Mystery of Ratcheting and Cogwheeling

[LisaQ.]

I never noticed my ratcheting visibly, I only felt it when I moved.

I always had it in my biceps, when I would lower my arm, I would feel a hesitation in the muscles, the movement wasn't smooth, it was sort of bumpy.

I'm sure cogwheeling is similar, but it is much more severe. It is associated with stiffness and resistance of the muscle to movement. My muscles didn't resist movement, and they weren't so stiff that I couldn't move, they just didn't move smoothly.

I'm not sure if this helps, but if you are fasciculating and ratcheting and not displaying any resting tremors or clinical stiffness, I would say it is a safe bet it is just bfs. PD is extremely rare in young people.

Blessings,
Sue

 

[sparkluv93]

I too am a ratcheter, and have been for a couple of years now. It is worse in my arms, but also present in my leg joints and hips. When moving my biceps it is most noticable, especially if I tense my muscles a little. It is odd though, the jerky movement does not seem to come from the joint itself, but rather from the muscle...it looks like the muscles moves in small increments with an ever-so-short stop every 1/4 inch or so, so that it looks very jumpy. Have seen 3 neuros, and they have no idea why I got it or why I still have it. At any rate, it does not seem to have gotten better or worse, and it does not appear to be dangerous. I am even able to lift weights and exercise--although that was not the case for the first few months. Back then, when the twitching/muscle pain/ratcheting first started, I also had a bit of muscle weakness that prevented exercise and weight lifting.

 

[usysparawl]

I have racheting in my shoulders whenever I put my arms above my head and lower them. I also have essential tremor.

I really don't need to be reading about rare symptoms of PD! Eeek.

 

[LivelyCheer]

Count me in. This is one of my worst symtoms. The internal tremors and vibrations along the the muscle "shakes" while moving. Try to do a half push up and hold it...do you shake. I tryed yoga last week...bad idea as it was more power yoga. NOT good for the jerky muscles. I think the muscles are being bombarded with stimulations (internal or external with anxiety making it worse). This causes and constant tense muscle that will jerk with movement. Anything that will relax the muscle should help...meditation, hot baths, drugs, etc. You don't have PD.

Chip