Leg Twitching for 3 Months

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RockSolidGuy89

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I have been twitching for the last 3 months, mainly in my legs, some days i think i twitch less...felt strain in one leg but think its due to me constantly testing it, got similar strain at back of knee on other leg recently which i think is a good side and strain is not getting worse, i can walk and do exercises fine and some days legs feel more or less fine....so I was relaxed for the last few weeks, previously i wasworried about swallowing and slurred speech but now I know that was just anxiety and I haven't had any issues with swallowing/speaking for a while,starting to believe it may all be benign and then for the last 4 or 5 days I keep waking up at around 3 am and 6 am, the first night it happened I didn't think anything of it, then it happened the next day at the same times and the next day and last night too, usually I can fall back to sleep after a while but it really is concerning me because usually I am a deep sleeper and out like a shot and nothing will wake me until my alarm sounds the next morning, why is this happening to me? I am afraid it could be connected to some awful disease and it has begun to really worry me, i am already thinking about going to bed tonight and hoping i don't wake up suddenly in the middle of the night but i fear i will, it is so strange how it happens, out of the blow I wake up in the middle of the night completely awake, it never happened before and i hope it's a not a sign of some terrible neurological condition but there's so much mixed info out there, i don't know what to think
 
Walking up in the night is not a sign of any neurological condition. Also remember that leg pain and weakness are two completely separate things. hang in there buddy.
 
Okay, I'm going on a limb to say that your concerns about insomnia are triggered by a previous post on here that mentioned that &LS patients have bad insomnia.The whole world has insomnia for one reason or another. Ambien is one of the most prescribed drug out there. Two of the largest reasons for insomnia are a) depression (early morning wakenings - could you be depressed? or b) anxiety (usually more trouble falling and/or staying asleep)No doctor in his right mind would hear that you have bad sleep and think that you have a neuro-muscular disorder. I promise you.Now, if this continues see a doctor and figure out why. You might have sleep apnea or a whole host of other sleep disorders. And most are treatable. Or you might need medication to get yourself past this cycle of insomnia.The problem with insomnia is that you will "psych" yourself into not sleeping well. If it's on your mind, it's bound to make you continue having bad sleep.I've had bad insomnia the majority of my life and really struggled with it. But, I've been anxious the majority of my life too.Good luck to you. Please don't worry about this (nor you, Greg).Mitra
 
I've had insomnia so long I'd probably freak out if I started sleeping well. I can personally vouch for the fact insomnia is no more sinister than craving Big Macs. Sure, its stressful and takes a huge toll on you when you can't sleep, but in and of itself its not indicative of anything. I'd estimate 50-75 % of the people I talk to on a regular basis have trouble falling a sleep or trouble staying asleep. I happen to have both...Frances
 
happened again last night, that's 6 nights in a row, i have noticed that i wake up suddenly about 2 and a half hours after i fall asleep, i wake up suddenly after a dream and it takes a bit of time to get back to sleep, not sure what this symptom is connected to but it's a bit worrying especially when i have to work as i fear not being able to get back to sleep, this is so unusual as I am used to sleeping deep and uninterrupted all my life and it started suddenly and i wasn't even feeling particularly anxious, no idea what's going on with me and can't really afford to go back to the doctors and pay for sleep studies, i am already in pretty big debt after paying for mri's, neurologist consultations etc, hope this doesn't continue for a long time or isn't related to anything sinister , oh well
 
I am right there with you buddy. Last night I slept from 1-5am. I woke up and even took an Ativan and could not go back to sleep. This makes 8 nights in a row like this. I don't know why this is happening all of a sudden either. I had way more anxiety and depression when BFS all started. My depression/anxiety was improving and then this sleep issue came along. Why out of he blue like that? why is it staying so consistent with it happening every night? Even meds cannot get me through the night. I don't know for sure if this is not a bad sign of a neurological disease, but I do know that something is going on here that is not normal. I have dealt with anxiety an d depression my entire life and have NOT EVER had sleep trouble like this.
 
So, the fact that both of you are anxious about sleeping, is major anxiety, and becomes a vicious cycle. I've been there. When I've had terrible insomnia as you're mentioning, I go to bed wondering if I'm going to wake up in a few hours. I have woken up despite sleep meds, etc. It becomes a self-fulfilled prophecy. Somehow you need to try not to worry about your sleep (SO much easier said than done) and I'll bet you're symptoms will improve. Right now you're not only worried about your insomnia, but you're also worried that it could be tied to something sinister. Not a good combination for sleep, period. I'm guessing with both of you, your circadian rhythms are totally off.I'm sure you've heard all of this, but make sure you have good sleep hygiene (google it - since there are too many factors to mention here, but some include making sure you only use your bed for sleep, don't lie there trying to get back to sleep, exercise every day, but not close to bedtime, preferably outdoors, etc.).I also want to make sure that you haven't started any new medication. Anytime I start an SSRI (for example), it destroys my sleep and makes it very similar to what you are describing.I have to say I'm very sorry you're dealing with this, as it's very difficult to control anxiety when you've had lack of sleep. I am dealing with that now, due to a whole lot of stress, and not sleeping enough. It just makes the stress that you're dealing with so much worse.Mitra
 
With my 3rd episode of BFS this winter (seems to be an annual occurance) I had poor sleep for almost a month maybe 3 - 4 hours and even if I'd had a few drinks would be awake. This condition is fed by our anxieties and as we reach higher levels of anxiety it is very difficult for our body and mind to relax.The key to breaking the cycle is to reduce your anxiety and get more sleep. If you can't do it by Herbal methods then get some tablets from the doctor to get your through the initial rough times.good luck
 
You normally go through about 6 sleep cycles while you're asleep. At the end of each cycle people often wake up but never remember it in the morning (usually this occurs just after you've had a dream in a REM cycle). When someone is anxious or very worried about their sleeping patterns then they tend to pay more attention during this "wake up" phase and it starts to become a pattern. This has happened to me numerous times. The only way I can get out of it is to remind myself that it's totally normal to wake up a few times during the night. That way, I know it's nothing to worry about and I go right back to sleep. Eventually, I stop paying attention at all and I forget about those moments of "wake up" like most people do.So you can chalk this up to anxiety just like the other stuff. I know not everyone is supportive of this but I can only speak from my own experience. Drugs like Klonopin and Xanax have been a godsend for me! When you are having periods of high anxiety (almost panic like) then just take one before bed. That is GUARANTEED to give me a good nights sleep! Then, when you realize you have the klonopin there in CASE you can't sleep or have bad twitching... you don't worry about it and tend not to need it! (Again - this helped me - it's not for everyone).
 
Hi there..if insomnia is sign of something nasty then I am so screwed.... :LOL: ..not trying to make light of your fears but seriously I havent had a full nights sleep in 15 years..even before I got bfs I couldn't sleep...now I sleep even less ...with the twitches, cramps and pain I'm lucky to get 4 hours sleep in a stretch....try and relax before u go to bed ...no t.v. Maybe a relaxation cd and see if that helps..best wishes shannon
 
Hi shanny, I luv ya Hun and thanks for responding. I am still not sleeping for crap. I noticed I had a similar trouble about the same time last year. Maybe this is seasonal? Thanks for confirming this is nothing related to any rare illness. :) chat soon.
 
Hey Greg.... ;) ...sorry to hear your not sleeping good..but honestly not sleeping is a huge anxiety thing in a lot of people...and the more u worry about not sleeping guess what? U don't sleep...and in all honesty I have always been a shocking sleeper..but the more anxious I am the worse my insomnia gets.....hope it settles down for us all soon....hugs shanny
 
petrified and Ghayes,I had trouble sleeping when I originally had onset of BFS, about 2 years ago. It was rough...I kept waking up and dragging through the day. Even signed up for a sleep study (or at least thought about it). But it eventually went away and I went back to sleeping like a baby. Just ride it out. :D)
 

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