Internal vibration sensation - caused by stress??

Posted , 91 users are following.

I've found several forums where there have been posts from people experiencing this disconcerting feeling of an internal quivering or vibration but none of them are current, so I wanted to see if anyone else out there is having the same experience and can share an insight into what might be causing it.

I started to get this feeling of internal vibration when I was mainly lying in bed and then occasionally if I shifted position it might last for 30 seconds or so before disappearing. That was about 8 months ago. Now I feel it every night and during the day as well quite often. The other day after a short walk of a few hundred yards followed by a period of standing still it felt like the ground was vibrating  because it was in my feet. It seems to move around to different areas of the body - sometimes I feel it in my legs, an arm, torso - it's quite random but often felt when I've shifted position in bed. At first I thought it was circulatory but now I think it's probably neurological. I thought I was having palpitations but an ECG showed nothing abnormal. I've also had a full spine & brain MRI as I've been having other strange symptoms of occasional numbness and sensations of burning and cold areas of my arms/hands and legs/feet and a sore tongue which comes and goes and often feels like I've just cleaned my teeth with menthol toothpaste when I haven't. I thought I had all the signs of MS, but it hasn't been diagnosed. I've also had a number of blood tests for immune issues, evoked potentials and nerve conductivity tests. Nothing! The MRI does show a lot of wear to my cervical vertebrae and two anterior spondylolisthesis - one cervical, one lumbar, so I wonder if my spinal issues could be the cause. My neurologist was doubtful. He also couldn't explain the vibration sensation except to say that it can be caused by a migraine, which I certainly haven't had. 

I just don't know where to go with this now.  My GP isn't interested and puts everything down to stress which I AM under it's certainly true to say, but I don't think she's right. I've had to pay for all my neuro investigations as a result because she won't refer me or do any more blood tests etc.  I'm trying homeopathy, osteopathy and acupuncture as I want to find something that will relieve these weird symptoms and prefer to avoid drugs if I can.

I'm 58, eat reasonably heathily, no alcohol, only 1 cup of coffee a day and my weight is normal. I broke my wrist badly at the end of August last year which is when my problems all seemed to start. i

I also wonder if the metal plate that was used to fix the fracture could be causing some kind of strange reaction.

If anyone else is having these symptoms please let me know if you've been able to identify the cause and how to deal with it. 

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  • Posted

    But since you have had tests like an EMG etc, I don’t believe it could be something extremely serious, right? And if it were something really bad, it seems like it would progress after this long.  Mine had been going on since April/May of this year and I feel like it has moved around a bit but hasn’t really gotten any worse. I’m really starting to think it’s anxiety only bc I had read something right before mine started talking about “internal vibrations” and then bam, a couple weeks later I started having these. Almost like my brain made it happen. I’m bad about that, a family member had a type of cancer that began with reflux and just a few weeks later, you guessed it...I had reflux!  I’m hoping to find an answer but thinking I may start searching in mental health instead of a physical health issue.  Please please let me know if you figure out how to make it stop, things that help it, or if you ever find out what it is. I really feel better knowing at least some others share the same issue. Thank you for making me feel better. 
    • Posted

      Hmmm - it was much the same for me. My partner had peripheral neuropathy for several years in his feet and his walking wasn’t like it used to be. He had lots of investigations but nothing was found.  Suddenly a year later he lost his memory and a few weeks after that was in a neuro unit waiting for the results of a brain tumour biopsy which turned out to be CNS Lymphoma. A lot of my anxiety stems from this. Just a few months before he got ill I fell and broke my wrist really badly and had to have a plate and screws put in to fix it. Everything I feel now seems to have kicked off from that point onwards. That was in September 2015. The vibrations started off as occasional thing but increased to become a nightly occurrence now. I did wonder if the titanium plate could be affecting me but couldn’t find any real evidence of other people having similar problems. The search continues ...best wishes to you
    • Posted

      Hi, I am feeling twitching on my left arm and I do have small cramps when I activate some muscles. Not complete cramps and they do not hurt. They are just weird and they happen every time I engage the muscles. And sometimes I do have shortening of breath.

      I have anxiety disorder, I've been thorough very different episodes. It started with a heat wave all over my body followed by a huge adrenaline rush and heart palpitations. That was about 2 years ago. I had it about 4/5 times. After I managed to control it.

      But now these muscle twitching and the cramps are worrying me. I had a Brain and Neck scan about 3 months ago due to huge headaches. My cervical has a disc problem but nothing that could affect the nerve the specialist said. So the headaches were cause by tension coming from the shoulders to the neck. As soon the doctor explained the results the headaches got much better. I do have sometimes but not as bad as before.

      So now I am worrying it could be MS or ALS. It is really scary.

  • Edited

    Hello buddy...I have similar symptoms..I have been suffering with anxiety since one year..I had my first panic attack last year when I was smoking weed...that day changed my life totally...I got stuck into it...since then I have been facing various symptoms related to overthinking and stress...I had been to many doctors and all say its anxiety..even my reports are normal..

    I get lot of muscle twitching in the head, arms,toes etc..now I have been getting vibrating/buzzing sensation in the legs and hands since 2days continuously....eve some hot flashes in the legs....I'm feeling so scared with these...can anxiety really make all these ???..I have vitamin d deficiency and mild disc bulge at L5 S1...I'm feeling horrible..I have been fighting with it but I'm not improving at all.. please help me..!!!!..many doctors assured me it's only anxiety..but I'm unable to Believe it or overcome these symptoms..help..!!!

    • Posted

      Hi there . I too have been having the buzzing/ vibrations that have steadily gotten worse the past three months. Only at night to start with and now during the day. It is if I feel it in my head when laying down even . It is predominantly in my back shoulders , lower back and even down into buttocks some. It is horrible at night and am awake every hour and half. If you or anyone else finds answers let me know . It drives me nuts. Thanks 
    • Posted

      Hey Jesse. I'm having muscle pain in my back and shoulders. The vibrations are the same as yours. Mine has lessen since my last post. I've been practicing breathing in and out periodically thru out the day. The vibrations at night is nothing like it were. My bran scan came back normal as I predicted once I read others post. But I will post whatever I find out. Hang in there. 

    • Edited

      It's the worrying and anxiety guys. I know every last sysmtom of it. Are we able to give out emails here. I have a audio book for panic and anxiety I can forward to you guys.

    • Posted

      No it is NOT. At least not all of us having anxiety and panic attacks. I am calm as a tank. I have read zillions books on anxiety, listened to zillion tapes, yoga, qigong, amygdala retraining course, special breathing program, acupuncture, hypnosis, self-hypnosis etc.    When I have internal organs trembling before bed time, I even talk to my body, saying, what else you can do, show me, bring it on... 

      Some internal body trembling can be caused by benzos and antidepressants withdrawal and can last for YEARS.  And there are some who seemingly have no reason or cause, yet suffer tremendously.

  • Posted

    Hi Sally, did you find any results with your condition? Let me know as I am feeling exactly what you have. Down to the tougue, cold feelings, tingling and vibration. I do have anxiety, am 27.. waiting to see a neurologist
    • Posted

      Hi Sarah, I wish I could give you some answers but I still haven’t got anywhere with this problem. I may end up going back to the neurologist again as it has been 12 months since my last consultation when he suggested I try taking Gabapentin or Pranolol (calcium channel blocker). My GP said that the beta blocker I’ve been prescribed for arrhythmia might sort the vibrations but so far I’m still getting them. Do keep in touch and let me know how you get on seeing the neurologist. Good luck.
    • Posted

      Hi Sally, I saw the neurologist in Ottawa today and she did a few tests.  The vibration feelings have subsided since last 2 weeks however now I’m having tremors in my neck, arms and legs when moving.   I also have a pressure on top of my head, she is requesting for me to have an MRI done of brain and neck but she is convinced it is not MS. (My Mom has MS by the way). She believes it could be a result of my nervous system acting up after the end of a virus/viral infection. Guess I will wait for MRI now..these tremors are very annoying and make my neck sore, hopefully it is just stress. 
    • Posted

      Gosh poor you Sarah. I hope the MRI shows no evidence of MS and your neuro is right. Have you tried any alternative treatments such as massage, acupuncture etc? Do keep in touch if you manage to get any answers. Wishing you well.

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