Muscle tension/nighttime clenching

[Karen224]

I am a 51 yr old female who has been treated in the past for both hyper and hypo thyroid issues. 4 years ago a neck scan revealed cysts that were cold but I was treated for too much thyroid. I moved and the new doctor discontinued the treatment. Recently symptoms such as heart palpitations, detached fingernails, hoarseness, are returning so I am scheduled to see my primary care doctor.

I have clenched my jaw for years at night. Now for about 3 years I increasingly clench my fists and toes and night, and pretty much all my muscles in my back and neck are tight. My lower legs and sometimes thigh muscles hurt all the time as do my lower arms. Griping is hard. I have mid level numbness of my hands almost all the time.

I've tried everything I can think of to stop clenching at night with no luck. Now I find myself tensing all day. While I do have some pretty stressful stuff in my life I feel like I deal with it well and don't really see this as a stress reaction.

Now I'm reading this stuff relating it possibly to thyroid and I'd like help explaining this to medical professionals in a way that gets me some answers. I went thru treatment for back pain a couple years ago but did not mention the muscle pain because I really thought everyone feels this way. I believe I would be diagnosed with fibro if I told the doctor all the symptoms from fuzzy brain on down the list. In fact when being treated for the back trouble we really examined the possibility of MS due to my symtoms (falling, dropping stuff, facial itch, etc).

I am so sick and tired of hurting all the time, being exhausted, weight that I can't control (I'm not officially overweight but have a belly fat problem and could stand to lose 20 pounds in my opinion)>

HELP. i just want to go to sleep and sleep and not be a tight mass when I wake up.

[Saddlebear]

I have similar tension: hands, feet, neck jaw.  My thyroid is fine but I am on thyroid meds.  I also have sleep apnea and use an APAP.  Here is what I have discovered lately….   I only get this tension when sleeping in my bed at night.  When I go to bed I do not feel at ease.  If I watch a bad movie or have interpersonal issues in the evening the tension is worse.  Occasionally I sleep upstairs with the puppies on a futon on the floor.  They all pile around.   I feel safe and welcome the nap.  My mindset is different.  When I sleep downstairs I am exhausted at night.  It’s not a welcoming thing is more of a necessary thing.   Also when I sleep with the puppies my apnea goes away.  If I sleep in the bedroom at night without my APAP I wake up gasping for air.  I am starting to believe I just do not feel safe sleeping at night.  I recently heard an article from a psychology podcast about the importance of feeling safe at home.  I live in the country and it’s peaceful here but events in my household in the past seem to be buried deep and sleeping here at night is not safe.

[rlinouye]

I have exactly the same symptoms as you described. I am sore and tied in knots all the time. As I read your post I was thinking I could not have described all of my symptoms more perfectly!

[GeeMan51]

I make whaling and snorting noises, have muscle spasms in my legs, calf and lower back, get out of bed to urinate but don't remember and at times have difficulty remembering what I did the nights before

[arunabandara]

DO TSH test with T3 and T4

[DrPepper1972]

Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction and Fibromyalgia

[DrPepper1972]

Mr I of brain probably shows diffuse pattern in Gray area. Basal ganglia of brain needs to be checked and untreated Addisons Disease (no cortisol) can do all of this. It's a stress hormone and a blood pressure regulating hormone. It controls the construction and dilation of blood vessels and arteries which affects muscles also cause they are not getting the flow which carries oxygen to them. Cramping hand cramps? Are u taking 5,000 IU's of vitamin D a day?

[healthnrg]

I am hypothyroid and have been for 20 years.  The muscle flexing for me developed after plenty of work to get things in balance.  In it's worst scenario, I was clenched into a fetal position, flexing every part of my body.  My fists would be clenched to the point that my nails were digging into my hands and would wake me up from pain.  My neck would flex forward and the pain would last all day.  It was suggested that I might see if I have fibro, but over time I discovered random things that would affect it and have since minimized it's occurrences enough to let my concern over it fade.  Mostly for me, it happened after exploring gut, diet and inflammation management.  

As I explored those further I found ways to manage triggers and keep it under control.  My thyroid meds were more of a sidenote.  Managing stress in terms of where my cortisol and blood sugar could at time play a role.  Food triggers and digestive inflammation played a role.  The minute I eat any type of corn shell, I am guaranteed to experience those things while sleeping.  Sometimes eating sugar in my diet can bring it on.  Other times, not so much.  

Vitamin c and advil before bed helped me at times as did sipping ACV in water before bed.  Why?- no idea.  I figure vitamin c & advil had something to do with being anti-inflammatory.  ACV in water on its own before bed helped and I figured that had something to do with the gut or in the way it had alkalizing affects, but who knows the real reason.  

Doctors have not been able to give me more insight on why those things worked.  They've not offered more info than to manage stress, watch my cortisol and the things that influence it, keep my thyroid balanced and stay on a diet that supports keeping inflammation minimal.  

Bruxism got less too, but not enough to get away w/o a mouthguard.  I've cracked teeth at times and I can't risk one of those off nights where what I do doesn't keep the intensity low.

I've done many many labs and lots of years of reading, but since it's miminal these days, I'm happy with where I'm at.  

[Erika0316]

OMG -  I was diagnosed with Lymes last year. These muscle tightening fits I have - where I feel like I have to tighten my back and neck and side muscles - are driving me crazy!

[Jon11heaven]

Over all I think it only becomes one specific thing when it's gone too far.. It's the bigger picture, everything in my life needs healing and work done. I just thank god that I am able to give it a shot.

[Jon11heaven]

I have tensions during the night that wake me because I am not really sleeping while being so tense. I found that no one can pin point the problem so I have taken the diagnosis into my own hands. I find that lack of physical exercise can contribute to it, while stretching helps loosen up blocked up energy that causes tensions. I have found that thinking to much on one thing, or getting stuck on things in the mind can have a simillar reaction on the body. It takes a bit of child like forgive and forget, let go, think without thinking, dream of the random, just let yourself go... I think we put a lot of emphasis on doing things a certain way at a certain time, even in our thoughts, instead of just listening to the world outside of the mind. I have also found aspirin 300mg dispersable easy on the stomach and helps with blocks. Posture is another one, mix up your posture throughout the day, make the change in your posture but don't force anything for too long. And finally the most important I think has been getting enough fluids. Your body may be fighting something, let it do its job and give it plenty of listening too... So you can look after it.. Remember, the heart needs a dream to float on and mind needs a heart to make it real.

[Jester94]

I'm 48 and had a similar experience last night..I woke up to my whole body being clenched and hard as a rock, I couldn't move a muscle for about a minute. I take synthroid since I had radioactive iodine 20 years ago but haven't had this happen to me lately. I was worried it was some sort of seizure, still not sure what it was..

[Wheretogirl]

Boy, this sounds so familiar! I clench my teeth upon waking. I swear I'll break them one of these days. I get an incredible urge to tighten my muscles, especially my arms, back, shoulders, calves and hands. It started when I was 12 and am now 48. It seems voluntary but the urge is very real. Sometimes I'll end up with a cramp, especially in my calves. It all started in my shoulder blades when I was 12 and now I have winged scapulars and weak muscles.

I'm having a TT next month and will report back should the problem go away. I'm subclinical hyper due to toxic MNG that was originally dxd when I was 18.

[Raasalex]

Any updates on what may help? Did magnesium make a difference? I'm so glad to have found this post because I thought I was the only one who did this. It is causing major health issues and haven't found a doctor to help or seems to understand what I describe.

[skeetelmore65]

Hello Karen,
I'm miserable tonight, after watching a movie that had a lot of fighting in it. My body clenching is or was, mostly in my legs. Now after watching that, my abs are rock hard and that is NOT the way, I want them to get hard. I was resting and my abs or high stomach area wouldn't relax. I've taken deep breaths, where you push your stomach out and it does help some, but wonder if I need to go to the Hospital?
I was dx'd with Addison's a few years back, but turns out that it was Adrenal insufficiency and after, two years of treatment with taking 3 of the 5mg. Hyrdocortisone a day, the Endo titrated me down to only one 5mg. HC a day. I've done well and haven't had any problems. He told me that I could make my own Cortisol and that was good news, but something doesn't feel right. IT is scary!! IT must be something going on with my THYROID...
I was so scared of the tight feeling, that I took a Hydrocortisone, just in case in would help it.
I do however, have Lyme disease and wonder if it has its hand in there somewhere? I have been dx'd with being hyperthyroid and take Armour thyroid(60mg.) a day. Now, the other day I forgot that I took it and took two. Would that make this happen?
Best wishes to all of you and it is a horrible thing, to try to rest and stay so tensed up. God Bless you all and prayers for you, Karen-suffering in Arkansas. >:o

[Barb135]

Iodine deficiency is not always the issue with thyroid conditions.  Additionally, depending on the thyroid condition being treated, iodine can be contra-indicted, as it can exacerbate certain autoimmune reactions.

[Jem1960]

The treatment for thyroid hormone deficiencies is thyroid hormone replacement rather than the far more intelligent, IODINE replacement.  The iodine deficiency is what causes the thyroid problems to begin with.  There are a couple of ways this can be done, Lugol's solution or Iodoral.  Right about the same time iodine supplementation was removed from flour and replaced with bromine, which DISPLACES iodine from the body is when METABOLIC syndrome became an issue with skyrocketing obesity rates, diabetes rates, and cancer rates.  IMHO, iodine deficiency is THEE major factor in this.
http://www.drinkyourvitamins.com/the-healing-power-of-potassium-iodide-sski.html

[laurafpcn]

Being that this is a thyroid forum and the symptoms described sound very much like hyper thyroid, I would urge you to have your thyroid checked out and have thyroid labs run.

[CathyOReed]

I place two large overstuffed pillows at the foot of my bed, standing up lengthwise, I then drape my sheet and blanket over them. It doesn't look pretty, but...my feet are warm enough without having the weight of the bedding pulling down on my toes.

[elvira57]

are you taking any antihistamine pill ?  I am a normal healthy 52 woman with no medication and when i started otc allegra for 2 years since  i went to see dr just for runny noseand watery eyes she suggested to take any otc allergy meds before the symptoms appear and been taking it daily 180 mg my god it ruined me..I beame irritable extreme anxiety , drpression , muscle weakness, dry skin hair and body, hotflashes, difficulty urinating, frequent uti, memory poor,difficulty breathing, heart palpitaion  became an older 70 year old woman all of a sudden..went to the dr and no one can figure the real culrprti ..they prescribed xanax, zoloft..iam health drug conscious so didnt take any, even went to  see a urlologist and they also want to do all sorts of invasive test and my gut feeling told me it isnt right cz i know thisese test are really invasive... Fortunately Thank God did my own research internet and came across alot of bad reviews from consumers and stop taking allegra for atewo days and wow I see a sudden improvement and now 15 days without it hoping that i will recover from the bad effects it haad on my body.... My upper back pain went away, urination is slowly back to normal, heart is not racing so much and iam improving..... NONE of the DRS took the time and Iam paying them to get healed not to GET KILLED... Be proactiv on your health

[Jodi_66]

I have been muscle clenching for some time now, but it has progressively worsened. It started with abdominal clenching but has now moved on to whole body. (arms and thighs and calves) Very uncomfortable to wake up to this. I also feel very tired always as this pattern of clenching wakes me up and interrupts sleep. Thanks to this forum, I will see my doctor and request having my thyroid levels looked at. I will also look into a magnesium supplement to see if that offers some relief.

[jon247908]

I have a night problem with feet clenching & drawing sensation.Also i am sensitive to bedding touching my feet.I dont know if it is gout..?

[Rebeccaxcollins]

What an awful prison our bodies can be.  I'm discovering more and more imbalances in the body that can be traced to imbalances in hormones.  Powerful little things they are.

Aside from your thyroid, please consider having your progesterone levels checked.  They may be low, which causes a battery of symptoms (and has connections to thyroid deficiency too).  If your progesterone is "fine" consider a) it is truly fine, b) the normal range doesn't actually means it's normal for you and get a better second/third/fourth opinion (you can also order bioidentical creme online and try it for yourself), or c) you may have an excess of estrogen/estrogen dominance.

Magnesium is great -- I also suggest taking some more potassium.  Please be wary of of this if you  have a history of kidney problems however.  Potassium can be low for many reasons from working out to burnt-out adrenals  and our muscles and nerves need it to function properly.

Best of luck and hope you feel better.  

[kittat]

forgot to mension my hands & feet also claw up!

[kittat]

Ok what i get lately is quite similiar but slightly different..

I genrually think that i am quite a relaxed person but over the last few months i get the most uncomftable tension in my back, neck & shoulders during my sleep.

I could be fast asleep then suddenly i get this pain and feel all my body is tensing up whilst i am asleep, i try and wake up as the tension builds but sometimes it takes about 10-15 mins.

Its a very weired feeling because i know i am asleep and cant wake up but the tension is so painfull that i wake up and all is ok, i feel the tension slowly leave me.

its very strange- i dont know what it is??


any one else get this?

[kittat]

jj

[foodwatcher]

Im a 50 yr old female-getting the clenching thing mostly at night  on mostly right arm and neck-had tendonitis from yrs back-now chills-freezing-fear-then sweat-premenopause i guess.-Anything to reduce acids-calcium/mangesium-baking soda helps--but the thing that helps me the most is loranzapam-it stops the muscle spaz.Dont know whats causing this! maybe acidity and hormones