Muscle "jerks" or perhaps I should call the "twitches"...???

Does Fibro cause muscles to jerk or twitch...when I say twitch, I mean a BIG twitch?  I have been having this happen over the last week several times. It doesn't hurt...just feels strange.  I take 200 mg of tramadol a day for my OA and EOA and Fibro, so that may be masking any pain the "twitches" may cause. Just curious to know if this is a common thing w/Fibro or a side effect of some of my meds.  I do take Soma every night so that I can sleep.

Thank you for any info you may have.

V

Hi Vannie~~

Wow, aren't those twitches fun???...NOT! I get them too and I'm starting to throw things across the room when it happens. I was sitting in my recliner using my laptop with a mouse. All of a sudden my arm jerks and the mouse goes airborne! Ya, I'm laughing but I know it's not all that funny when it's happening to you. It can be frightening and very disconcerting.

I get some in my legs but most of it's in my arms and I think it might be worse when I've used my arms a lot and they are aching. Have to pay more attention to see if that's related. about once a month or so I do get the muscle twitch in the eye and it lasts for several minutes. I'm not sure why or what that's from but with Fibro on board, who knows? I had Bell's Palsy (muscle paralysis in the face that usually subsides) several years ago and I often wonder if the eye twitches are related to that.

So yes, you have a lot of company with the twitches and from what I've seen and read it's fairly common among us Fantabulous Fibro's! (we ARE special, ya know)

Warm hugs,
Chutz

I seem to get them at night mostly. Like right when I am about to doze off, my whole body spazzes like I'm falling. Is this the same thing?

Whew! At least I know I am not crazy. Thank you SO much.

V

I'm getting "the twitches" badly now.  I have thrown things, dropped things. Today in church, we were praying, and my head twiched so hard I thought my neck was going to snap. ANYONE who had their eyes open and saw me would swear I fell asleep. But I didn't.  My twitches are hard.  I have learned that cymbalta can cause it. I'm not sure about the lyrica or soma.  Maybe should check into the ambien and yaz too.  It sucks.  At lease I'm not alone.

I tend to drop things when I have a very powerful muscle spasm. I usually get them in my arms or legs but, sometimes, I notice my neck twitching.

Sadly, these 'twitches' are normal for Fibromyalgia (at least for me).

I'm on the highest dose for Cymbalta and it hasn't affected my muscle spasms in any way.

It's funny. I'm sitting here reading all these posts on the forum and realize that I have probably had Fibro for quite a long time. It's the little things like the twitching we are talking about that really make me go hmmmm....I think back to how long certain things have happened and realize hmmm...that really makes sense now. Like these twitches, I've had them for years and always attributed them to stress but a lot of times I wasn't really stressed. I never understood them and like I said, I just attributed them to stress so never had them checked out. I was just diagnosed in Sept/Oct with Fibro and boy I've learned a lot and am still learning about this wonderful friend of our's.

Hi, Alcie,

I haven't had any more twitches since I made sure I don't take my Tramadol doses too close together. I only take 10 mg of Lexapro, but that must be enough to cause these twiches if/when I take my Tramdol before I am supposed to. So, you should have eight hours between Tramadol dose, right? I know everyone is different, but I must be sensitive to this med.

I find it curious, and a little disturbing, that neither my ortho or my rheumatologist mentioned this might happen, or cautioned me about it. Geez!

Thanks so much, Alcie!!!

V

Sensitivity to meds is quite individual. I think that's why docs don't tell you much about it. They don't want you worrying about side effects that probably won't happen. I've learned the hard way to look up my meds. I need to know the drug interactions and the "inactive ingredients" in my meds. I don't worry excessively about side effects, but I often take a fraction of a dose to start with if it's known to cause nasty reactions.

Taking other drugs at the same time can affect you too. Tegretol can double the rate of absorption.

I got muscle twitches with only 1/4 of a 10 mg Lexapro. It gave me severe electric shock-like pain running down the backs of my legs, so I didn't take any more.

Tramadol only lasts 4 hours for me. That's 50 mg. I get away with 3 during the day and one 100mg extended release about 9PM. If I take it closer than 4 hours apart I get twitches.

From the web:
The elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours.
Moderate pain: Initial dose of 50 mg, followed by 50 mg or 100 mg 4-6 hourly.
Moderately severe pain: Initial dose of 50 mg or 100 mg followed by 50 mg or 100 mg 4-6 hourly. A total oral daily dose of more than 400 mg per day must not be exceeded.

Hello,

 

For the record, I'm just like Damouth1. At night right before I fall asleep. My husband also says it happens often when I am sleeping. I notice it some during the day, but mostly as I fall asleep.

i get both the little muscle spasms.. my son will put things on my arm or leg and see if it jumps all the way off usually it jumps all day in the same spot off and on..especially my right knee,,, thats my weak knee too. But the most bothersome spot is the eye.. that is so annoying and obvious.
The big whole body jump out of the bed thing happens mainly at night not during the day

 Wheeew! i love this  blog!!! ok so now i know i'm not crazy and i'm not the only one with annoying twitches.  thanks to all for sharing our experiences.  it helps alot.

Count me in! I thought it was meds too..I have all the twitches mentioned above and have the serious hand jerking ones where I have to careful when holding something or it will fly......

I think it is very comforting to know that we are not crazy...and it's related to this crazy illness....

I too have some that are pretty violent...jerked me up off my bed...those don't happen as much as they use too...but still have the milder ones...just about everywhere..head to toes...