this is the culprit. On the darker note, it truly gets very grim and dark if you focus strictly on the twtiches and google that symptom alone. If you don't worry much and aren't on the hypochrondriac side and are just looking for answers, then you can search for twitches and it may offer you comfort knowing that the overwhelming majority of causes are not serious. HOWEVER, if you do have the tendency to worry about things unnecessary and tend to think you may have a new disease every day----don't look it up. But if you don't listen to me(lol--- I didn't listen either), and you do go to the website showing the serious diseases and conditions that have twitching as a symptom, don't get overwhelmed-----like I did!!  Please make a appt with a good neurologist----but in the mean time, this very site can give you all the info you need, and I have spent hours looking everywhere. Its to the point to where I could probably own a Holiday Inn Express( you know where a guy acts as if he is an expert on a certain subject), because I've researched this so fully, against the advice of others I might add ,because it made me worse, made me worry more, made me wonder if I may be the one of  the few thousand in the USA diagnosed with  one of  many rare diseases. I hope this helps-----and if you do begin this "twitches" search, respond back and I will give you more details on what I found out the hard way.

[Ness_is_a_mess]

On a lighter note these twitches could possibly be caused by stress.

But on a darker note, what could these twitches be a symptom of?  

SOmeone mentioned a thyroid condition. Is that a possibility?

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Dear Ness_is_a_mess,

BRUCE37 has given an appropriate pathway for you to follow. These spasms, twitches or fasciculations (just different names, really) could just be symptoms of stress. You might be aware of the Benign Fasciculation Syndrome. Anxiety and stress just make it worse.

You should focus on the tests mentioned in the previous comments by BRUCE37.

And I would suggest (though I am not a Neurologist) you should see a good Neurologist for the purpose of scheduling those tests (if you haven't already seen one).  Most specialists have a particular sequence of tests and assessments, to approach any symptom step by step, rather than just prescribing all at once and then increasing the mess and confusion. It's important to form a good doctor-patient relationship. That itself reduces the stress significantly.

Wish you good luck.

Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD

[BRUCE37]

I know exactly what you're going through. And I've run the gambit of test sthis past hellish year---emg.ncv.mri.ct scan, ekg, blood test, balance test-----been to neuro, podiatrist, balance expert, er and gp. It would take a while for me to list all my symptoms but as far as the twitches are concerned, its my understanding that unless the twtiches are accompanied by weakness(real weakness, not just lethargy), hyper-active or hypo-active relfexes, spasticity, atrophy, babinski present, then its likely not serious. And if you got the creepy crawlies----really sounds like stress to me. I've had all that. Word of advice-----get some tests scheduled---test for magnesium levels and b12, emg and ncv, and any other tests you think you need to reassure yourself or you may worry sick like I did. And STAY AWAY from xanax!!! Buspar works better.