JDMez

Appreciate all the comments. I definitely feel like I’ve been super tense the last few weeks and can almost feel me pressing my tongue against my teeth and tightening it up. It’s still there and when I move my tongue a certain way/contract it a bit it seems to act up even more. My twitching overall has ramped up quite a bit over this period as well. So annoying. I do have an appointment with my neurologist next week so I’m hoping it will give me some additional peace of mind. Hearing from you all definitely helps for sure!

Appreciate this post greatly. Even after two long years of this crap I still struggle at times. Again, great post!

Hi all, Unfortunately, I’ve taken a bit of a step back with all this twitching crap. As you may know from my previous posts, I’ve been dealing with muscle twitches for over two years now. I had an EMG and nerve conduction study done about 5-6 months in and passed with no issues. I’ve also had all sorts of bloodwork done with no issues as well. I’ve had periods where the twitching was almost non-existent during that time and have definitely noticed a correlation between periods of high stress and the frequency of the twitching. Now to what brings me here. About two weeks ago the family and I were getting ready for vacation. There was a lot to take care of both at work and on the home front and needless to say I was running around like a mad man trying to get everything done before we left. About two or three days in to my vacation I felt my tongue twitching. I looked in the mirror and sure enough there was a little spot towards the front that would move in and out (like a dimple) every few seconds. It seemed to calm when my tongue was rested for 20-30 secs or so, but would pick right back up after moving my tongue (talking/chewing etc). Additionally, when I press my tongue hard against my teeth or roll/curl it I get a fairly large contraction/cramp on the front right tip, which is on the same side the small twitch is. Again, I can seemingly spur these twitches on by contracting and releasing the tongue. My wife seems to think I was so stressed the last few weeks and was probably pressing my tongue against my teeth/tightening my tongue without realizing it and that I may have tired it out a bit. Have any of you twitchers experienced this type of thing with your tongue? What concerns me is I’ve read mixed things on tongue twitches and I’ve worked myself up a bit. I can’t seem to stop obsessing over it and I seem to have fallen right back down the damn rabbit hole again. I have an appointment with my neurologist on 7/23 regarding this to hopefully put my mind to rest again...after two friggen years. Anyways just wanted to pick your brains. Cheers! JD

Hey there, I recently have been worried about this same stuff. I’ve been having a great deal of digestive discomfort and problems recently. I didn’t think anything of it at first, but it’s been pretty constant and not going away - been like 3 to 4 weeks. I took to google (I know...what was I thinking...) and started reading about PC. Stuff like bloating, abdominal discomfort, heartburn, yellow/pale floating stool and started to get worried. I even came across an article about muscle spasms, which I have as well. I’ve always had digestive trouble but just chalked it up to IBS and anxiety. Needless to say I brought it up to my doctor and they are running a few tests. I’ve never been to a gastroenterologist, but am making an appointment. So frustrating... I no sooner start to feel better and then something else creeps up! Uhggg! JDMez

Agree with NervUs...a simple test will give you your answer.

Hey all, Just wondering if any of you twitchers get little pops or quick little twitches after use of a muscle? It doesn’t happen all the time for me, but often if I am using my thumbs to text or something I will get a twitch or two in my thumb pad. I also get them if I’m leaning on the arm of the couch or something and a particular muscle is stretched or strained. Again, these don’t last long but pop for a few seconds and then that’s it. Can any of you bring about twitches by contracting and releasing your muscles? It doesn’t happen all the time, but have noticed more twitches after use , stretching, or strain. Also, what is the frequency of your twitches? I have days where I twitch, but not as bad, and then other days where I’m popping all over the place...and not just one or two here and there...I’m talking about quite a bit in a given minute! Do you all get hotspots that last for quite a while - like a few weeks? The last question I have is regarding positional twitches. For instance, if I straighten my leg, I often get a small little twitch that’s pretty constant on the outside top portion of my knee. As soon as I bend my leg, it seems to go away. You guys experience anything like this - like positional twitching? My fears regarding these twitches have dissipated quite a bit...and each day that goes by gets easier and easier. This post is just out of curiosity. Cheers!

Yeah I just had a twitch on the left side of my face for about a week...it wasn’t constant, but every 15-20 minutes or so. It then migrated down towards mouth over a few days and was in my lower lip for about a day or two. Now the twitches have moved on once again...

My doc really didn’t go into that too much...just kept saying “benign...what you’re fearing doesn’t work like this.” I get random hotspots that last anywhere from an hour to days, weeks, and months. Some of my twitches seem to be positional, like if I straighten my leg I often get one on the side of my knee, or occurs after movement or use, like my thumb pad twitching when texting. I can often solicit twitches too, if I contract and release a muscle. This is not all the time, but like if I close my eyes tight and then open them my lids may twitch. I also get big thumpers and small little ones. Sometimes it feels like a fish is flopping around in there and then other times it feels like a feather is being dragged across my skin. This stuff is just so bizarre. I was fine for like 9-10 months after all the tests, and seemingly accepted these symptoms as BFS/anxiety, but a new hotspot this past November spiked up my fears again. No doubt one common thread is anxiety. When I don't worry and focus on the twitches they seem to be much much better. Even if anxiety isn’t 100% the main cause, it is 100% a contributing factor.

Hey there Lynette, As Holls said, you’re not alone on the twitching front. I’m sure you have seen the multitude of posts over the last’s few weeks and months regarding twitching, BFS, and ALS fears. I know it’s very easy to fall down the MS/ALS rabbit hole, especially when you go to Dr. Google and they are the first things that come up. Our anxiety sets in, we become hyper aware of what’s going on with our bodies, and it’s off to the friggen races. I’m 32 years old as well and have been dealing with this stuff for 19 months now - twitches, cramps, and other weird sensations. No doubt, I took to Google and my anxiety went through the roof. Holls is spot on in saying that twitches with real clinical weakness means absolutely nothing. There is a lot of information out there and it is easy to get lost in the weeds. My primary care didn’t seem very concerned with these symptoms. When I went to the neurologist, primarily for my own peace of mind, she was not impressed either. She knew my fears and just kept telling me that this wasn’t how that disease works. She did an EMG, again to try and put my mind at ease, and it all checked out. This stuff is rare as it is, especially at our age, yet this is what we chose to focus on. Heck, tomorrow is garbage day. As I said before, I could get nailed by the friggen garbage truck tomorrow bringing out the trash, but I’m not worrying about that...and those odds are more likely than what I’m really worrying about. Please note that it is even more rare for you know what to start primarily and solely with just twitching, especially body wide; again, it just doesn’t work this way. Now, it never hurts to get checked out by a medical professional, especially if it will prove to give you the peace of mind you need. Often though, and I say this from experience, it’s not enough. Early on I was finding myself asking what if’s...surely all this twitching isn’t normal. Yet, what I’ve learned over all these months, and through all this reading, is that is normal, especially in folks with elevated and long lasting anxiety. It had been said that we twitch because we are anxious and we are anxious because we twitch. So, sorry for the long winded response. My advice...enjoy your your vacation!!! You’re not alone...again, this forum is full of posts just like yours...from anxious and worried twitchers. Enjoy your vacation!!!! JD

Yes, I was checked a few years back and my vit D level was friggin 8...no lie...and the wife and I are always outside. My doc wanted me to take 50000 units of d2 once a week. Instead I took 5000 units of d3, which I had read was more easily abosorbed than the d2. I also liked that more than the idea of hitting myself with that huge dose of d2 once a week. I just had it checked again recently and it was at 24. I was told they would like to see it in the 40-60 range and was told to take 3000 units of d3 per day. I have to say...I’m feeling a great deal better and getting far less headaches...if only it would help my muscle twitches!

Completely understand your concerns; a lot of us here have been dealing with the same for quite a while now. At some point it’s good to step back and realize that all this fear and worrying does us no good at all - however rational or irrational it is. In fact, it does more to negatively impact our lives. For me personally, I still worry. I have good days and bad, but I am trying to understand that this worry only serves one purpose - to feed my anxiety. With that comes more symptoms. It’s no doubt a viscous cycle, and it can wreak havoc on not only our own physical and mental health, but can have a huge impact on our relationships with those who know and love us. It’s difficult to be the best spouse, parent, and friend we can be if we let the fear, worry, and accompanying axiety take over. For me, I keep saying to myself...why am I letting this irrational fear control me. I’ve been tested, just like a lot of us here have been. We’ve been told we shouldn’t worry about you know what. Yet we do. For what purpose? We don’t go around worrying and consuming ourselves with the fear of falling down the stairs, getting hit by a garbage truck, choking on a ham sandwich, or heck even getting struck by lightning, all of which may be more likely than having you know what. My wife and I just had our first baby girl. I have made it a point to get better, not just for myself, but for them. I want to be the best husband and father I can be. This proves to be very difficult living in fear, being consumed by alll this anxiety. I’ve started up with therapy, and am focusing on both diet and exercise. The journey may be difficult, and I’m sure there will be setbacks, but it’s one I’m no doubt ready for!

I’m with you on that. I often get the feeling like my muscles, especially my calves, are going to cramp out, but I never get a full blown charlie horse. It’s not all the time, but does happen quite frequently. It seems as though the muscle is just very tight and is on verge.

Glad everything went well; I hope they were able to answer some of your questions. This has me wondering about my EMG lol. I don’t recall even seeing a report. She just conducted the test and interpreted it right there in real time I guess. I don’t even really know what the typical process is for analysis. Can it truly be done in real time?

Please try not to second guess the neurologist; they’re the professionals! Ask any questions you may have and believe what they tell you. You need to make sure you leave there not second guessing anything...no what if’s! As Holls said, it is my understanding as well that often times it doesn’t matter where the EMG is done it can often pick things up. My NCS was roughly 30 or so minutes. For my EMG the neurologist did pretty much all limbs in multiple areas; looking back it seemed like it was pretty thorough. I would say the EMG lasted 20 minutes or so. Heck, I remember I had a hotspot twitch on the side of my knee at the time and the needle was placed in that exact same spot...clean...no issues noted. Again, just because our EMGs may have been done a bit differently...more or less limbs...longer in duration...don’t assume something went wrong or that yours is any less accurate. The neurologist knows what he or she is doing. I’m sure I speak for a lot of us when I say that we don’t want to see you posting here after the EMG saying stuff like oh no, mine wasn’t as long...I was only tested in a few locations...it only lasted 10 minutes. All this stuff doesn’t matter. Again ask questions, listen, and believe what your doctor tells you.

Glad to hear you have sought help to work on your anxiety! Yes, the neurologist checked all my reflexes and did a routine neurological exam. She also requested some blood work. As I’ve said in my other posts, despite me fearing the worst, she was so confident, that all of this was benign...right from the start of the appointment! She just kept saying that she knew what I was worried about, but that this just wasn’t how it starts. She said she was only giving me the EMG to try and ease my mind and that it wasn’t even necessary. She told me before I left to please accept the clean result and to stop worrying!