Tremors and fasciculations
 

I think I've touched on this subject before, but wanted to raise it again in case any new folks can relate. My recovery seems to be progressing. I'm experiencing less dizziness and headaches, am able to handle going to stores and restaurants for short durations, do light to moderate exercise a few times per week. Sleep is still a bit of a problem for me though.

Another problem area is tremors and fasciculations when my body is at rest or sleeping. I'm fine when I'm moving about, but when I lie down to sleep and feel my body begin to relax, I feel the fasciculations ramp up, primarily in my left calf and sometimes in my neck. Occasionally I'll wake up and find my hands trembling. A few times I've woken up and my head was trembling (bobbing up and down very slightly). This really scares me because I'm thinking these are early signs of Parkinson's or ALS. Extreme, I know, but this is me thinking worst case scenario. I also notice that I tend to feel shaky or trembly more easily if I'm stressed out or nervous during the day.

Since these symptoms seem to flare up usually when I'm asleep or half asleep, my doctor said it's most like my subconsciousness (anxiety) acting out (or something like that). He said that I'm probably able to ignore it and that's why I seem fine during the day. It all just manifests at night.

This might be true, but I can't help but think about other more serious possible causes. Anyone else get resting tremors or fasciculations and has your doctor explained possible causes?

lagr,

I have a similar problem when I am going to sleep. I take gabapentin (Neurontin 900 mgs) and hour or so before bed to help with them. They are most likely for me just as I am about to fall asleep and then sometimes during sleep. The gabapentin helps immensely but not always.

I can be sitting and my hand will start to have tremors.

Sometimes, it appears to be related to inflammation in my upper neck.

I find that sleeping with my head and neck is straight alignment helps to reduce them.

I hope this helps.

My best to you.

Thanks Mark. Your feedback has calmed me down a bit. :) Everything else seems to be coming along slowly, but these tremors have me a bit freaked out. The other day I was reading a story about an ex NFL player who is only in his 40's and has already been diagnosed with ALS. Scary stuff.

I might try icing my neck a bit tonight to see if that helps minimize the tremors. Maybe watch a funny movie too so I can keep my mind off all this brain stuff.

Oh, one question Mark....have you noticed if your tremors have gotten worse over time or have they stayed about the same (in terms of frequency and intensity)?

My legs and different muscles jump and twitch since I got the head injury that I'm recovering from. And my hands shake too sometimes. And I never had to deal with this stuff before the accident at all. :rolleyes:

It doesn't happen to me any more before I have to go to bed than it does during the day though.

It really doesn't worry me much at all but generally just reminds me that my brain is healing and that I used to be a high functioning, independent adult that didn't have to deal with that and then that usually makes me angry at the guy who caused the accident. (He wasn't paying attention in stop'n'go traffic on the freeway during rush hour.)

I do know that people who have sustained one concussion are more prone to getting ALS and Parkinson's and other scary things, but I think your Dr. would know what signs to look for if something like that was beginning to happen to you. I've also read that anxiety can manifest itself in many ways.

edit to add a "hug"

EsthersDoll - I definitely understand your anger. I too am still upset that a woman decided to hit me so hard that I went flying into the glass while playing no-check women's hockey. I was in tip top health up until that point.

I woke up this morning to find my head, neck, and left foot vibrating like crazy. It stopped as soon as I moved my body. Just don't get it. Hopefully it turns out to be something that can be easily explained.:(

Well, before my accident, I may have expressed my anxiety by burning it off with activity... I'd still do that now if I could! But the injury has gotten me very fatigued and just being mildly active can degrade my speech and cognitive functioning... so i try to pace myself and rest.

*Maybe* your body just has energy to burn that's caused by the anxiety? The anxiety might be giving you some adrenaline... like a fight or flight kind of response. I'm sure hoping it's just as simple and uncomplicated as that.

I was in tip top shape when I was hit too! I tend to be grateful that I was too... I think I'd be worse off now if I was in worse shape then. And I try to remember that my body will be able to get into shape faster because it has muscle memory of being in such good shape. But I know how sad and frustrating it can be to think of what you could do before the accident.

I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. :hug: