pulsing sensations throughout body

I have a pulsing sensation that I can feel throughout my body.  It is in rhythm with my heartbeat and the heartbeat is always a steady, normal beat.

The pulsing sensation can be felt at all times (standing, sitting, laying down) but is more predominant laying down and especially on the areas where there is pressure upon the body.  For example, when I lay on my back the sensation is predominant in the back, when laying on my side it is more predominant on my side, etc.

My cardiologist has ruled out heart problems and my neurologist has done a MRI which resulted normal.  But yet, they can not explain the cause of the pulsing sensations.

Does anyone have or heard of these symptoms?  Can anyone suggest what I might be tested for?

Thank you
TS

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

My first thought is a heart or blood vessel problem, such as an enlarged/dilated aorta (aneurysm) or heart valve abnormality. A cardiac echo would be helpful in determining this if not already done.  If your cardiologist has really given you an extensive workup and subsequent clean bill of health, then another possibility is pulsatile tinnitus.  Thyroid is something that also comes up, but usually it's in association with a fast heart rate. Although it's not exactly the symptom you describe, there are some patients that report being able to hear their pulse quite prominently, like a "whoosh-whoosh" sound in their ears.  This can be caused by blocked arteries in the neck/head as well as other possibilities.

Otherwise, I'm not quite sure what else to make of the symptoms.  If they're getting worse or really affecting your day to day life, then consider a second opinion by another cardiologist or talk again with your primary care doc. Good luck.

[headproblemz]

Perhaps they are palpatations. Lower your cholesterol and everything will be alright!

[arthur]

You are experiencing something that will automatically make you a suspect hypochondriac, or hyper anxiety case.  The fact is, I have and am experiencing a similar internal vibration.  The presentation is such that it began several years ago as a distinct pulsation occurring at about 2-4x the heart rate, and in sync with it.  After ruling out everything internal, inlcuding the heart, it still defies definition.  These days it appears mostly as a mild, high frequency vibration, most noticable when lying on my back, seemingly occurring at or near the heart.  When particularly strong, it appears to precipitate heart skips (specifically, premature beats).  It shows up with sudden exertion, sudden posture changes, with fear or anxiety, and lasts for several minutes (although it never really goes away completely).

My best guess is a mild autonomic dysfunction, ie, the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems running over and around the heart.  Based on the change in symptoms over the last three years, I am also guessing the systems are gradually balancing out (I hope).

Let us know what you find out.  I also suspect an inner ear viral infection started the mess (check out my post of a few days ago).

Good luck.

-Arthur

[megrod]

Hey I really understand how you feel.  I went through the same pulsing sensations it was awful.  I had all kinds of tests ran, finally ended up in the ER after about 1 year of trying to figure out what was up.  They ran a series of blood tests figured out I was very low on Magnesium, after a few weeks of taking Mag I was doing rather well.  I still once in a while have pulsing but not to much.  I hope this might help you.

[arthur]

The magnesium trick is very interesting.  It turns out that horses often experience a pulsating problem due to something called diaphragmatic flutter...a pulsating diaphragm, which is caused by exhaustion and a drop in magnesium levels.  The treatment is iv magnesium. This type of flutter has been reported very rarely in humans (about 26 cases in about 100 years).

[ts2010]

Megrod,

Thanks for the reply.  I will check my mag. level and take it from there.

Arthur,

Is there any info on the internet or elsewhere about the 26 reported cases in humans.

Thanks,
TS

[arthur]

The reported cases were described in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dec 27, 1973 "Respiratory Myoclonus (Leeuwenhoek's Desiase)", by James Phillips and Frederic Eldridge.  In re-reading the paper, the number of cases reported between 1723 and 1973 was 48.  You should be able to get a copy through your local library or university library.

-Arthur

ps  There probably were a lot more cases, but as you can guess, the folks affected may have been mis-diagnosed as having some odd nervous condition or simply relegated as overly-excitable or hysterical.

[any good doctors?]

I get this throbbing heart so often that I am not  too worried.  I mostly notice it while laying in bed generally on my back. I cannot sleep this way, but my night disturbances  suggest to me to lay flat and allow my body to relax.  Sometimes I get it sitting.   Things that I know cause either rapid heart beats or throbbing (whold body ) heart beats.  1. Do not drink alcohol  2. Do not drink caffein  3.  Do not eat until totally full. Your metabolism might be bad and putting a strain on your heart.  4.  Stay low on sweets.  5. Try to keep your stomach settled,  no gassy food.  I would find with  a loud pulsing heart that I could hear it in my ears.  I think when that happens that the heart is under duress, straining.  I know  that I have slight problems with my valves and a enlarged aorata.  If you are overweight, loose the excess.  Slight exercise is supposed to be good, but I can't say for you. Good Luck

[arthur]

The throbbing heart thing...unless you are unusually thin and sensitive, it's likely the outcome of anxiety keeping up an unecessary awareness that feeds upon itself.  With all the things you've listed it's clear that you either are or are on the way to an obsessive disorder...calm down, the throbs are natural and the less you worry about them, the less you'll notice them.

[shulsey]

I have been having problems with a pulsing sensation also.  I don't notice it very often until I lay down or maybe it doesn't usually happen until I lay down.  I can feel it in the back of my head and it near my eyes. It has been causing me not to sleep for the last two weeks.  Any suggestions?

[cooka]

A related discussion, body pulsing was started.

[robdedals28]

I also have been experiencing the throbbing/pulsating feeling in the back of my head neck area, hands and stomach for over 3 yrs.  I had  a AAA scan as well as a corotid arteries scan done with normal findings. My eyes will get blood shot red mainly when I lay down. I developed eye floaters , aeropsia, vis ataxia "swaying,"  palinopsia, photophobia trails behind objects. Other neurological symptoms I developed are a gait., dizziness, uncoordination, a feeling of being in an aura state, muscle weakness, slurred speach all theses are spells so far not longstanding except for the vis dist symptoms. I seen an opth and eye health is fine. In fact I've seen an opth 7 diff times within the last 2 years and all say the same thing eye hlth is fine except astigmtsm. Ct ,2 mris, with and without iodine, all normal. The next plan is to visit with a neuro opth and LP to check pressure level. I suspect an auto immune disorder or disease, faulty gene or something to do with a inhibited protein.Any docs, neurologist, neuro opth, spiritualist lol or an intelligent individ  have any idea as to what is going on with me. I can barely believe it myself all those damm diff symptoms. Please please help!  28 male. ***@****

[robdedals28]

I also have been experiencing the throbbing/pulsating feeling in the back of my head neck area, hands and stomach for over 3 yrs.  I had  a AAA scan as well as a corotid arteries scan done with normal findings. My eyes will get blood shot red mainly when I lay down. I developed eye floaters , aeropsia, vis ataxia "swaying,"  palinopsia, photophobia trails behind objects. Other neurological symptoms I developed are a gait., dizziness, uncoordination, a feeling of being in an aura state, muscle weakness, slurred speach all theses are spells so far not longstanding except for the vis dist symptoms. I seen an opth and eye health is fine. In fact I've seen an opth 7 diff times within the last 2 years and all say the same thing eye hlth is fine except astigmtsm. Ct ,2 mris, with and without iodine, all normal. The next plan is to visit with a neuro opth and LP to check pressure level. I suspect an auto immune disorder or disease, faulty gene or something to do with a inhibited protein.Any docs, neurologist, neuro opth, spiritualist lol or an intelligent individ  have any idea as to what is going on with me. I can barely believe it myself all those damm diff symptoms. Please please help!  28 male. ***@****