Twitching

[DeejayR]

Not birdwatching, but muscle twitching around neck & head, only in the middle of the night -- is that diabetes related? I can make it stop temporarily by opening and closing one fist repeatedly. It feels as if someone has wired me into a low-volt battery.

My wife says it's not her.

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi,

Make sure your pillows are comfortable and not too high.
It could be muscle spasm and your G.P. can give you a small dose of muscle relaxant, something like 10 mgs of amitriptyline.
Worth going to see him as it may be a pinched nerve or degeneration of the spine.

 

[DeejayR]

One good pillow, so ok on that score.
Yes, it feels like spasm.
Thanks for that.

 

[DeejayR]

Quick update ... I've been referred to a neurologist with "night time muscle jerks progressing to resting tremor," cause unknown. Waiting time for appointment, two months.

 

[Mike d]

Hi @DeejayR

How are your shoulders? Leave it to the experts, but pinched nerve sounds like it could be the cause. If you don't want to wait two months, some massage might help and loosen up the back as that's where my odd pains emanate

 

[DeejayR]

Cheers. Had a tight shoulder a while back so I'll see if Mrs B can be persuaded to work her magic Might even do the shoulder good

 

[Mike d]

Yep, I think it might be related, especially if you feel some cricking in the neck. I'm constantly amazed at where the source of these pains rests, but no doubt, my exercise each morning (HEAPS of right and left arm bowling pretending I open the attack for Australia) helps a lot.

 

[DeejayR]

Quick update ... I've been referred to a neurologist with "night time muscle jerks progressing to resting tremor," cause unknown. Waiting time for appointment, two months.

Update No 2: the neurologist reserved judgement and booked me in for an MRI scan, which I had today (head and, for some reason, spine.) They said I may have to wait five weeks for the result. The twitch has been on holiday for the last week or so.

 

[DeejayR]

Cont p94 .... the brain scan was normal (i.e. no brain to be seen presumably). I found out by going to the surgery today and asking if there was any news, and they gave a me a print-out of a letter from the neurologist dated Aug 7. So I asked for a chat by phone with my doctor. More on Thursday, perhaps ... meanwhile, unlike my GP, the twitch is back from holiday.

 

[eddie1968]

I get a lot of twitching on my left side (especially at night in bed). It is visible and is called fasiculation. It is usually due to fatigue. It can be part of a benign syndrome or neuromuscular if it persists.

 

[DeejayR]

I get a lot of twitching on my left side (especially at night in bed). It is visible and is called fasiculation. It is usually due to fatigue. It can be part of a benign syndrome or neuromuscular if it persists.

Fatigue? That would be a first for me Thanks for the tip.
*edit* Mr Google is helpful on this.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Not sure if this is of any use, but some medications can cause tremor, which may continue after stopping the medication. Your neurologist would look into this.

 

[eddie1968]

Update No 2: the neurologist reserved judgement and booked me in for an MRI scan, which I had today (head and, for some reason, spine.) They said I may have to wait five weeks for the result. The twitch has been on holiday for the last week or so.

I despise MRI scanners, prefer CT scanners. I had 2 MRI's done on my fractured shoulder and torn tendons. Next day I had vertigo which persisted for weeks especially when laying down. My GP told me the ultra strong magnets in the MRI scanner can upset the fluid in your balance mechanism in your inner ear. Just thought I'd pass this snippet of info on. Hope it's nothing serious Deejay R.

 

[DeejayR]

Thanks for all the suggestions. It's just an inconvenience atm and I'm mainly interested in what the official health service tactic will be. I suspect "say nothing and hope he goes away." Seems a waste, a consultant's time and cost of a scan.

 

[DeejayR]

So .... I now discover the neurologist wrote to my GP back in June, just after he saw me, and before I had the scan. He diagnosed myoclonus, which I believe is a generic term for twitching of various kinds. He recommended a choice of drugs but noted that I didn't want to start medication.
However, he also recommended some specific blood tests at that time, and my GP has agreed to include them, together with full spectrum cholesterol, in my next HbA1c test, which will be brought forward from Feb next year to next month (I hope).
This seems a good compromise and I feel I'm working with my GP and making informed choices. Due in no small measure to this forum, for which many thanks

 

[Sobeit]

Magnesium is great to stop muscle twitching and anything nerve and muscle related .It really worked for me to stop restless leg syndrome. And its amazing for aches and pains .Has helped me loads.Most people are deficient in this important mineral.Also really helps with anxiety

 

[DeejayR]

Yes I admit I have a bottle of mag. citrate in the cupboard relating to something else and got fed up with trying to swallow such horse pills. I promise to try again. I tried cutting them in half but they still got stuck. Maybe crush them next.

 

[Sobeit]

I agree about the size of some of them .Last magnesium citrate ones I bought were smaller though and easier to swallow.But I mostly rely on magnesium oil spray as I find it very effective.If u make your own its much cheaper than the ready made mag oil in healthshops! Easy made with equal parts magnesium flakes and distilled water.

 

[Sobeit]

I hate that feeling of them getting stuck scares me:. My sister finds it works great crushing tablets and mixing them in honey to take . But of course honey wouldnt be suitable for diabetes,maybe natural yogurt would be an alternative..