Finding Support with Calf Twitches

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psikeylee

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First I want to say what a blessing it is to find this site. I am a 38 year old male. I have been going through a lot of anxiety about my calves lately. About 1 month ago I when I was lying in bed, I could see the twitches randomly moving around both calve muscles. Now, I can feel and see them constantly 24/7 (they actually seem worse in the morning). To make a long story short, I went to my family doctor and he ran some blood tests last Thursday and referred me to a neuro. It's been about 4 days since my blood test and my doc didn't call me so I guess I can assume nothing alarming showed up on my blood test..? My neuro appt is next week and I have, guess what, even more anxiety about this. I have been doing strength tests (calve raises, jumping, running up the stairs (forward and backward), balancing on one foot at at time, etc... About 2 weeks ago I ran about 4 miles on the treadmill (just to prove I could do it) -- I did get sore the next couple of days from that though! My wife and I both think my calves are getting more muscularly defined. Probably from the month of strength tests?? I have anxiety to the MAX about this. Other than the twitches and extreme anxiety/fear, I seem to be able to walk/run/jump without any issues. Two days ago we went to the beach and I was walking fine on the sand (which should be more muscularly challenging than on a flat surface). We also went to Dave and Busters (that's a cool place by the way) and I was able to shoot baskets, take jump shots, etc...Now, after a month of bilateral calve twitching, if it were something nasty, should I know something by now ? From what I am reading is that I would more than likely been complaining of weakness before the twitches started?Here's somethings I specifically notice about my calves:1. They both twitch (from right below the knee down to my ankle/feet -- i believe i have noticed the bottom of my feet moving)- Sometimes my calves feel like it's a ping pong match going from the left to the right .. Should the fact that I am getting them in both calves at the same time be more reassuring that it's not something nasty ?2. I get depressed/anxiety when I am sitting down a lot -- Because I feel the twitches more when sitting and it bums me out. I have been doing a lot of standing lately because I usually cannot feel the twitches when I am standing. That makes me feel a bit better, mentally, when I get a break from the constant feeling. When sitting, I often hold my calves so that I don't feel them twitch. I am the type of person who likes to be in control of things in my life, and this is something that has taken that control away from me, and that's stressful. 3. I don't know if this is absolutely 100% the case, BUT, it seems like when I FIRST WAKE UP (first 2-3 minutes) I don't feel any twitches, then, when my mind remembers my issue, I start to focus my attention to my calve area again.. Then usually the next couple of minutes I start feeling my muscles jumping, then extreme anxiety sets in.. It's like I get my hopes up that it's gone, then it comes back... very depressing. 4. Every once and awhile, I feel like a charley horse type pain, but it immediately subsides.. I am thinking it may be from me doing the many calve raises and heal walking, stair climbing, jumping, etc.. ?5. I am scared because I have started to drink alcohol more in order to calm my nerves about all this. Last weekend we stayed at a hotel that has unlimited drinks from 5:30-7:30... It allowed me to help minimize my stress (temporarily). I felt the happiest when I was buzzed. This happening to anyone else ? I have been drinking red wine almost every night to calm my nerves.. I figure that red wine is supposed to have the best health benefits anyway, so why not, right? But the bottom line is, I don't want to depend on alcohol to be happy.. I know that's not a way to live.Anyway, in a nutshell, I have been reading a lot of posts on here, and I can say that this is a truly special forum.Does my issue sound like anyone elses? Does this sound like BFS ? I am looking for some reassurance here guys... Please help!Mikey
 
Mikey,Welcome to the forum. Wish I could say that you don't belong here but it is obvious from you post that you do ;) What you are describing right down to the constant self testing and the anxiety is textbook BFS. You can use the search engine and plug in calf twitches, cramping etc and it will bring you to hundreds of posts by people just like you who have the same symptoms etc. So I have no worries that this is something sinister or disabling going on...primarily due to your history, because I have felt everything you describe and because I am a physician.I am certain your labs are fine and based on what you are doing physically I do not expect your neuro examination to be anything but normal. Yes the twitching is annoying and the cramps are a pain but this condition does not turn into something else and nothing that you have described is typical of any other disease or condition but this. You neuro may discuss an EMG or he may not. Sometimes with a normal clincal exam there is no reason to go for further testing. Many on this site will disagree that an EMG is necessary to rule out everything however I have also seen many people on this site get multiple normal EMGs and still have anxiety. So....if the neuro gives you a clean bill of health - yay you. You belong here and the next big hurdle will be to stop self testing yourself and get a grip on your anxiety which is not as easy as it sounds. Read BFS in a Nutshell and use the search engine that should help some with the worry about this. Welcome aboard kiddo and let us know if we can help:)Smooches,Kit
 
Welcome aboard from me too! As Kit has said, your symptoms sound completely consistent with BFS and completely inconsistent with anything more sinister. Like Kit, I am sure your neuro visit will bring reassurance. Your self testing etc sounds all too familiar and I am convinced that I did (and still occasionally do) myself no favours whatsoever by self testing.All the bestRegardsSimon
 
I read somewhere that twitching in the calves is almost always benign. I get those too and I don't worry about them anymore. It's the other ones that worry me!
 
Thank you so much all! The more I read, the better I feel.. I do have a lot of anxiety about it though.Couple of questions:Does the fact that it's constantly happening in both calves have any significance on anything?I also on occasion feel some thumps in other areas as well.. (but area and the back side of my leg right under my but) -- these are not constant, just a thump every so often. Also the other day one of my biceps twitched for a minute or so then went away...?Also some buzzing type feeling in the right eyebrow area.. This I have noticed on and off for several months (even before the calves kicked in) so i don't know if this is unrelated or not?Thank you!! :D) Mikey
 
Mike- Presentation in both calfs is very very typical of BFS. Calves were the first place I noticed my twitching. In fact, it was only the calves until I read the internet about twitching and freaked out and then the twitching spread everywhere. But calves were the first and major spot for me and for many on here. My neuro opined that the calves tend to be the focus for benign twitching because they are so heavily used and because they are critical muscles for fight or flight responses (going back to our cavemen days I suppose) and that these muscles tend to be hypersensitive because of this. The other thing you described: not having/feeling the twitches initially when you woke up. I had the exact same thing. I'd lie there thinking for a minute that it was gone and then slowly the twitces started up again. You're going to see your neuro in a few days and hear that its all nothing. But until that day try to do the following:1) take a deep breath and look at the posts on here which should give you some comfort that what youre going through is what everyone here has been through;2) stop the self testing no matter how tempting. I did so much self testing the first two weeks, I ended up causing major major cramp, strain problems in my legs to wear I could barely walk which of course made me stress more that my condition was progressing.3) don't overdo the alcohol. A couple drinks are fine but getting smashed every day to control the anxiety is not the way to deal with this. 4) Lastly, listen to the folks here, we've all been right where you are and know how overwhelming the anxiety is. But what you've described is classic, classic bfs. You've no weakness, no issues with coordination and you've run, etc. All you have is bening twitching. Good luck and let us know how the neuro apptmnt goes.
 
I just got copies of my lab results, and I am really stress out now... My CK (CPK) came back at 271 which normal range is 44-196. Of course this is the test that measures muscle damage. I had done a lot of strength testing lately on my legs and I wonder if this could be a culprit ? Also, could the twitching itself cause the CK levels to be high ? Someone please set my mind at ease.. I have been calf twitching for 4 1/2 weeks.Mike
 
Hi MikeI have read that people with benigh fasciculation can have a raised CK and yours isn't terribly high. Quite clearly you will want to discuss your results with the specialist who ordered them ASAP but I feel optimistic for you that you will still be reassured that all is well.Regards and good luck.Simon
 
I was able to move my neuro appt to tomorrow. I cannot wait over the weekend.. This is mentally exhausting. CK was the one part of the blood test that I was worried about .. and sure enough... it's the one with an elevation. I did play Raquetball the night before my blood test, along with doing many calve raises, stair climbing (with my 6 year old in my arms) over the past month... Could this be enough to raise the level beyond the upper range? Normal Range = 44-196 u/l my result = 271 (75 points high).I was also reading on this sites FAQ that and i quote "A simple clinical rule is that fasciculations in relaxed muscle are never indicative or motor system disease unless there is an associated weakness, atrophy, or reflex change." I assume the "or" actually meant "of" above.My calve muscles twitch when relaxed. It's hard to tell if they actually twitch while standing on them.. I don't know.. Just really scared..
 
Mike- I don't think the CK level is indicative of anything bad. Given what you said you did physically before the test, its not surprising at all that this level was elevated from what I've read about CK levels. Glad to hear your appointment is now tomorrow. I'd wager my house that you're about to see the power of anxiety over the body because your doc is going to tell you this is benign and you're going to walk out of that office feeling a whole lot better.
 
Mike,Your situation is a carbon copy of mine (and I mean every part). I haven't been to a neuro because my GP doesn't think it is necessary and keeps telling me that **S is a disease of weakness and not twitching. I just got done playing golf and the drive home was miserable because I just had to sit there (I wasn't driving) while my calves twitched like crazy. By the way, how old are you? I am 36 and keep telling myself that it would be so rare for someone my age to get that awful disease. My calves have been doing this for almost 4 months and it is literally driving me crazy. EVERY night when I go to bed I wonder if I will twitch in the morning. Sure enough, after a few minutes of laying there thinking about it, they start firing away. It sucks and has completely changed the person I once was and I pray that I will be normal again but who knows. I can tell you that it does get better but expect to have both good and bad days. Please keep us posted on your neuro appointment.
 
I am 38 and I live in California.. Where do you live? Maybe we can chat on the phone... If so, e-mail me and I will give you a call.How many docs are on this forum.. I know Kit is a doc... I do appreciate everyone's comments and support.. As each comment comes in, I do feel better... I hope to be able to help someone else out once I get through this myself.Mike
 
I remember when my GP wouldn't refer me to a neuro either but then I insisted on it or I was finding another doctor. Chad and Mikey, calves are the hottest spot for BFS. My legs twitch all the time especially in the morning. Mikey, I'm sure your neuro appointment will turn out just fine. Keep us posted.
 
Mine started in one finger, but immediately moved to my calves and they are by far the worst muscles as far as frequency of twitches. Seems like a lot of us have it in their calves primarily. I am in my 4th month of this and had one go round with a neuro who didn't really find much, though I had some abnormalities in my NCT, which is still giving me fits of anxiety. He really didn't give me a dx, though he said I didn't have any of the biggies. He referred me to another neuro, who is a muscle specialist (still a couple months away though). So far I'm like you though - lots of excercise (pushups, toe raises included) and no loss of strength as far as I can tell. And the anxiety has lessened a little over time. Just hang in there, come to this site for support and keep us informed about your neuro visit.
 
Hi MikeyI am also a doc although I am not a neurologist. My advice on this site is always as a BFS sufferer not a doc. CK rises after exercise and this sounds like it was certainly the case with you. I had a CK done a couple of weeks ago and my neurologist specifically said "Please don't get this test done after a day ski-ing!"I feel confident for you that your neurology visit will be reassuring. Do'nt be surprised if you are asked to repeat the CK but without the activity beforehand, INCLUDING self testing!!! Be optimistic that the follow up result will be normal.RegardsSimon
 
OK Everyone--I am back from the Neurologist. I got to say, that my doc was sort of an interesting guy.. He kind of reminded me of Andy Richter (ya know, from Conan O'Obrian)..Anyway,To make a long story short.. The nurse took my blood pressure.. it was something like 158/79 or something like that... Now, normally, I have a BP of 120-130 over something less.. I am thinking my extreme stress over this and the stress of being in the office had an impact on my BP. I have got to relax people!! I do !!I showed the doc my twitches, he asked me to do several strength tests.. He said I don't have any weakness.. He offered me an EMG on the spot so I accepted it. Went into the next room over (terrified at this point).. Got shocked and poked.. (ouch! - but i am a cry baby).He said he didn't see anything wrong.. I looked on his hand written report and he wrote "no facisculations". He did note that I was super anxious and asked if I was always like that.. I told him that I am an anxious person normally but not as anxious as I am about the twitching situation. He wrote me an rx for Ativan... I was expecting more reassurance from him (in the form of, you are good, don't worry ) but he did say that he didn't see anything wrong and that I had Benign Fasciculations. I then later said, well, you think I have BFS... He then said " what's that" I said "Benign Fasciculation Syndrome" I was a little surprised that he didn't know the acronym.. Nevertheless, the doc has been practicing for 20 years, so I should believe what he says...I am still twitching though... :(Now, people, please, can I rest easier? Am I OK ? Should I just accept that I have BFS, hope it goes away, and move on ?? Send me some love people!!Mikey
 
Great news about your reassuring result. My neurologist uses the term 'benign fasciculation' too and isn't aware of the BFS acronym either. What was the theory about your CK by the way? I assume it was thought ot be exercise-induced??RegardsSimon
 
He looked at it the lab report, I told him about it the CK, but he didn't pay it much attention. I told him I had been self testing my calves heavily and had played racquetball a few days before and maybe that is why. He didn't suggest testing it again.. I did assume he would send me to do an EMG especially with the borderline CK elevation, which he did. Oh, also, I had been on a statin for a long time.. The Neuro thought that the statin could have played a part in all of this. I have stopped taking the statin a week ago just to see... It hasn't change anything as far as the twitching but who knows.He did prescribe me some Ativan by the way.... to calm my nerves...
 
Hi MikeySounds as if the CK was nothing to worry about then... I have a number of patients on statins with CKs higher than yours! Great news that all is well with you.RegardsSi
 
Thanks so much!You all are the best... You all feel like family... Thanks for all you do!!One love,Mikeyp.s. I love that K-Fed Avatar... yeah....!
 

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