Muscle Twitching - is it Anxiety?
Posted , 7 users are following.
I have very bad health anxiety that started in March of 2018...I had just had a baby who was hospitalized for 4 days when he was two weeks old due to RSV, moved into a new house the month after that & a month later had tingling & numbness in my hands, feet & scalp. I went to an urgent care where they suggested I be checked for MS although they believed it was anxiety...& it’s been down hill since then. I had a brain MRI which was normal...the tingling seemed to go away shortly after...but then i developed ear pain, ringing in the ears & eyelid twitching...so in March of 2019 I had another MRI- again normal...however when they suggested that I should have one more MRI, my anxiety went crazy & I then developed muscle twitching....the twitching is everywhere (arms, legs, back, stomach, chest, neck, face, hands, feet...). The twitching isn’t constant...lasts a couple seconds & stops. Sometimes I have one in my arm then nothing for a while & others it seems to jump from my arm to my leg. They range from internal to visible to making my shoulder or other part jerk.I will say, it does seem the worse the anxiety - the worse the twitching...I’ve had all kinds of bloodwork & an EMG. All the EMG showed was very mild peripheral neuropathy with no known cause. He said my muscles were fine....but I keep stressing I could have ALS. It’s all I think about. I have scheduled another EMG although my neurologist thinks it’s all from anxiety. He said the test was normal & it would have shown something since I was having the twitches. I just cannot shake the feeling that something is horribly wrong. Has anyone else had twitches like this? It’s been going on for 7 months with daily twitches...i’m losing my mind & fearing the worst! Other symptoms include shaking/trembling hands/arms/legs, heart racing/fluttering, feeling weak/shaky, etc. Hoping someone can relate & praying you’ve found something that wasn’t life threatening to be the cause. I’m not on anxiety medication because I’m still nursing. HELP!!
0 likes, 18 replies
jan34534 michele50410
Posted
please please please read this!
When I was in my 20s I had major anxiety. Actually, I’ve had anxiety since the age of five but it gradually build up every year.
when I was around 26 years old, I suddenly developed tingling, numbness, weakness, muscle twitches, ringing in the ears, and many other symptoms. I thought for sure that I had MS OR Als.
when I was in my 20s nobody was using the Internet and you can just imagine how terrified I was because I thought I was the only person in the world having these symptoms. My dad took me to a neurologist who could find nothing wrong.
the symptoms would not stop and I thought I was dying or something. Well since the doctors could not find anything and said it’s all stress related, I started d to think of all the stress and anxiety I have had over many years.
the body and mind can only take so much stress before it shows it’s self as symptoms. it’s like the straw that broke the camels back!
You see, it’s not the symptoms that are the problem it’s the unmanaged stress and anxiety that are causing the symptoms!
these symptoms are not going to hurt you at all! They are just trying to tell you that there is too much anxiety going on.
You DO NOT have MS or Als !you got MRI and EMG which do not lie! They would have shown something if it was there. You have to trust this otherwise you will drive yourself crazy.
What you have is unmanaged stress and anxiety.
And I’d like to let you know that I am now in my early 60s and I’m still here! I have had the exact same symptoms as you plus possibly more and they did not hurt me. I had to learn how to manage them so that they would not dominate my life.
One thing for sure is that the more you stress out about all of this, the more the symptoms will take over and make you feel miserable.
I had to do a complete attitude change in order to take charge! I did not give the symptoms the attention that I used to. I started really taking care of myself even if I had a symptom here on there.
I basically ignored them, started eating healthier, saw a counselor on a regular basis about what was causing my anxiety, got some exercise, listen to great meditations on YouTube for anxiety every night while laying down to sleep. I did things to relax my mind such as walking in nature, listening to peaceful music, doing things for others and being grateful.
YOU can do this!! Be a fighter for yourself. Get some counseling. You are OK! ❤❤❤
jan34534
Posted
and by the way, the muscle twitching is extremely common with stress and anxiety. Many athletes get it a lot with the way they use their muscles. I still get them occasionally, but I ignore them and they go away. So please don’t worry about that at all.
michele50410 jan34534
Posted
I cant thank you enough for your reply! It does make me feel better that someone else has gone through what I am & it really is just stress. I know a lot of people with anxiety & none have muscle twitching. Today I saw an endocrynologist & he made me SO nervous because he said usually twitching from stress & anxiety is only in one spot & lasts for a couple months at most. He said it would be unusual & odd for me to be getting twitches everywhere from that. So that really set me into a full on panic. ugh
michele50410 jan34534
Posted
I'm trying. They just come out of nowhere and startle me. Sometimes it's just one big twitch/jerk that makes my shoulder/arm/back, jump a bit. Others its regular twitching that lasts one to three seconds. At times it happens when I move into certain positions or when I put weight on something. I keep trying to make sense of it, but I cant- & I cant figure out how it's all from stress/anxiety.
jan34534 michele50410
Posted
from past experience, I have to disagree with the endocrinologist. I had twitching on and off for years especially when I am feeling high anxiety. I have gotten them everywhere, including eyelids, arms, legs, etc. since stress and anxiety begin in the brain, it is natural that it would affect the nervous system since the nervous system is all about the brain and nerves that extend throughout the body. so the nurse can get a little irritated with anxiety and stress, so you see things like muscle twitching, tingling, etc.
I also know several people who have had the exact symptoms as you and I and they have anxiety also.
jan34534
Posted
I meant to say nerves, not nurse. LOL
michele50410 jan34534
Posted
Thank you!!! I'mgoing to start taking medicine to try and help the anxiety tomorrow. I'm praying that helps and they go away as it gets under control.
Dolly17 jan34534
Posted
Thank for your sharing, it gives me hope that someday i will recovery with my anxiety and panic attack.
jan34534 michele50410
Posted
and remember, when the twitching starts to lessen, you may still get it happening occasionally. It’s nothing to worry about. Even after all these years I’ll get one here or there but I basically ignore them or laugh at them.if I’ve gone all these years with them occasionally, I hope that makes you feel relieved that they are definitely harmless.
jan34534 Dolly17
Posted
you are very welcome! Anxiety may never go away 100%, but you can definitely feel way better when you learn how to manage it!
michele50410 jan34534
Posted
The endocrynologist called me today & all of my bloodwork was normal for hormones. He asked me if I had plans to do anything else. I said no & he suggested that I go see another neurologist. So naturally my anxiety has kicked into high gear thinking hes worried its something thats being missed too. ugh! Question- some of my "twitches" almost feel like little impulses....almost like im being zapped or like an urge to move a toe, the wrist, etc. Did you experience anything like that?
lady39 michele50410
Posted
It sounds like Mg (magnesium) deficiency to me. Google it.
michele50410 lady39
Posted
My bloodwork shows normal magnesium levels. I have been taking 500mg of magnesium anyway, but have seen no signs of improvement from that.
Italia06 michele50410
Posted
Michele I've had all of this which all started late 2015. ALL the symptoms you list and then some, I've had. I also have visual disturbances like overly blurry vision when looking at digital clocks or oven clock or twitchy vision when reading something up close. The worst of it all was the severe imbalance. It was so bad it seemed at times I had to grab onto things to keep balance. My doctor immediately ordered an MRI for brain and spine upon 1st visit and checked for strength and reflexes to rule out MS for starters. I had concluded I have ALS and mentioned as much to him. He explained I had my strength and no signs of atrophy or limb dysfunction or weight loss etc...and wouldn't waste a neurologist's time until I presented with such issues.
Some days my legs feel like rubber. Other days I feel so exhausted to the point of feeling like good sleep doesn't help. Some insight or back story, in leading up to 2015, was working two jobs - was a workaholic in a fast paced environment. The concept of rest and relaxation never applied to me. It was so bad, if I had a day off on the weekend I'd find stuff to do because I didn't know how to stop and rest and relax.
Fast forward to now, still have many of the symptoms to a lesser degree. The numb tingling hand pain upon waking up in the morning is gone. I'd have what felt like internal vibrations in my legs that would keep me from sleeping...felt like a cell phone on vibrate in your pocket going off. I've had body wide muscle twitching since 2015 that continues today.
I still have concerns, but I'm able to function and haven't lost weight at all. If it is any comfort, I've read medical articles regarding anxiety disorders or GAD to be specific and the complexity of the disorder. Individuals with GAD have been shown to have irregular EMGs and it was noted that more insight is needed with regard to the severe muscle tension that is typically common in GAD patients.
I guess I'll close with this. I did come to the point mentally in fearing the worst(ALS) that if I did have it, but had a few years left of normal function - I'd rather not know until I was unable to function. Yes it's difficult to live with uncertainy in having many symptoms, but for me I felt it was best not knowing and living happier with some sort of hope in not knowing versus being diagnosed and living with normal function for another 3 yrs give or take knowing the dreaded outcome...no thanks. Food for thought. Anyway, good luck - you're far from alone on this.
michele50410 Italia06
Posted
Thank you! I think the worst part is not knowing for sure if its all anxiety. My doctor says if I start taking anxiety medication I'll know because I'll be able to see what symptoms stay & what symptoms go. My family doctor & my neurologist are not concerned at all and have said that anxiety can literally make your body do anything. My one doctor told me about a woman who went blind. Literally blind. They put her on an anxiety medication and her vision came back after 6 days and no problems since. I'm praying I'll have the same result with my twitching once I start medicine. Do you mind if I ask if you've taken anxiety medication? If so, any improvement with that?
Italia06 michele50410
Posted
I have in the past with regard to medication and it slowly begins to work, but my biggest fear was the reliance and it masking the symptoms and above all not working on the underlying problem which is what many doctors feel is psychological. You'll feel better then one day you'll feel you don't need them anymore and the minute you decide to quit, it's a nightmare mentally and physically - my personal experience anyway.
To add to the story your doctor told you about the woman who went blind, I actually have a friend who's a psychotherapist and I'm sure you're aware if one did seek such treatment your friend who practices won't treat you and refers you to another. I didn't seek treatment, but we played softball together for years and he told me one story of a woman who was so severe she was put into a hospice. My friend was brought in as a last resort attempt and he began her on SSRI treatment. Sure enough she began improving. So yes, what anxiety can do to someone appears unbelievable at times.
michele50410 Italia06
Posted
Thank you for sharing that story. The only thing that makes me feel like this has to be anxiety is that my symptoms seem to magically disappear within a few days of being at Disney World. We are DVC members & go two times a year- each time we've gone, within about 3 days of being there- no symptoms. The twitching had started b4 I went last time & I didn't notice any by the end of the 10 days. It then took a few weeks of being home for them to begin again- or for me to notice them. My husband & my mom said "if it were really anything...it wouldnt disappear on vacation & slowly build back & you werent just not noticing them because you of all people dont miss a trick" . I'm consumed by them- it's all I think about, fearing the next one & where it will be. My husband is the VP of a large mental health company thats in hospitals, group homes, etc. He is 100% sure its anxiety, but for some reason I can't convince myself & fear the worst. The fear/anxiety is crippling. It's affecting my work, my ability to enjoy my children, etc. I too have shared concern of the medication "masking" my symptoms. My husband & neurologist have assured me there is no such thing. He said if it's anxiety causing it, it will go away, if it's not - it won't. I have to believe that, bc if anything serious, a medication wouldn't solve the problems & I've been tested for all serious conditions anyway! I'm going on Oct. 24th for a second EMG for my own piece of mind. MY neuro says no need, nothing has changed, but I feel if it's normal again- I can rest assured it's anxiety & take the medicine!