New to Forum: Muscle Twitching

[lisamartinez]

Hi BFS group! I am new to this forum and have a few symptoms I'd like to run by you if I may. FYI: I have been to my GP twice and I have a neuro appointment coming up 10/29/12.So, starting Sept. 21 (or right around there) I had a twitch on my lower right bicep. No biggie I thought. I lift and run so I figured it was just a tired muscle and will do that. I've had them before. No biggie. About a wee and a half later (muscle still twitching) my whole body started going. Ok. Interesting I thought. I was just coming off Flovent for the summer season and thought it might be a withdraw symptom. Couldn't find that withdraw symptom so I went in to my GP to get some blood work and check up on Oct. 1st. He did a basic neuro test/strength test which he said seemed fine. He did a basic metabolic plus Lyme disease. All came back clear. Cool. he said if it's still happening in a week, come back and we'll check some more things out and consider a neurct 8th came and the twitching was still going on and my anxiety was up some because this is all new to me. Checked Google (bad) but found the BFS site (good). I went back to the doc and her ran more specific blood tests for vitamin deficiency (calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, potassium). Also, he did more strength tests (more comprehensive than before) and saw I had a slight tremor and very slight hyperflexia. My doc said even he has a tremor so again I didn't think much of it as long as I pass the strength tests. The blood work showed a deficiency in Vitamin D (27 mg). Aha! Hopefully that's why the twitching was going on. I was put on 50,000 IU's once a week for eight weeks. He still wanted me to go to the neuro so I made the appointment and waiting.Since I've been waiting, twitches are less frequent for sure, but still there. Also, there has been a "fatigued feeling" in my left forearm. My left pinky moves in a "robotic" like fashion when I wake up in the morning. Meaning, it does what i say (good) but in three movements. Also, it feels heavy. Gets better in the day with more use it seems. Also, lower left leg seems a bit heavier. This morning when I was getting up, when I closed my hand, it was robotic. Close some, stop, close more, stop. Close all the way, then was able to open and close fairly smoothly. Finally, another interesting issue is the mass between my thumb and forefinger (top of hand) on my left hand is less than the right hand. To me, not too shocking considering I'm right handed. I thought weights would have solved that since I would be gripping so I thought they should be more even. It might be atrophy from something in the past and just noticed it now. Possible Ulnar nerve issue? I just wanted your input to see if anyone ever had symptoms like these or is this way off base? Any feedback would be appreciated from your group! Any questions you may have I'll be happy to answer. I hope this was thorough enough info. Thanks again! )

 

[holisticdriver]

Doesn't sound anything like a neurological issue..maybe some kind of muscle damage from the gym?Go through the relevant checks with your doctor and neuro but I'll doubt they will find anything that points towards a serious neurological issue. Try and relax, eat healthy, stick with the exercise, try to get a few good nights sleep.

 

[Pepita879]

I think the top of your hand being larger between the forefinger and thumb on your dominant hand is normal. I noticed the same thing about 3 years ago, when I was 6 months into this journey, and naturally worried about it because I had not noticed it before. But 3 years later it's still that way and appears to be no sign of anything, except possibly the difference between a dominant hand and the other. The "robotic" movements you mention sound something like what others have referred to here as "ratcheting." I've experienced it, earlier this year. Gone away now for the most part, but not completely. In my case I believe/hope it to be anxiety-related. So, that's a possible explanation for you. In general, your experience sounds very typical of many on this site. Welcome! (And, sorry!)Since you have a neuro appointment scheduled, that's something to feel good about. You may not get definitive answers, but at least you're not "all alone" with no idea if/when you'll get an expert opinion. The one thing that drives 99% of my health anxiety related to this experience is NOT KNOWING. Every appointment where you don't get bad news is a step in the right direction.

 

[lisamartinez]

Thanks for your responses!You are probably right about the hand. It will be nice to see the neuro whether I get a specific answer or not. I'm sure a lot of these symptoms are anxiety related and will go away after I visit the neuro. The twitching as of today has subsided quite a bit (almost to nothing), so that has been good. It's weird having symptoms come and go, but I guess that's good rather than getting worse!!

 

[Gracer]

HI, Llamar, in fact none of the symptomes you describe is unusuall for BFS ^) twitching is a muscle activity, and even after not very violent one I feel that my muscles are sore or heavy or stiff. Pinky finger is probably the less innervated and flexy finger on the hand (because we humans seldom use it for anything than picking in the ear) so no wonder it suffers so much

 

[lisamartinez]

Thanks for all of your responses. I just thought I'd post an update after my neuro appointment. My neuro ran the normal clinical tests and found nothing. In fact, when I was there, he couldn't see any twitches at all. He tried to induce some by hitting my muscles, but nothing happened. My twitches are what I can mostly "one offs". Usually they twitch only once, and then that's all and move somewhere else awhile later and do it there. I can also get my right bicep to twitch if I'm leaning on it the right way. Also, the doc checked for hyper reflexes but mine were normal. He was thinking anxiety and has me on some anti-anxiety meds until I go back for my follow up with him. He probably wants to monitor me and see if anything changes. I don't think it will. )

 

[BFSDiner]

Wow, im actually impressed your original doctor knows a d*mn thing about the whole Vitamin D 50k IU once per week thing. 27 really isnt that low, but its lower than you want to be for long term avoidance of numerous degenerative diseases. The optimal range is 50-60 on your vitamin D blood test result. Vitamin D builds up in your system and hangs around a long time in your tissues, so that's what he's doing by mega dosing you for 8 weeks. However after that point I would recommend supplementing 2,000 IU per day forever, into the future. Mix this with 15 minutes of full sunlight (no sunblock) as often as possible, and over time, you will settle into the 50-60 range. This is the sweet spot for disease prevention. Keep in mind 50k once a week is a crap ton of Vitamin D, so you may have some effects from that. Dont assume its all BFS ... and when your 8 weeks are over, you may see some more improvement.Lastly, if you are proactive like (WE ALL) should be with Vitamin D levels, remember that the blood test only measures what's currently floating in your blood stream. This number will differ dramatically from whats stored in your tissues. So give it several weeks of consistent dosing after this 8 weeks, before you test again to see where you've settled. Maybe even wait a few months at 2,000 per day + Sunlight. For me, I take 2500 per day and that has me at 47. So I will either begin incorporating sunlight or another 1,000 IU per day soon here. Remember 30 minutes of sunlight on pale skin provides 50,000 IU of vitamin D ... so do the math and balance things out. Its worth the effort.=============Regarding your BFS - welcome to our world LOL. sounds like exactly what I have had. One-off ... and when i am in the doctor visit - zero twitching. And if it does happen by the time i point to it, its gone. Try gatorade 3x a day - full 12 ounces ... with breakfast, lunch, and dinner and see if that begins to help as well. It reduced my spasms by 80-90% and they've held there since. My strength also returned and my neuropathy drastically went down. Probably just replenishing nutrients throughout my body more than I ever have before. I was an avid Sodium and Sugar avoider. Turns out that's terrible for your body and brain, especially if you work out. Water alone does not cut it.