new symptom or paranoia?
 

I've had a very annoying muscle twitch in my upper arm that started in the night and is still there.
I have BFS and years ago freaked that I had ALS because of it, so I'm no stranger to twitches, (I had a twitchy eylid that lasted for 6 weeks once).
In fact, my body has been popping everywhere over the last couple of months due to the anxiety of all of this.
I was just wondering if anyone else has this as part of PN.

I've also had a weird half numb half tight feeling middle finger on and off over the last 24hours. I'm aware I'm hyper sensitive to anything going on in my body right now. I'm sure I would have shrugged both of these things off before I became so obsessed.

Karen

I use magnesium lotion, and potassium for muscle twitches.

I know new symptoms can be scary, our mind goes everyone with possibilities but sometimes, it's just a twitch. :) Hope so.

I didn't know magnesium was available in a lotion. Is that Morton lotion Mrs D has mentioned before?
I bought Epsom Salts for my feet today (didn't know it was taken orally for costipation...).

Yes, Mortons Epsom lotion at walmart. MrsD says only put it where the skin is thin for better absorbtion but if I am having bad muscle cramps I will put it wherever needed along with on my wrists. It really does help muscle aches and pains so I think it does get through some. I am on diuretics so I get muscle spasms if I don't take enough potassium supplements too. (along with magnesium)

I dunno anything about using epsom for constipation, never heard of it.

that is an old remedy... historically there may be people who still use it. You have to be very careful measuring it though. I don't think most people can be trusted to use it for constipation, safely.

Just use the epsom salts for soaks. DO NOT use hot water.
And don't put too much in the water either, as it will sting you like salt does. If you use a bathtub, 6 -8 ounces is enough.
2 ounces in a small foot tub. Use lukewarm water and soak for about 1/2 hr.

Now that I have the mortons epsom lotion I find I really use the salts to soak anymore, just easier, faster. Mostly cuz I only enjoy hot soaks and can't do it anymore. :(

I've just been searching for Morton's lotion online. It doesn't seem to be available in the UK. There's a product called Ancient Minerals but it's quite expensive compared to the US Amazon price for Mortons.
I've also seen a couple of sites that tell you how to make your own using magnesium oil and other ingredients. Doubt if I'll go to that much trouble..

I saw the laxative reference when researching theraputic uses, Apparantly it is used to empty the bowels of patients prior to surgery as well.
Just think, if I didn't have the symptoms of PN, I would have gone through life oblivious of that fact LOL.

K x

One of my favorite quotes is: If you learn one new thing a day, at the end of the year you will have learned 365 new things !
I have that in one of my sketchbooks! LOL
Printmaking was one of those topics that had much to learn!

Magnesium in large amounts is laxative. It is used to clean people out before X-rays...But now in US they are moving to PEG as a substitute, because in people with poor kidney functions...too much magnesium (as in enemas and laxatives) is poisonous.

Magnesium oxide is a laxative as it does not ionize in the stomach and moves along to become a saline catharthic. So using it as a supplement is useless.

It is best to keep oral supplements to 200mg elemental daily.

i also get muscle twitches in my calves mostly but lately on my stomach more. i just sit there sometimes and watch the twitching. its amazing really.

I've had them in my calves for 10 years now. There came on out of the blue and felt very pronounced and were very visible. I had been going through a prolonged period of stress without realising at the time.
Eventually they calmed down to a point where I hardly notice them any more.

Lately though, they have come back with a vengence. I get them across my mouth, back, chest, practically anywhere, but they are fleeting and random.
The one in my arm was particularly annoying as it lasted for hours. It was gone by the time I went to bed last night and I only noticed a couple of "flutters" through the night.
I tried not to worry too much about it yesterday.Worrying about every little thing feeds my anxiety..

Shortly after my mum died, 14 years ago, I developed an irregular heartbeat and took beta blockers for 18 months. It's gone now thankfully, but it proves my body has a tendency to the twitchy sort of response to stress..

Re: magnesium if supplementing daily, should we be taking calcium along with it as to keep a good balance ?
Mrs D this one may be for you. Thanks

People taking Vit D to improve blood levels, typically don't need
calcium supplements much. Vit D will improve calcium absorption from food.

But for people taking acid blocking drugs every day, some calcium may be needed...these drugs block absorption of both magnesium AND calcium.

Up to 70% of people can be low in magnesium alone! This is from taking some drugs, diabetes, or poor dietary intake.

A couple years ago I was experiencing little cramps in the top of my left calf, my DR prescribed Nortriptyline which knocked that right out- only took it for a couple weeks.

I take two Mag64s a day, and it's cut back on my twitching tremendously. Mag64 is the generic version of SlowMag which is rather pricey. I just get the five-pack.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...keywords=mag64

I ran into a problem with muscle cramping when I stopped dairy for awhile. I'm now taking vitamin D and making sure I get enough calcium from food or supplementing on an off day. The Mag64 also supplies 224mg of Ca in two tablets.

Thanks for that info. I have been using way too much Epsom Salts in my bath. Curious why not in hot water? Before all this I loved Epson Salts HOT baths. Now hot water triggers my symptoms so it's lukewarm for me. Glad to know I shouldn't be doing it since I can't!

Bfs
 

Hi Kazzar1958
I had twitches for a time in my upper arm. They were not painful but lasted for a few hours and then came back again for about a week. They haven't been back for awhile but that doesn't mean they won't. My neurologist told me they were BFS.

Since the onset of my symptoms I have had them in my calves. They would keep me up every night. I still get them some nights but they are much milder. Some things that have helped me:

Slow mag 2 times a day
Morton's Epsom Salt lotion
10's machine
banana or coconut water
Gabapentin (I think it has helped with the twitches but I am not pushing this drug. I'm planning to try getting off it soon.)

Hi Kazzar,

I had the whole body twitching/cramping at the onset of my PN. And went through that same ALS paranoia. I completely understand. But it is one of the seemingly less known symptoms of SFN. And unfortunately, the more you obsess about it, the worse it gets. That is a big reason why I always say that stress reduction is one of the key components to dealing with PN. (Here I'm talking like a long timer, but I've only had this for 15 months now :winky:)

Ultimately, I think going through the ALS paranoia was a good thing for me. It made me re-examine every priority in my life. I have had life-long issues with anxiety, but after going through that, I've rarely been bothered by anxiety.

You didn't say if you were taking any medications for your PN. I found that taking gabapentin drastically reduced the twitching/cramping. But it seems like everyone has a different experience with gabapentin, so it may not work the same for you.

Interested in the twitching, my leg, my arm,my thumb and first finger, my knee, over the past weeks I've been ticking and you can clearly see the muscles almost pulsing.
I've been having a really hard time eating for the past week or so.
Tummy twitching actually makes me nauseous and then I get cramps within two hours of eating, then what I've eaten has gone.
I found eating porridge for breakfast is ok if I take it slowly. I'm making soup for trying tomorrow lunch.
I presume the twitching is because of a lack of nutrients, which then makes it difficult to eat, which makes me twitch more.
I'm so tired. It's hard working when all I want to do I'd drink constantly.
Can someone suggest a multi vitamin thing or something that might help?
I'm in the city tomorrow for an MRI, Brain and complete spine. I can call into health shop whilst I'm there.

Blairzo:

We don't generally use the name "porridge" in the US, but I believe that is a wheat based hot cereal? Turning to a diet of mostly wheat may not be the best thing for you.

As for supplements, magnesium is one that can often help with twitching and cramping type conditions, but don't use the magnesium oxide form - that isn't absorbed very well. I use magnesium citrate, and there are several other forms as well.

Instead of your porridge, maybe you could try oatmeal. It's not quite as big of a carbohydrate hit, moderates your digestive function (eases constipation but also slows diarrhea), and contains quite a bit of magnesium which is also helpful.

I have been eating oatmeal most mornings for over a year now, and while it gets a bit boring, it seems to help a bit with my SFN, but I also have IBS and it helps a lot with that.

Hey Ragtop,

I don't know of Blairzo's particular recipe, but porridge is traditionally made with oats in the British Isles. And Tradition it is, the further north you go, the more deeply ingrained the love of porridge. My step children all grew up on it and my grandkids are following suit as Winter draws in.

Dave.