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.

[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