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Internal vibration sensation - caused by stress??

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Sally4Edgar
Sally4Edgar

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. 

7 likes, 240 replies

240 Replies

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  • kim50165
    kim50165 Sally4Edgar

    Posted

    I have experienced internal vibrations for the past 10 years. It started in my stomach and has gradually moved to my entire torso. I notice it mostly when I am trying to sleep. I do have anxiety and my symptoms include chest pain. I have noticed that my symptoms for anxiety and the vibrations increase when I am dehydrated, have not exercised for a while, and haven’t eaten greens as often as I should. Basically, being a good steward of my body seems to work best for me but I am still considering purchasing an AmpCoil for additional health benefits.
  • amy03847
    amy03847 Sally4Edgar

    Edited

    Sally4Edgar and others on this thread!!! It’s like divine intervention! I have searched and searched and searched for a thread that was still active on such topic. About a month and a half ago, I started experiencing these faint “buzzing” “crawling” type sensations in my hands and feet. Sometimes it was strong enough to radiate from the forearm down to the tips of my fingers or from my knees down to my toes. It’s now more patchy but still comes in the feet and hands (mainly on the tops of the hands and feet). Mine seems to flair up more with movement. For instance, I can open a pickle jar with my right hand and feel the quick buzzing sensation in my left fingers. And just as fast as it comes, it goes. Right now as I’m typing on my iPhone, I can feel just the faintest vibration/buzzing. When it happens, I can grab that part of my body, give it a little squeeze or shake and it dissipates.    I have some muscle twitching as well as strange leg pain in the back of my hamstrings as well. The groin pain feels almost identical to what it’s like when you’re pregnant and your body excretes the hormone relaxin (which losens your pelvic region for childbirth). It’s more subtle and radiating and happens more when I sit. I too had a clean brain MRI and only slight degeneration on my C4/5/6 vertebrae. My doctor ran a million tests and the only thing that came up slightly high was my homocyestine levels which does indicate I don’t methylate B12 as well. But even with slightly elevated, my integrative medicine doctor said she has seen levels much higher without this type of reaction. Could it be anxiety? Possibly. But I feel like I squashed that personal hypothesis last week when I went back to my GP and had him prescribe me a small dose of lorazepam. I literally told him, “maybe these sysmptoms are psychosomatic. If so, surely this anxiety medicine will help.” Well, guess what? Still buzzing even on the lorazepam. From when this initially started, I will say they are slightly better but still really scary. Another thing I’ll tell you - when I stared getting them was around the exact same time I started Prozac. I knew the sensations I was feeling bc I had the same ones over a year ago when I discontinued Zoloft. But here’s where it gets strange. I kinda chalked the sensations up to an SSRI withdrawal the first time I experienced this but when I was starting the prozac and had the same sensations,  I couldn’t understand how the same family of drugs could make me have the same sensations but one from withdrawal and one as a reaction to the medication itself?! Mind you “ I was only on the prozac for 6 days when the sensations started!! I’ll also tell you that I called my neuro last week bc I was terrified. Not only was my muscle twitching non stop in my left thigh all day (it has since stopped), but my legs felt strange. I tried to explain it to the nurse but I’m pretty sure she just thought I was crazy. It’s almost like my feet don’t belong to me. I feel, sometimes, like I could lose my balance at any time even though i never do. When I relayed all this to the nurse, my neuro called in a methylprednisone dose pack (6 days worth).  I immediately started feeling like my old self again! It did what prednisone is meant to do, clear the inflammation. Now I’m down to my final pill and I can feel the symptoms slowly creeping back in. So what gives?! I have no idea. I’m taking sublingual b12 (5000), 1,000 of Thorne 5-MTHF as well as a ton of B2 bc that was low. But still, the sensations are there and the leg pain is coming back in. What the heck is wrong with me? I’m terrified. But also relieved to know people have felt the same thing. When I get the buzzing sensations, they make me want to crawl right out of my skin. It’s almost like someone sticking a thing fork to my bones inside and it ever so slightly radiating outward to where Incan feel it right under my skin. Ugh!!!!
    • blevine218
      blevine218 amy03847

      Posted

      I would definitely get yourself tested for heavy metals. I'm surprised your integrative practitioner didn't do that from the start. It's really easy to build up toxins in your body these days.  We live in a pretty toxic world. You might also want to be tested for Lyme disease although the tests aren't very good and your symptoms actually sound a bit mild for full-blow Lyme disease.

    • amy03847
      amy03847 blevine218

      Posted

      I actually was tested for heavy metals and my tin levels came back high. But I tried the infrared sauna and that caused so many issues for me
    • lisa1908
      lisa1908 amy03847

      Posted

      HI I was going to try the infrared saunas what  difficulties did this cause you ?
    • amy03847
      amy03847 lisa1908

      Posted

      It caused my joints to swell. It was awful. People swear by it but it was horrible for me and made me feel funny. It’s interesting bc when I first started having these buzzing/humming sensations, I immediately thought MS. I had an MRI done and nothing came up. It seems like a lot of people who have MS can go years without being diagnosed. I wonder if im one of those. And there’s a warning for people who have MS or epilepsy not to go in infrared saunas so after I went in and felt so horrible afterwards, I wonder if that made it worse for me bc I have underlying MS that just hasnt shown up yet.
    • Guest
      Guest amy03847

      Edited

      Don't jump to MS. I don't think that's what it is. I think it's a nervous condition that can result from fatigue, stressors, coming off a drug, or who knows what other factors. But from what I can tell it doesn't lead to a more serious condition. It's just unnerving.

  • susan11295
    susan11295 Sally4Edgar

    Posted

    I can't remember how long I've had this sensation but it's several years. I literally thought it was an earthquake several times. My entire body shakes usually. It's an intense internal shivering. But it's always when I'm in bed, usually early in the morning. I've had several whiplashes, spinal problems, am older and slightly overweight . I've also had both knees replaced but these preceded that. I wondered about Parkinson's and MS . I don't think it's ever happened while I'm standing! I also used to get what I can only describe as the feeling as if hot water is surging down my Arms on the inside- like an adrenaline surge? That has kind of stopped in the last year- are they connected? I'm tired a lot but I am older. Just curious about the whole thing 

    • Sally4Edgar
      Sally4Edgar susan11295

      Posted

      Hi Susan, whatever is causing these vibrations must be neurological and it seems that spinal problems are a common factor for a number of people and I would think it's a likely cause. I've had the sensation of cold water falling on my feet some days and running up my arm after I broke my wrist during the healing process - all to do with the nerves certainly. Have you had any checks for MS/Parkinsons? 

  • janina83581
    janina83581 Sally4Edgar

    Posted

    Sally, I've been having these vibrating symptoms after going off opiates & then overmedicated thyroid. Several months after that the internal vibrations started. Did u find out what caused it? Is it gone?

    • Sally4Edgar
      Sally4Edgar janina83581

      Posted

      Hi Janina, the answers are no to both your questions.  I am still trying to get answers.  I have a rheumatology appointment up and coming which is a new line of investigation so shall see whether there is any auto immune cause. I haven't been on either of the meds that you've mentioned. 

  • andy20016
    andy20016 Sally4Edgar

    Edited

    Hi , I am a 45 year old male , I have had these internal vibrations (tremors) on and off for the last 18 years all over my body , they are a big nuisance when they hit you , Because when I feel them in the legs it causes off-balance ( Vertigo ) .

    I have'nt had any of these vibrations for over a year now and bang I get the Flu last friday ( Middle Of May ) you couldnt make it up and they come back , same thing happened to me when I got the Flu 4 years ago .

    Lets see how long they stay around for this time ? . I will let ye all know 

  • prissypeace68
    prissypeace68 Sally4Edgar

    Posted

    I get these vibration from time to time... I have some nerve issues that started in my hands. The vibration are mostly in my feet but can be any part of my body. Aleve helps calm it down but I felt best when I was going to physical therapy. Warm water also calms it down.
  • lizzie777
    lizzie777 Sally4Edgar

    Posted

    Hi Sally

    Ive experienced internal tremors, buzzing, zaps for over six years. Its much worse just after waking up in the morning where it feels like my head is in a vice. I dont know whats causing them however they started after i received several vaccines to work in the hospital.

    Ive been to many visits to the gp who in the end put me on Anti convulsants which helped me sleep but didnt stop them. I am now weening off them as

    I have recently found two things which have stopped them.

    I found that removing gluten from my diet elieviated the intensity of them

    But the best remedy was found by complete accident, and thats nutmeg.

    Not much is needed.. I sprinkle it in everything and in a hot drink of milk and tea/hot chocolate/decaf before bed.

    It works for me every time..the doctor cant belive it..from such a humble spice.. Less is more with nutmeg though as its psyco active in large doses..

    I highly recomend trying this.

    All the best everyone.. X

    • Sally4Edgar
      Sally4Edgar lizzie777

      Posted

      Hi Lizzie, thank you for sharing your nutmeg remedy.  I will certainly give it a try to see whether it has any positive affects for me.  A gluten-free diet may also be worth testing out. All my investigations so far have come back normal so it’s a case of just trying something else. 
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