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Buzzing & spasms
Good day, I'm a 35 year old male that has just started having noticeable problems this past September. I started sore throat / sinus infection that lasted 2 days. Upon subsiding, I ended up with a buzzing feeling throughout my entire body that stopped me from sleeping for several days. It didn't subside, and 2 emergency room visits later, I was diagnosed with anxiety (duh). I had a 2-3 week long panic attack since nothing was getting any better, and started seeing a neurologist. I've run the gamut of tests. MRI & CT of brain, MRI of C-Spine, bloodwork, EEG, & EMG/NCV of right arm (had ulnar neuropathy at one point). The c-spine showed 2 bulging discs that were causing mild compression. The neurologist started working me up to 100mg of zoloft to take care of my anxiety, and I've had an appt every month to check progress. Over this time, the buzzing has declined, but I'm still dealing with the neuropathy in the right hand, and I'm now dealing with feeling tired all the time, feeling like I'm shaking, having tremors, buzzing in my tongue/teeth and random twitching over my whole body (just showed up in the last few days). Should I be worried about this? They've ruled almost any major thing out, and I'm still exercising (wii fit) regularly, so I can't say that there is any true "weakness," though I'm still a bit shaky when trying to hold weight in one position. Someone please give me a direction to go here - I have another neuro appt in a week, and I really want to rule out ALS, MS, etc. I know that MS isn't likely due to the clean MRIs, but I'm still scared about the other things.
Thanks in advance.
Bryan
Thanks in advance.
Bryan
Thank you very much for your input - I've also had a lump in my throat for the last couple of days, but I've been a bit phlegmy, too, so I'm hoping that'll subside. No trouble swallowing liquids or solids, no slurred speech, so that's a good thing. The EMG was performed well before the twitching showed up, but I may ask for another one on my legs now just to be sure. Anxiety could very well be the cause, and I have to follow up with my neuro anyway.
If you don't feel that the lump in the throat is an isue, then I thank you very much for your educated information - you've done a great deal to ease my mind.
If you don't feel that the lump in the throat is an isue, then I thank you very much for your educated information - you've done a great deal to ease my mind.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
A normal MRI of the brain and cervical spine (besides your bulging discs) excludes the vast majority of MS cases, and an EMG/NCS that is normal (besides your ulnar neuropathy) excludes ALS. Your whole body buzzing sensations are difficult to explain, but an underlying neurologic cause is highly unlikely given the history you provide and the testing you have had done.
If your prior ulnar neuropathy is causing symptoms such as tingling, burning, or weakness, physical therapy may be helpful and certain medications are available for the treatment of neuropathic pain (pain due to nerve injury) that may be prescribed by your physician if this is necessary. Ulnar neuropathy causes numbness, tingling, or pain into the arm and hand on the side of the little finger. This is sometimes called "handlebar palsy", because it frequently happens in bicyclists who sustain repeated shocks and bouncing that can occur while holding the handlebars when riding. Other activities that involve stress on the hands and wrists may also irritate the ulnar nerve and cause ulnar neuropathy.
Your muscle twitching may be due to benign fasiculation syndrome, which I will abbreviate as BFS, is a condition in which there are involuntary twitches of various muscle groups, most commonly the legs but also the face, arms, eyes, and tongue. If the diagnosis is confirmed and other causes are excluded, it can be safely said that the likelihood of progression or occurrence of a serious neurologic condition is low.
It must be emphasized that in the MAJORITY of cases they are BENIGN meaning that they are of no consequence and are not resulting from a serious cause. In such cases, the twitches may be related to anxiety/stress, caffeine, and often occur after recent strenuous activity or muscle over-use. It is important in such cases to reduce stress/anxiety levels and to reduce caffeine intake.
When BFS is present but not particularly bothersome or disabling, treatment is not necessary. If severe and it requires treatment, there are a few medication options though this condition is not very common, and the research that has been done on its treatment is limited. Minimizing caffeine and stress, and treating anxiety if it is present, will improve your symptoms.
Fatigue can have several causes including but not limited to sleep disorders (such as sleep apnea, which occurs most commonly in overweight people and treatable in most cases with CPAP machines etc), certain hormonal problems such as thyroid problems and adrenal insufficiency, depression, poor sleep hygiene leading to insomnia, certain vitamin deficiencies, and others.
I recommend continued follow-up with your primary doctor and neurologist regarding your symptoms. Zoloft is a useful treatment for anxiety, but if your anxiety and/or panic attacks are difficult to control or worsen, evaluation by a psychiatrist and counseling with a psychologist may be helpful to you, and I recommend you discuss this with your physicians as well.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
A normal MRI of the brain and cervical spine (besides your bulging discs) excludes the vast majority of MS cases, and an EMG/NCS that is normal (besides your ulnar neuropathy) excludes ALS. Your whole body buzzing sensations are difficult to explain, but an underlying neurologic cause is highly unlikely given the history you provide and the testing you have had done.
If your prior ulnar neuropathy is causing symptoms such as tingling, burning, or weakness, physical therapy may be helpful and certain medications are available for the treatment of neuropathic pain (pain due to nerve injury) that may be prescribed by your physician if this is necessary. Ulnar neuropathy causes numbness, tingling, or pain into the arm and hand on the side of the little finger. This is sometimes called "handlebar palsy", because it frequently happens in bicyclists who sustain repeated shocks and bouncing that can occur while holding the handlebars when riding. Other activities that involve stress on the hands and wrists may also irritate the ulnar nerve and cause ulnar neuropathy.
Your muscle twitching may be due to benign fasiculation syndrome, which I will abbreviate as BFS, is a condition in which there are involuntary twitches of various muscle groups, most commonly the legs but also the face, arms, eyes, and tongue. If the diagnosis is confirmed and other causes are excluded, it can be safely said that the likelihood of progression or occurrence of a serious neurologic condition is low.
It must be emphasized that in the MAJORITY of cases they are BENIGN meaning that they are of no consequence and are not resulting from a serious cause. In such cases, the twitches may be related to anxiety/stress, caffeine, and often occur after recent strenuous activity or muscle over-use. It is important in such cases to reduce stress/anxiety levels and to reduce caffeine intake.
When BFS is present but not particularly bothersome or disabling, treatment is not necessary. If severe and it requires treatment, there are a few medication options though this condition is not very common, and the research that has been done on its treatment is limited. Minimizing caffeine and stress, and treating anxiety if it is present, will improve your symptoms.
Fatigue can have several causes including but not limited to sleep disorders (such as sleep apnea, which occurs most commonly in overweight people and treatable in most cases with CPAP machines etc), certain hormonal problems such as thyroid problems and adrenal insufficiency, depression, poor sleep hygiene leading to insomnia, certain vitamin deficiencies, and others.
I recommend continued follow-up with your primary doctor and neurologist regarding your symptoms. Zoloft is a useful treatment for anxiety, but if your anxiety and/or panic attacks are difficult to control or worsen, evaluation by a psychiatrist and counseling with a psychologist may be helpful to you, and I recommend you discuss this with your physicians as well.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
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