Aa
should i see a dr?
Hi I am concerned about a problem I have been having for about 9 months. I feel like my muscles are shaking and have twitching. Sometimes I wake up because my leg, arm or jaw will be twitching. I have always been anxious and wonder if this could be anxiety or something else. I also have other twitching during the day in other parts of my body. I am worried i have some sort of brain disorder. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks so much KRB
These could certainly represent symptoms of anxiety, but there are a few things that need to be looked at before diagnosing it as such. First, talk to your primary care doc and have them do a physical exam just to make sure everything is ok. Then review all of the medications that you take (if any) as many drugs such as those for asthma, psychiatric disorders and seizures can give you tremors. Finally, simple lab tests such as thyroid levels, electrolyes, and a routine blood count should be done to make sure an easily correctable cause is not missed. Generalized muscle aches and twitching are usually not associated with a typical brain disorder, although there are neurological syndromes outside of the brain that can cause these symptoms. Start with the primary care doc and he/she will be able to direct you to further evaluation. Good luck.
i woke up with a similar thing about 5 months ago. the shakey feeling is particularly disturbing. Sometimes I feel like it is a vibration, almost like the feeling you get when you lean against a stero or machinery of some kind. I have muscle twitching too but not as bad as earlier. the shakey feeling is especially noticable when i move. Its weird. I had a physical and everything was normal. I suspect anxiety makes it worse. i do find alcohol like a glass or two of wine makes it disapear.
WOW! I have had the same thing now for about 9 months. It started with a slow twitch in one of my thumbs, then it went into my fingers and they would twitch like clock work for several days at a time. Then it went to my whole body, with twitching all over the place, I mean my tongue, my scalp, my ears, my eye lids, all of my muscles in my legs and arms have twitched at one time or another... sometimes for about 2 seconds and other times for hours or even days. Sometimes I'd have 4 or 5 places all twitching at the same time! Then they'd go away and come back somewhere else. Mine get worse after I've drank alcohol or if I'm tired or stressed. Although I don't notice them much WHILE I drink alcohol, for obvious reasons. Mind you, I do have anxiety real bad and I take Ativan for it. I was scared to death of having ALS or MS at first, but I have no weakness what so ever and all of my movements are articulate and precise. Lately though... I have been getting these muscle shakes, the same kind that you two are talking about. Not all of the time but they are definalely there. Sometimes I feel like I am shaking on the inside, but I hold-out my hands and arms and they are as stable as anyone else, BUT, I have been noticing that when I use some of my muscles, they will most definately shake. It's like the same kind of shake when you look at 2 guy's arm wrestling and you see their arms shaking under stress as they push against each other really hard... or like watching a gymnast on the hanging rings, with his arms spread out and his muscles shaking because of the sheer stress they are being put through. Mine do it with a lot less effort though. It's not a constant tremor though like with Parkinson's. It's only while I strain or stretch my muscles.
Being a victim of generalized anxiety disorder, I always fear the worst. I even feel like I'm dying when I get a stupid cold! So these twitches and muscle shakes scare the heck out of me, but after reading what other people go through on here, with the same overall symptoms I have, it can't be anything other than stress and benign fasiculations... I hope! Thanks to ALL of you doctors out there that help and respond to people like us. If it wasn't for you, I'd have lost it for sure! Keep up the great work and please respomd to this thread if you would so we can understand the muscle shaking a little better. Thanks!
Being a victim of generalized anxiety disorder, I always fear the worst. I even feel like I'm dying when I get a stupid cold! So these twitches and muscle shakes scare the heck out of me, but after reading what other people go through on here, with the same overall symptoms I have, it can't be anything other than stress and benign fasiculations... I hope! Thanks to ALL of you doctors out there that help and respond to people like us. If it wasn't for you, I'd have lost it for sure! Keep up the great work and please respomd to this thread if you would so we can understand the muscle shaking a little better. Thanks!
OK, it's me again... the long winded guy. I have been trying to post a question on this forum for weeks and I always get a window that says, too many questions for that day already. Oh well, maybe one of you great doctors out there will read my 2 comments on here and respond. Hopefully with some positive info that it's no big deal to shake...
As I said in the previous post in this thread, I'm pretty sure all I have is BFS, but these shakey muscles are getting more pronounced and now I am getting pretty scared. My muscles only seem to actually shake when I use them for lifting something or when I hold something. It doesn't have to be something heavy either. The shakes I get are exactly like what you would get if you were holding something a little too heavy for you. When I stop doing what I'm doing... the shake goes away, so it's no like Parkinson's or anything where you see someone continually shaking just sitting there doing nothing. My shakes aren't slow tremors like what you see with Parkinson's either. The oscillations are faster. Just like I said, like when you watch a gymnast on the hanging rings, straining to hold his arms out, or like the shaking you get when you are cold... pretty fast shakes. My wife points out people in stores shaking while they stand in line, holding something heavy and she has demonstrated that even she shakes if she's straining the muscles she's using, but my god... I sometimes shake pulling on shoe strings, or opening up a cabinet door, Keep this in mind though... I build engines for a living, I'm 39, 5"-10" tall and weigh a sturdy 200 Lbs. I can (and do daily) lift engine blocks and cylinder heads that can weigh anywhere from 100Lbs. to over 300Lbs. and I can move some of those items without shaking at all sometimes. That's what's strange! So I know I'm not weak... I can drop and give you twenty right now with no problem, but as I push up and down, I can feel my arms shaking as I'm doing the push-ups, where just a couple of months ago... I could do it smoothly. Any ideas for me? This can't be anxiety or simple muscle strain / stress could it? I did have an MRI done of my head last year as well as an extensive blood work. This was because I had a MAJOR sinus infection and it was giving me "zings" up the sides of my head and making my forhead feel like it was going to explode... as well as a bit of vertigo while I walked. The MRI showed a normal brain but I had bone swelling in my sinus area. I get this sinus crud all of the time for some reason and it lasts for months sometimes. My point is, my noodle looked OK and my blood work was perfect except for a .01 point over on my liver because I like my Jose Cuervo after work, but I slowed that down a bit. Please let me know what you think the shaking is all about and I'm SURE you will be answering for many other people on this great forum too. We ALL thank you docs for your help and support! You are really fine souls!
As I said in the previous post in this thread, I'm pretty sure all I have is BFS, but these shakey muscles are getting more pronounced and now I am getting pretty scared. My muscles only seem to actually shake when I use them for lifting something or when I hold something. It doesn't have to be something heavy either. The shakes I get are exactly like what you would get if you were holding something a little too heavy for you. When I stop doing what I'm doing... the shake goes away, so it's no like Parkinson's or anything where you see someone continually shaking just sitting there doing nothing. My shakes aren't slow tremors like what you see with Parkinson's either. The oscillations are faster. Just like I said, like when you watch a gymnast on the hanging rings, straining to hold his arms out, or like the shaking you get when you are cold... pretty fast shakes. My wife points out people in stores shaking while they stand in line, holding something heavy and she has demonstrated that even she shakes if she's straining the muscles she's using, but my god... I sometimes shake pulling on shoe strings, or opening up a cabinet door, Keep this in mind though... I build engines for a living, I'm 39, 5"-10" tall and weigh a sturdy 200 Lbs. I can (and do daily) lift engine blocks and cylinder heads that can weigh anywhere from 100Lbs. to over 300Lbs. and I can move some of those items without shaking at all sometimes. That's what's strange! So I know I'm not weak... I can drop and give you twenty right now with no problem, but as I push up and down, I can feel my arms shaking as I'm doing the push-ups, where just a couple of months ago... I could do it smoothly. Any ideas for me? This can't be anxiety or simple muscle strain / stress could it? I did have an MRI done of my head last year as well as an extensive blood work. This was because I had a MAJOR sinus infection and it was giving me "zings" up the sides of my head and making my forhead feel like it was going to explode... as well as a bit of vertigo while I walked. The MRI showed a normal brain but I had bone swelling in my sinus area. I get this sinus crud all of the time for some reason and it lasts for months sometimes. My point is, my noodle looked OK and my blood work was perfect except for a .01 point over on my liver because I like my Jose Cuervo after work, but I slowed that down a bit. Please let me know what you think the shaking is all about and I'm SURE you will be answering for many other people on this great forum too. We ALL thank you docs for your help and support! You are really fine souls!
You need to make an appointment to see a doctor. I would make sure he does the babinski reflex and a clonus test (there is a technical name for it) and just basic reflexes. Don't sit around and fret about it. Go see your doctor... I went to three neurologists, an orthopedic surgeon and a primary care doctor. It wasn't until I saw the orthopedic surgeon that the babinski and clonus/reflex tests were done..... very basic tests...... these should have been done early in the progress.... and that is what led me ultimately to my current neuro..... Good luck......
I meant Process not progress..... God only knows there was not a lot progress by the first neuro.... he thought I had carpal tunnel syndrome....
I have the shakes too. Similar to low blood sugar but eating doesn't make them go away. Sometimes at the same time i feel an increase in heart rate. I am learning to live with it after about five months of it. I do believe anxiety plays a role in it. Yes I also have that shivery cold feeling even when I am not. Mild stiffness too. Exams were normal. I am not taking anything for it. When I get nervous they get really bad.
Have Happy New Year and Good Luck to you.
Have Happy New Year and Good Luck to you.
Hi Aj
You do need to have a good Neurologist examine you. Our disorders are almost the same. I get the muscle shaking and twitching along with the rest of the garbage. I have had many test that have come up clean. The liver was a little high because I love my wine and Tecate. The not knowing is the worst part about this disease whether it is organic or mental. It would be nice for you to have a clean checkup. That will give back a little piece of mind and you could start to rebuild. I also get the numbness in my hands,legs,shoulders,arms. I had a CT of the sinus which showed the swallon sinus and I get the crud like you. My ENT put me on 4 weeks of Biaxin to see if that would help with the nose stuff. I do get this tightness in throat musles and my joints pop like crazy. I have been to five Neurologist one of them being Dr. Miller of the University of San Francisco. He is one of the foremost authorities of MDA in the world. He personally examined me and said Als is not an issue. As for strenght I can drop down and do 100. My strength is freaking out right now. I can rep 300lbs which I have never been able to do in my life. What is going on with me? My muscles freak out and it scares the hell out of me. I have been on klonopin and it helps out along with ativan. I hope you go to a good neuro maybe at a teaching clinic. Those guys are not there to do time. They love the challenges and will try to put your puzzle together. I just want my life back. I use to be one of the best stock daytraders before all this **** hit me. I belive in the begining if I would have seen a proper doctor instead of being afraid of what I might find out i could have saved myself alot of agony. The mind can create symptoms also. Doing research on the internet reading about disorders and the next thing you know your body can start to mimic this ****. Being afraid of what they might find is worse than what they find. Please do not delay! Go and get an opinion so you can gain some peace of mind. Sorry for this long winded speech. I just hope someone learns from my experience.
You do need to have a good Neurologist examine you. Our disorders are almost the same. I get the muscle shaking and twitching along with the rest of the garbage. I have had many test that have come up clean. The liver was a little high because I love my wine and Tecate. The not knowing is the worst part about this disease whether it is organic or mental. It would be nice for you to have a clean checkup. That will give back a little piece of mind and you could start to rebuild. I also get the numbness in my hands,legs,shoulders,arms. I had a CT of the sinus which showed the swallon sinus and I get the crud like you. My ENT put me on 4 weeks of Biaxin to see if that would help with the nose stuff. I do get this tightness in throat musles and my joints pop like crazy. I have been to five Neurologist one of them being Dr. Miller of the University of San Francisco. He is one of the foremost authorities of MDA in the world. He personally examined me and said Als is not an issue. As for strenght I can drop down and do 100. My strength is freaking out right now. I can rep 300lbs which I have never been able to do in my life. What is going on with me? My muscles freak out and it scares the hell out of me. I have been on klonopin and it helps out along with ativan. I hope you go to a good neuro maybe at a teaching clinic. Those guys are not there to do time. They love the challenges and will try to put your puzzle together. I just want my life back. I use to be one of the best stock daytraders before all this **** hit me. I belive in the begining if I would have seen a proper doctor instead of being afraid of what I might find out i could have saved myself alot of agony. The mind can create symptoms also. Doing research on the internet reading about disorders and the next thing you know your body can start to mimic this ****. Being afraid of what they might find is worse than what they find. Please do not delay! Go and get an opinion so you can gain some peace of mind. Sorry for this long winded speech. I just hope someone learns from my experience.
hey thanks for the feedback all... it not only helps me, but everyone that reads these threads as well. I have been to 2 of my GP's , had full blood work and an MRI, which all came out great, except for like I said... the one tenth of a point above normal liver test because I love my Jose Cuervo and the swollen skull area in my sinuses. I too was put on some serious antibiotics... a month's worth of 1,000 mg. of Amoxocyllin (spelling?). Even my pharmacist was blown away at that regiment! Anyway, I too am learning to just live with it. I notice a LOT of people out in public with the shakes. The next time you're at the supermarket, just watch people when they hold things... a lot of them shake too. Now that I have noticed that... I don't feel so bad.
I agree with you about the body mimmicking symptoms. With my anxiety levels all of the time, everytime I think I have something ( in my mind), I get symptoms of whatever it is. I do have muscle shakes and twitching, no doubt, but if my MRI was good and nothing else can be found... then what the hay? I'll live with it. My mom has the shakes too, pretty bad. Not like Parkinsons but like "familiar tyremors", so it's only natural that I will end up with something like that too. So, I know it's not ALS, I have no vision problems, stumbling or "attacks" of any kind like MS brings-on, so I'm not as afraid as I was, but I still have to take my doses of Ativan here and there for my general anxiety. Thanks again... like I said, you not only help me, you help everyone else on here too.
I agree with you about the body mimmicking symptoms. With my anxiety levels all of the time, everytime I think I have something ( in my mind), I get symptoms of whatever it is. I do have muscle shakes and twitching, no doubt, but if my MRI was good and nothing else can be found... then what the hay? I'll live with it. My mom has the shakes too, pretty bad. Not like Parkinsons but like "familiar tyremors", so it's only natural that I will end up with something like that too. So, I know it's not ALS, I have no vision problems, stumbling or "attacks" of any kind like MS brings-on, so I'm not as afraid as I was, but I still have to take my doses of Ativan here and there for my general anxiety. Thanks again... like I said, you not only help me, you help everyone else on here too.
I like my wine too. It helps with this disorder as long as it is in moderation. My shaking is better today. The twitches are mild and i am not as stiff. Bouts with the flu makes it 10x worse.
Hope you have a healthy new year.
Hope you have a healthy new year.
All I can say is, "Oh my goodness"! I thought I was the only one out there with "weird" symptoms! It seems like every day I have something new going on to tell my husband when he gets home from work. I know he must think I'm crazy. I don't even tell my friends anymore because they think I'm a hypochondriac! I, too, have the shakes on the inside. I don't have muscle twitches, but I have tingling all the time. I get it in my face, legs, arms, head, you name it. I also get a burning feeling in my head, not burning like fire, but kind of like when somebody rubs alcohol on an open wound. Does anyone ever have this feeling? It drives me CRAZY! I also get a very sharp pain in my head. It's like someone is stabbing me. I could go on and on about all my symptoms. I don't even know if they are related to eachother or what. This is the first time I've been on this website and it's GREAT! I love it. I could spend HOURS on here reading what everyone says. I don't feel so crazy after all. I hope someone will comment on what I've written soon. Take care everyone and a HUGE thank you for this website!
It's me again. One more thing. EVERY morning, when I wake up, my hands are numb. It takes a few minutes of shaking them out for it to go back to normal. Anyone experience this?
To vagirrrrrl:
I too have thses symptoms for many years and was told first they were fibromyalgia.( Muscle ache , jumping inside and tingling in hands) Now my TSH values are out of wack and I now am being ruled out with hyperthroidism or polymyalgia rheumatica .
I have posted my question and am waiting for an answer so watch for it but I suggest like me , you get a good physical and blood work to include throid, and rhumatism blood work!! I hope for myself and you that it can be figured out and we can get on with our lives!I am 40 and way to young for this! From ddcile
I too have thses symptoms for many years and was told first they were fibromyalgia.( Muscle ache , jumping inside and tingling in hands) Now my TSH values are out of wack and I now am being ruled out with hyperthroidism or polymyalgia rheumatica .
I have posted my question and am waiting for an answer so watch for it but I suggest like me , you get a good physical and blood work to include throid, and rhumatism blood work!! I hope for myself and you that it can be figured out and we can get on with our lives!I am 40 and way to young for this! From ddcile
Dear ddcile...I too am young...29 years old...WAY too young for all these problems. I'm not familiar with the things you spoke of, other than thyroid. My mom takes medication for her thyroid. I wasn't aware that it could cause the symptoms I'm having. I'll check into. I just feel like if I go to the doctor and tell them all this stuff they will think I'm nuts. I'll look out for an answer to your question. Thanks for commenting and I'm glad we're not alone in this. Good Luck and God Bless!
when vagirrlll mentioned the burning, i freaked out. several years ago i had a spell that lasted for almost 3 weeks where i burned all over my body--- LIKE I WAS ON FIRE. i lost 15 pounds-- and had to rely on the ER b/c i didn't have insurance. i must have been around 24. i saw this stupid neurologist who couldn't help me--- but was the only one who saw patients who were uninsured. eventually-- GET THIS--- my gynecologist put me on depakote and things slowly went away.
i have been on psych meds for years now-- and my brain is fried. i cannot believe i even graduated from college. :( i am 29.
i have tried for months to ask the neuro on here if psych meds can ruin your cognitive functions permanently. i can never get a post--- does anyone REALLY REALLY know???
:(
i am so sad.
i have been on psych meds for years now-- and my brain is fried. i cannot believe i even graduated from college. :( i am 29.
i have tried for months to ask the neuro on here if psych meds can ruin your cognitive functions permanently. i can never get a post--- does anyone REALLY REALLY know???
:(
i am so sad.
Dear Fairy Dust:
I am so sorry for you! Keep asking and check out your local hospital , especially if it is a teaching one. They cannot turn you away for the inability to pay! The squeeky wheel gets the greese! I do beleive there is light at the end of the tunnel and you deserve an answer!!!
Dear vagirrl:
Yes, oh yes hyper thyroid, will give you these symptoms and they have been checking mine, and suddenly it finally showed up.
So glad you decided to get it checked out. Do a tsh, t3 and t4 levels and see what it says! Take care, keep in touch and we will talk again soon! From ddcile
I am so sorry for you! Keep asking and check out your local hospital , especially if it is a teaching one. They cannot turn you away for the inability to pay! The squeeky wheel gets the greese! I do beleive there is light at the end of the tunnel and you deserve an answer!!!
Dear vagirrl:
Yes, oh yes hyper thyroid, will give you these symptoms and they have been checking mine, and suddenly it finally showed up.
So glad you decided to get it checked out. Do a tsh, t3 and t4 levels and see what it says! Take care, keep in touch and we will talk again soon! From ddcile
Geeze... we all need to swap e-mail addrsses or something... ha-ha! Today I had weak knees all day while walking around the mall. I mean, I could still run and jump and had all of my true strength but they just felt like they were held together with rubber or something. I don't get numb hands or feet like some of you get but I do get numb hands and arms when lying in bed watching TV, but I'm sure that's just from leaning on them because once I move, I get the blood flowing again and all of these nasty pins and needles as they wake back up. If anybody wants to e-mail me... I'm a hell of a listener and I'm all ears. ***@**** We're all in this together and we can beat all of these stupid and strange symptoms if we learn that we are not the only one's with them and we are NOT crazy!
After many blood tests, exams, and tests, my thyroid is to blame. I am hyperthyroid and will have a throid scan soon, then medicine. They ( the drs) are hopeful that my symptoms will go away( tingling, numness , aches and pains) when they fix my thyroid. The normal symptoms of throid most definetly will go away( jittery , shakiness, rapid pulse, always being hot ). My dilated pupil is still a mystery! I am posting this so others will feel to get an exam so too their symptoms can be taken care of. We are not crazy and there is medical help available! I hope others are as lucky as me and can be relived of their symptoms so we can go on to lead normal productive lives! If I can be of any help just post me a note here. Happy New Year and good luck! Sincerely, ddcile
I just found this site while trying to find out about ALS signs and symptoms.A few weeks ago I began having involuntary muscle twitches in my hands.It would pull my thumb down and sometimes one of my fingers.It has started in my foot, and ocassionaly in my back only on the left side.I also have what feels like a vibration in the muscles of my arms and shoulders. I have'nt lost any strength as far as I can tell but I just feel weak and shaky.I am absolutely terrified I have ALS, my Dr. is running a lot of blood tests, and put me on a pill called "Restoril" for my nerves and anxiety, is'nt helping much though.It sounds like I am not the only suffering with similiar symptoms, so maybe I do not have ALS.I am not having trouble breathing or swallowing and while my legs feel weak I am not stumbling or staggering.Any help or suggestions would sure be helpful. My prayers and best wishes to all of you going through the same thing.
You all sound so lost and alone, and no we are not hypochondriacs, nutty or anything else - we are sick and need professional help. The hyperthyroidism problems could end up being Graves disease, especially with the huge weight loss and messed up pupil. Be prepared for some kind of radiation therapy. You could also have MS too, and probably a messed up immune system so you are going to react in extreme ways to more or less everything. Been there done that but the biggest thing is that you have to push to doctors for more time and explanation. It is also worth noting here that when you present a dr/neuro with "what you think is wrong with you" they often snub you and say you have too much time on your hands and you have been on the web too long. Demand respect, which is difficult when you end up in tears at each visit, and take a list of prepared notes with you so that you don't lose your thread when you are delivering a theory to them. Take care.
Yes, I do have graves disease, and radiation treatment is in the future. Serger, did you have that done?( radiation for hyperthyroid?) anyone else have it done out there???I am concerned about the after effects. I have read alot about it and know what is going to happen but not how I will feel after etc.
I do know it takes months to work. I do not have MS, already ruled out hewwwwwwww, but my immune system is all wacked out, hence the graves. Please let me know and I hope you are feeling better.
Sincerely, ddcile
I do know it takes months to work. I do not have MS, already ruled out hewwwwwwww, but my immune system is all wacked out, hence the graves. Please let me know and I hope you are feeling better.
Sincerely, ddcile
Any one have had I 131 radiation therapy for hyperthyroid?
I am going to and would like info from any one that has. Thankyou in advance. Ddcile
I am going to and would like info from any one that has. Thankyou in advance. Ddcile
Radiation treatment going well, a bit jittery and shaky but Ok.
Hope all are Ok out there. Will post more later, but I am soooooo
glad to be able to get this done and get well and get on with my life! If any one needs info on radiation therapy I will be glad to respond. Happy New Year and good health to all!From ddcile
Hope all are Ok out there. Will post more later, but I am soooooo
glad to be able to get this done and get well and get on with my life! If any one needs info on radiation therapy I will be glad to respond. Happy New Year and good health to all!From ddcile
I sit and read all of these with some questions of my own. I have had some similar symptoms with shaking as well. My had shake very mild like and at times my legs fall a sleep. I have had blood work done recently with all great outcomes. Although I am under a great amount of stress as of lately and I have been very fatigued and overworked. I wonder if a MRI is recommended for me at this time? I also am curious about my health and if mild pain in the abdominal area has anything to do with this?
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