Muscle twitches

[valger59]

Hello,
    I am wondering about a condition that I have that started about a week ago.  I was carrying some rather heavy bags on my right arm, and right after I came home, my thumb in that hand starting twitching.  This lasted for about three days, off and on.  It seemed to be mostly my thumb, but when I would try to use the mouse on my computer, it would feel like it was my whole hand.  I finally went to a doctor (not my regular guy, who was booked) who said that it was probably carrying the bags, and that I didn't have any signs of neurological deficiencies.  This was my regular MD.  Anyway, I don't know if this could possibly be in my mind, but now I feel like I'm getting the twitches and tremors everywhere.  Just sitting here typing this now, I had a bad twitch that lasted a few minutes on my lower lip.  I feel like I keep getting them in my calves and feet.  I am so anxious about this, and maybe that could be what is causing this, but it's hard to imagine my mind doing all of this.  I went to my regular doctor today, and he seemed concerned, and said that I need to see a neurologist.  He mentioned ALS, Parkinson's and MS, but also said that there are alot of other reasons to get the twitching.  He took some blood work, and then said to make an appointment with a neurologist.  Do you think this sounds like something serious?  As I am sitting here, I am getting the twitching going down my neck now.  I couldn't possibly be so full of anxiety about this that I could be causing this, could I?  By the way, I am a 47 year old female, in generally otherwise good health.  Thank you so much for any help!  By the way, I don't have muscle weakness that I know of, or anything else.  Thanks, Val

[valger59]

Hi~~and thanks.  Yea, I was wondering about the twitches being more widespread.........when I had gone to the second doctor (my usual guy)..he said that he wouldn't worry as much if it was just the thumb, but since I was having them all over, it's something more to worry about.  Everything I have read online since then says the opposite.  I mostly still just have them in my hands, feet, but I do get them in my thighs and elsewhere, even my face (eye area and lips).  Where do you mostly get them did you say?  I was feeling good today, cleaning out my yard and working hard, and then my left hand started acting up after I was done.  Do you ever notice that, where they will act up after some type of activity?  I think when something does consume your thoughts, it can happen.  I need to accept the fact that my mind can be very powerful.  I still can't believe it, so I tend to think the worst case scenario.  Well, I'm glad this week is finally over, now I just have to get through next week, and my appointment is that next Monday!  I am hoping to get reassured, but that dosen't always happen.  He might send me in for a few tests, which would take more time.  I'm trying so hard not to dwell on it in my day to day life.  I went to my Chiropractor today, but I'm not sure he really thinks the twitching is coming from my back or what.  He says I have pinched nerves, but these symptoms are so new for me.  
     Well, thanks again for all of the help.  I hope you're feeling good~~Val

[kidcoconut]

If you haven't checked it out already look up Benign Fasiculation Syndrome online. I would venture to say everyone on this forum has it. Foot drop I'm not sure of, but I believe you can't raise you foot up, like if you were to pull your toes/foot up, as in walking on your heels. I also believe that in rare cases when the twtiching starts first, there was weakness already, and the weakness and twitching are supposed to be in one spot, not all over. ( one leg for example.) The disease progressses out from there. It usually starts in the far extremities I believe also, like a hand or foot. I think since we have them all over it's a good thing. Keep in mind a headache is also the predominant sign of a brain tumor, but 99.99999999% of the time it's just a headache ! Gotta twitch on off to work Take care

[valger59]

Oh, and I would just like to add one thing.  I am FREAKING OUT for some reason tonight, because I 'googled' ALS symptoms (BIG mistake)...and if you go on the actual ALS boards, were people are writing in that have relatives with the disease, there are several posts saying that twitches were the first symptom.  The one thing that was making me feel better was all the posts on here saying that twitches are rarely the first sign, and that usually there is weakness first.  Anyway, it's scary to know that there are apparantely lots of people who had the twitches first.  I am just so scared of this.  I have a 13 year old daughter, and want to be here for her.  Don't you hate these nights, when the fear gets away from you?  Maybe that dosen't happen to you, but I get so scared sometimes.  Tonight I seem to be twitching everywhere, especially my calves, hands and eye.  Yikes!  Thanks, Val

[valger59]

Hi!
   Thanks for the great letter, you are so funny!  Yes, I will accept that Pulitzer. You really do remind me of my brother.  I just spoke to him today on the phone, and he was telling me of his past symptoms, to make me feel better.  He says that he would think that there was a truck going by or something, and realized it was just him shaking.  Also, he said that he would take off his shoes and socks and you could see the muscles twitching.  I had that today, where I put my left hand down on my leg, and you could see the muscle twitch right by the thumb.  You know, if it wasn't for us being afraid of things like ALS or all of the other horrible things, then the twitching wouldn't be that bad.  It's not painful or anything, and sort of a weird feeling.  
    I know what you mean about the blood work.  I called today, God knows why, I guess to see if maybe the doctor would say something like, "Hey you're fine, don't worry about going to the neurologist"!!  But, I had gotten my results online, and wanted to make sure, after the results, that he truly did intend for me to go, and so the nurse said she would ask, and when she came back, she said that ESPECIALLY since my tests came back ok, that if I still had symptoms, that I should definitely go to the neuro.  Which, of course, founded my fears that we did in fact elimate two more benign things that can cause twitching!  I HATE waiting for doctor appointments!  It's like my symptoms consume my every thought, and time goes so slow until the appointment.  
     It also reminds me of that movie with Woody Allen, I think it might be called Hannah and her sisters, where he is a total hypochondriac, and he is sitting in the doctors office waiting for his results, and in the meantime he is daydreaming about what the doctor will say when he walks in, and he is imagining the doctor saying "I'm very sorry, but, due to the position of the tumor, it is inoperable".....and right then, the timing is great, the doctor actually walks in and says "you're fine"....and Woody Allen is happy for a few minutes until he starts worrying about something else again.  He's so funny.  
     What, by the way, is foot drop, could you explain that to me?  Maybe I don't want to know, or I will get it.  As I think I mentioned before, I am now having areas of perceived weakness, like sometimes when I get up, my legs will feel heavy.  Also, now I kind of try to put two and two together in my head, and think back a month or so ago, when both my knees were sore and stiff at the same time.  Don't you think that's weird?  Would that be considered weakness, or does that sound more just like a knee thing?  Weakness would be like where you can't pick something up, or walk up the stairs, right?  My knees would hurt, but I could walk.  
     See, you drink coffee and diet soda.  Those things can TOTALLY cause twitching!!  I remember my brother saying he would use the process of elimation to help with the twitches and his diet, and he had to do away with Starbucks!!  At least you have reasons why you might have the twitching.  I really don't have any bad habits.  I drink alot of water, have a Jamba Juice almost every day, NEVER drink soda or coffee, etc.  I sort of like doing and eating healthy stuff, so I certainly can't attribute it to that.  
     Also, you should really up your water intake and see how much that helps!  Omg~~I couldn't get through a day without lots of water.  I like to buy the liter size of FIJI, it's the BEST water, and drink a couple of those a day.  
     So, when you were going to the Chiropractor, did he say that the twitches are a common symptom?  I worry because I don't really know if they are.  I still just can't imagine what is causing them with me.  As I said before, it's hard to imagine I could create widespread twitching in my mind.  I'm just so sick of not being able to sleep.  I do the same thing you do, where I wake up all night long.  At my Mom's advice, I bought some Sleepytime tea with Valerian in it, so I'll see maybe tonight if that knocks me out.  For sure getting a good nights sleep seems to help.  
    I've had heart palpitations for years, and that was a long road of going back and forth to doctors, and being terrified that I was going to die all the time.  Finally, I am at a place with that, where I just live with them, and they don't bother me now.  I don't take medication for them, I just am used to them.  It's amazing how your body adapts, because when I would first get them, my whole body would jump, and now I don't even notice it.  Hopefully, if I find out these twitches are benign, I can live with them like that.  Aren't you surprised sometimes what a big deal twitching is?  I thought it would be no big deal, and then these forums make me realize how anxiety provoking it is for people.  I guess because we are talking about things like ALS.  
    Now that those minor things in my blood test have been eliminated as the cause, are we left only with the major things, or are there alot of things that can cause the twitching (if you know)??  
     I have to keep remembering that my brother, for one example, had these for a long time, and still gets them, with no explanation.  He is also very healthy, he runs, works out, and generally lives a healthy life.  
    I just had a twitch around my eye, and I read where that is nothing to worry about.  So, why would I be having that?  I wonder if that means the rest of them might be benign also.  Yikes~~it's a VERY long wait until my neuro appointment!!  Anyway, thanks so much for the help, it's like here is where I'm getting my only reassurance right now, other than my brother.  Talk to you soon!  Val

[hosannajesus]

Hi valger59,
Have you looked into dystonia as a possible reason for your muscle pain and twitching?  I have had burning and tight upper back and neck muscles for three years now and am waiting on an appointment with a movement specialist to see if i have cervical dystonia.  A good website to start researching is

http://www.dystonia-foundation.org/.

Good luck with your pain.  I know you will find help soon.

[kidcoconut]

Hey Val,

I did try the chiropractor when the twitches first started. However my guy seems to do the same manipulations whether I come in for carpal tunnel, shoulder, broken leg or hemmoroids ! So I gave up on that pretty quick. His initial diagnosis was it was coming from my neck. However he didn't examine me, but he does know of my usual symptoms as I've been going to him on and off for many years. I also have a slightly torn rotator cuff, which makes the left shoulder weaker ( painful ) to do several movements. Which also makes me a little leary of going to the Doc. with this because if he does test there will be some weakness, but I know I've had the rotator cuff for a good year. So it may be hard to tell, and I'm not going to a neuro unless I really have signs of weakness, not because a doctor has to cover his behind because it's impossible to tell where the weakness is coming from . I also thing deep breathing might help. I notice sometimes that I breathe very infrequently. I normally only inhale maybe 4 times a minute, and sometimes catch myself that I haven't inhaled in a while ! When I work out and obviously breath a lot more ( when running ) I always feel better after. Hey, maybe if we keep bantoring back and forth on what we have tried and what our symptoms are we can figure this thing out ! Who better to come up with a treatment than those that are dealing with it and thinking about it all day ! Unless a doctor has had it they can only guess what might help, we are in the only position to actually try things and feel if they worked or not.

Pulitzer Prize for medicine goes to.......Kidcocnut and Val ! ....Cool .