muscle twitches

[karenmg]

I have been afflicted by muscle twitches or "fasiculations" in my legs for 25yrs.  I am 54., just starting menopause. I now get these fleeting twitches in my arms, hands, feet. Some days better than others.  Newest symptom is I wake up in the am and my hands are asleep. Only for a minute. I also experience some tingling in hands and legs.  Sometimes hands are very cold. I've had EMG 4 yrs. ago; blood work; all ok. Doc put me on Carbotrol which worked great for a while. Alcohol; wine works but I'm guessing masts the symptoms.  If you look at my legs you can see the fleeting twitches. My dad had M.S. He also had the muscle twitches.  I've been told the twitches run in families, but obviously my concern is he had the twitches and developed M.S.  He was diagnosed at 47; died at 57.  Very progressive.  Other than these twitches, I feel great; exercise regularly. No loss of strength or fatigue. My question and concern are the falling asleep of my hands at night along with increased twitching?  Should I seek medical help? Anything to help twitches? Can these twitches develop into a neurological disorder down the road?

[ihatepvc's]

I've had all over body twitches (started in neck, then foot then all over) for three years. I was told by my neurologist that they do NOT progress into anything. I was diagnosed with benign fasciculation syndrome (see aboutbfs.org) after a clean emg and brain mri. I have a sister with Multiple Sclerosis and was concerned like you. If you look up the syndrome there are other symptoms listed along with twitching and you may find that your hand falling asleep is one of them. My hands fall asleep often as well and it's probably just that we sleep on it funny. I don't take anything for the twitching. I've learned to just ignore them once I was convinced they were benign.