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Twitching, Numbness, Pain, Fatigue - Need Answers
This is a bit of a follow up to a question I posted before, but I will give my history again. I apologize for the length.
Back in December of '09 I began to have muscle twitching in my all muscles in my upper left arm. I also had symptoms of pinched nerve. I saw a chiropractor, but my my issues were never resolved. The twitching in my arm had subsided for a while, but my arm was still getting easilly fatigued. I also would experience numbness, tingling, and pain. Family doctor thought it was general fatigue and some trauma, but issues did not resolve so I was refered to a neurologist.
The Neuro did a physical exam, and a Brachial Plexus MRI with and without contrast to rule out any tears or abnormalities. The MRI came back clear. He has now ordered some blood work and is scheduling a nerve conduction test (i think EMG?). He was very thorough in my initial exam, however my symptoms have spread since that time (and he is aware of them).
What I'm experiencing now is:
Left Arm:
- muscle twitching, heavy feeling in morning, fatigue but no loss of strength, pain through entire bicep (comes and goes), tingling (moslty around elbow - inner and outer), pain similar to tendonitis, stiffness
Right Arm:
- muscle twitching, pain through entire bicep (comes and goes), tingling (moslty around elbow - inner and outer), pain similar to tendonitis, a lot of pain if I do any type of physical activity, stiffness
Legs:
- muscle twitching in thighs and calves, no real fatigue in legs. Other than twitching they feel strong at this point.
Hand:
- Occasional muscle twitching.
My motor skills and intellect have been fine up to this point. I can even play musical instruments with struggling. Fatigue and pain set in very early though. Like others, I'm terrified of some progressive disease like ALS or MS.
Am I jumping the gun here? Any proffesional advice will be appreciated as I wait out all these test results. Thanks you.
Back in December of '09 I began to have muscle twitching in my all muscles in my upper left arm. I also had symptoms of pinched nerve. I saw a chiropractor, but my my issues were never resolved. The twitching in my arm had subsided for a while, but my arm was still getting easilly fatigued. I also would experience numbness, tingling, and pain. Family doctor thought it was general fatigue and some trauma, but issues did not resolve so I was refered to a neurologist.
The Neuro did a physical exam, and a Brachial Plexus MRI with and without contrast to rule out any tears or abnormalities. The MRI came back clear. He has now ordered some blood work and is scheduling a nerve conduction test (i think EMG?). He was very thorough in my initial exam, however my symptoms have spread since that time (and he is aware of them).
What I'm experiencing now is:
Left Arm:
- muscle twitching, heavy feeling in morning, fatigue but no loss of strength, pain through entire bicep (comes and goes), tingling (moslty around elbow - inner and outer), pain similar to tendonitis, stiffness
Right Arm:
- muscle twitching, pain through entire bicep (comes and goes), tingling (moslty around elbow - inner and outer), pain similar to tendonitis, a lot of pain if I do any type of physical activity, stiffness
Legs:
- muscle twitching in thighs and calves, no real fatigue in legs. Other than twitching they feel strong at this point.
Hand:
- Occasional muscle twitching.
My motor skills and intellect have been fine up to this point. I can even play musical instruments with struggling. Fatigue and pain set in very early though. Like others, I'm terrified of some progressive disease like ALS or MS.
Am I jumping the gun here? Any proffesional advice will be appreciated as I wait out all these test results. Thanks you.
The Yoga Pranayam (breathing exercises) will relax you and help with muscle problems.These exercises help the body to work on the underlying problem and help to keep the body healthy.Do this and come back to report your progress.
Build up your timing gradually. If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.
Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose. Duration upto 5 minutes.
Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day. Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 12 times
Once you are better, continue the pranayam once a day.
Be patient, as the benefits will show over a period of weeks.Only by doing you will benefit and feel good because you are helping your body.
Build up your timing gradually. If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.
Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose. Duration upto 5 minutes.
Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day. Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 12 times
Once you are better, continue the pranayam once a day.
Be patient, as the benefits will show over a period of weeks.Only by doing you will benefit and feel good because you are helping your body.
Updates to my current condition:
Doctors - please feel free to comment.
My Brachial Plexus MRI, blood work, and EMG/NCV tests all came back clean from my nuero. He thinks my twitching is benign, and that all of my other issues are skeletal muscular/soft tissue damage. This has done some to ease my mind, however I'm still having some weird sensations.
The doctor has put me on a two week course of Flexiril to calm the spasms while I heal. Even though I'm taking the muscle relaxer, I'm still getting the twitches. The occurence is much less frequent however. I'm getting a bad one in my right hand that makes my pointer and middle fingers move on their own.
I also still have a constant buzzing in my left arm/hand. The pinky on my left hand often goes cold, and gets a lot of the pins and needles sensation.
My chiroporactor has ordered a cervical x-ray, but he has also stated he doesn't think that I have any type of nerve entrapment.
I've been suffering with all these issues for months now, and no one seems to be able to diagnose anything. All the doctors say is rest and take pain medication. The more I rest, the stiffer I get - the more things bother me. I'm very frustrated. Less than 6 months ago I was very active and in great health. I don't understand how everything could go to pot in just a few months - especially at the age of 31.
Please doctors - any advice at this point other than rest and take pain meds would be helpful.
Doctors - please feel free to comment.
My Brachial Plexus MRI, blood work, and EMG/NCV tests all came back clean from my nuero. He thinks my twitching is benign, and that all of my other issues are skeletal muscular/soft tissue damage. This has done some to ease my mind, however I'm still having some weird sensations.
The doctor has put me on a two week course of Flexiril to calm the spasms while I heal. Even though I'm taking the muscle relaxer, I'm still getting the twitches. The occurence is much less frequent however. I'm getting a bad one in my right hand that makes my pointer and middle fingers move on their own.
I also still have a constant buzzing in my left arm/hand. The pinky on my left hand often goes cold, and gets a lot of the pins and needles sensation.
My chiroporactor has ordered a cervical x-ray, but he has also stated he doesn't think that I have any type of nerve entrapment.
I've been suffering with all these issues for months now, and no one seems to be able to diagnose anything. All the doctors say is rest and take pain medication. The more I rest, the stiffer I get - the more things bother me. I'm very frustrated. Less than 6 months ago I was very active and in great health. I don't understand how everything could go to pot in just a few months - especially at the age of 31.
Please doctors - any advice at this point other than rest and take pain meds would be helpful.
I have similar symptoms....and I am scared. I had neurosurgery (cervical fusion) last summer. My symptoms began to abate during recovery then I went back to work. Our office moved to a new building and many of the symptoms came back: muscle twitching and jerks (when I'm tired...like morning and evening) some muscle weakness, numbness around the mouth lips and tongue, and double vision. The double vision I have had all along for about 4 or 5 years. I can live with some twitching muscles but the double vision is driving me crazy. I am hoping that you or anyone else can shed some light as to what may be going on with me. I posted yesterday on the neurology forum but I haven't heard anything back as yet.
I have had a few MRI's and they show Vertebral and Cerebral hypoplasia (reduced or limited blood flow in the brain) but no lesions like you would see with MS. A more comprehensive neuro work up is pending. All I can do is wait so I'm looking for others who may be experiencing symptoms like me for support.
Thanks for listening.
I have had a few MRI's and they show Vertebral and Cerebral hypoplasia (reduced or limited blood flow in the brain) but no lesions like you would see with MS. A more comprehensive neuro work up is pending. All I can do is wait so I'm looking for others who may be experiencing symptoms like me for support.
Thanks for listening.
Update - the blood work came back fine as well. He tested for inflammitory type disease and checked muscle enzymes and some other stuff.
Follow up for the Doc:
My EMG/NCV all came back normal. The blood work isn't back yet. My nuero told me that based on the MRI and EMG/NCV results I need not worry about major nueorological disease or mypopathies. He said he wants to review my blood work before taking further action. I'm relieved abot the results.
My twitching is at a minimum, and I know that anxiety contributes to it. However, my left side, and specifically my left upper arm muscles still feel completely useless. The strength is there, but I fatigue very easily (only in my arms). I can do a cardio workout no problem as long as I'm not using my arms - lungs, heart, legs all feel fine. There is still a constant feeling of buzz in my left arm as well.
Please advise.
My EMG/NCV all came back normal. The blood work isn't back yet. My nuero told me that based on the MRI and EMG/NCV results I need not worry about major nueorological disease or mypopathies. He said he wants to review my blood work before taking further action. I'm relieved abot the results.
My twitching is at a minimum, and I know that anxiety contributes to it. However, my left side, and specifically my left upper arm muscles still feel completely useless. The strength is there, but I fatigue very easily (only in my arms). I can do a cardio workout no problem as long as I'm not using my arms - lungs, heart, legs all feel fine. There is still a constant feeling of buzz in my left arm as well.
Please advise.
I understand your point, but I have more than just the muscle twitching. I have pain in the muscles, though the pain seems to be isolated to my arms at this point. The symptoms have all come and gone to varying degrees over the past two months, but have never subsided completely.
If I use my arms for any signifigant physical activity, my biceps almost immediately get deep pain and tightness running the length of the muscle. It also gives me the feeling of almost instant tendonitis. The muscles in the back and shoulders get very fatigued as well. The pain in my biceps is different than any other pain I've ever fealt. It feels almost internal if that makes any sense. However, I can go to the gym and do cardio workouts with my legs only and the legs seem fine (other than twitching).
I have adusted my diet and increased my calory intake to try to make sure I'm getting all of the vitamins and mineral that I need. I also take a B complex, and a multi vitamin every day. Symptoms do improve with rest, but they are always still there.
Blood work is scheduled for this week, and an EMG next week. Thank you for your time in trying to help.
If I use my arms for any signifigant physical activity, my biceps almost immediately get deep pain and tightness running the length of the muscle. It also gives me the feeling of almost instant tendonitis. The muscles in the back and shoulders get very fatigued as well. The pain in my biceps is different than any other pain I've ever fealt. It feels almost internal if that makes any sense. However, I can go to the gym and do cardio workouts with my legs only and the legs seem fine (other than twitching).
I have adusted my diet and increased my calory intake to try to make sure I'm getting all of the vitamins and mineral that I need. I also take a B complex, and a multi vitamin every day. Symptoms do improve with rest, but they are always still there.
Blood work is scheduled for this week, and an EMG next week. Thank you for your time in trying to help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Dear Friend,
Many thanks for posting the question via my forum. Before answering, I would like to remind you that , my post is like a guide for you. But to come to a pinpoint diagnosis, I will repeatedly as you to visit the treating doctor or meet a good consultant.
Persistent muscle twitch can be due to many other reasons also, if all the reports are coming as normal -
1) Lack of Magnesium ions in the body.
2) Persistent stress/fatigue over the muscles.
3) Stress inside the brain.
So we need to address these three problems also, if the reports are coming as normal.
Increase the dietary intake of peanuts/butter/wheat/milk/grams so as to increase the dietary intake of the Magnesium ions.
Also give relaxation to the muscles at regular intervals.
Forgot to mention, we need to wait for the EMG report.
So keep me updated for the same also.
All the best.
Please feel free to discuss more in any context.
Regards...
Many thanks for posting the question via my forum. Before answering, I would like to remind you that , my post is like a guide for you. But to come to a pinpoint diagnosis, I will repeatedly as you to visit the treating doctor or meet a good consultant.
Persistent muscle twitch can be due to many other reasons also, if all the reports are coming as normal -
1) Lack of Magnesium ions in the body.
2) Persistent stress/fatigue over the muscles.
3) Stress inside the brain.
So we need to address these three problems also, if the reports are coming as normal.
Increase the dietary intake of peanuts/butter/wheat/milk/grams so as to increase the dietary intake of the Magnesium ions.
Also give relaxation to the muscles at regular intervals.
Forgot to mention, we need to wait for the EMG report.
So keep me updated for the same also.
All the best.
Please feel free to discuss more in any context.
Regards...
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