Stress-related Muscle Twitches

[djnenvy]

Hello,

This is my first post. I'm a 27 year old male. My twitches began about 4 months ago (after a period of extreme stress and a minor illness). I mainly felt them in my thumb and pinky side of my hand. After researching twitches on the internet I got scared out of my mind! Since then the twitches have spread all over my body, Arms, legs, face (the chin) & always when the muscles are at rest. The twitching practically went away for a couple weeks but after getting a bad cold they have returned with a vengance. A non obvious symptom could be easier ignored.

My dr. told me it was almost def, not *ls. The only tests he gave me were a brain and spinal MRI. Both came back normal. I have not experienced any muscle weakness or wasting. I also get occasional numbness/ pins & needles in my hands. Also a tremor in my left hand on the pinky side when I contract the muscles there.

Are my symptoms similar to any of you?

Ive read a little on this site and I am really thankfull for you guys support. I think that "non twitchers" cannot really understand the level of anxiety that this can bring. Thank you all for taking time to help!

Looking forward to hearing from you all!

 

[MorrisM]

Hi there, and glad you found this site

From what you describe it sounds most definitely like BFS, and also the same pattern as I had, finger and thumb, face and chin, arms and legs, numbness and pins and needles. It's also quite common for a cold or flu to exacerbate your BFS, as is stress.

Your Doctor has told you it's definitely not *** and you have had an MRI to rule out the other one so I would stop there, don't do any more internet research except for hanging out here if you have some questions, and try to relax. You are fine

 

[bloodynightguru]

Hi,

You've come to the right place. I don't think the twitches are what freaks us out. It's searching the Interent for "twitches" and then all these deadly ailments pop up and now we're crazed. My suggestion to you, believe what the doctor is saying......stay off the Internet.........try to stop being so aware of every twitch...If you can try and get on with your normal daily routines....you probably won't even notice the twitching.....It's when you think about it all day....almost waiting for it to happen, that it drives you crazy.

I've recently returned to this forum.....4 years ago I was where you are now.....lost an entire year of my life....don't let this happen to you......stop focusing on the twitching....just know it's BFS....not gonna kill you...and get on with your life.

Anytime you need any reassurance, come here.....the support you'll receive is unbelievable.

 

[Fritillaries]

Right place all right, your symptoms sound alot like mine and dozens of others on this board. My twitching started in middle finger on right hand. It was more like a contraction spasm rather than a twitch.

Then a few days later, I started actually twitching, pretty much randomly all over my body. Then tremors in my hands, shoulders, and neck; some visible and some just a feeling of tremor. Then it seemed to settle into one leg, that leg got stiff achey and twitched all the time for several months, along with random twitches everywhere on occasion.

Now 6 or 7 months later, my symptoms are diminishing, I'm about 90% back to normal where previously, I was twitching several hundred times a day. Over a period of several months, I had two EMG's done, an MRI, Lyme test, and tons of chemistry tests all clean. My neuro and primary care physician both believe its all benign but never could determine a cause.

Today occasionally I get a hot spot where I'll have a symptom for a while which disappears later.

I'm convinced my BFS was caused by nutritional defficency because I started getting better immediately when I changed my *morning* diet after 5 or 6 months of steadily worsening symtoms. Note I emphasize MORNING diet !

My advice...
Don't do caffeine first thing in the morning, instead eat plenty of fresh fruits, I eat mostly grapes. (assuming you aren't diabetic or allergic).

Good luck,
dranyab