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July 2, 2008 - 1:49pm
POLL!! How many of you have muscle twitches in your body from LBP?
Just curious as to whether anyone has muscle twitches (fasiculations) on there body when having back issues, weakness, pain, numbness, etc... What was the cause, where were they at the most, how long did they last?
Thanks
August 1, 2008 - 8:32pm
#17
I get them mostly at night.
I get them mostly at night. I notice it on the day I've gone to PT and they have me doing weights. I get them in my left butt cheek and hamstring. I'm not having a lot of pain issues right now I just take a couple ibuprofen a day but the twitches make me nervous. A few years ago when my disc first herniated the first thing I noticed was muscle twitching and then horrible pain the next day so I always worry when the muscles twitch that I'm going to get worse but so far I've been doing good even with the muscle twitching for the last month now.
August 2, 2008 - 9:51am
#18
I have them practically all
I have them practically all of the time.They are localized to my left foot ,calf and thigh.
These are related to the nerve root compression secondary to lumbar disc protrusion and in my case from a bone spur impinging on the canal in the vertebrae where the nerve exits.
August 2, 2008 - 11:28am
#19
Thumping not twitching
That is how mine started after my disc herniated. I had thumping in my rear and down my leg and that was before I knew what was wrong. They didn't stop for months. Now three years later I still get them but they have settled into twitching and they come and go. I might get them only a couple of times a week now instead.
August 5, 2008 - 10:30pm
#20
me too, All over for over a year now.
I have these all over my body. They started with my eye and then my scalp. They quickly spread all over my body. At first I thought I was going nuts. I started having my major back problems about a month later so I attributed them to my back and neck issues. I am almost 4 weeks post-op and they seem to have settled down. I have had several of the hard weird jerks though that bothers me a bit. I have read that muscle twitches can be linked to aspartame. I drink a lot of diet soda and use artificial sweeteners so IDK. Any of y'all use aspartame or drink diet soda?
Just curious.
Kelly Jo
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Kelly Jo age 37 from Eastern NC
Years of back issues. Spondylolisthesis grade 1-2 w/ bilateral pars defect at L4/L5. Next door issues had started at L5/S1. peripheral neuropathy/radiopathy/Sciatica
NS performed a Discectomy/Laminectomy at both levels and fused L4/L5 with my removed bone. Installed Dynesys at both L/4-L5 and L5/S1 on 07/10/08.
Meds down to 7.5-15mg Percocet every 6 hours (which I usually only take in the evening usually) Flexeril 10mg PRN up to 3x/day.
Watching bulging disk at C6-7 mildly symptomatic but, no plans to repair at this time, my choice. Latest X-rays indicate spondylosis at multi-levels above fusion.
"I think I can, I think I can... I KNOW I can......
Matthew 19:26 "With God ALL things are possible"
October 5, 2008 - 1:38pm
#21
Muscle Twitching and Spasms
Hi,
I have only been having these for a little over a month. They started after my doctor gave me Cymbalta. I do have back and neck problems which may be the problem as well, but it did start after the Cymbalta.
I only took the Cymbalta for 2 days, before I noticed the problem. I woke up in the morning after the first pill feeling like I was in a kick-boxing match all night. My arm, legs, and the rest of my body was just warn out. The second night I started to doze off on the couch and my legs jumped about 2 feet off the couch; this of course woke me up. I stopped the Cymbalta after the that, but it has been a little over a month, and I still have twitches and spasms. They are not nearly as bad, but are still there.
The spasms run through most of my body, and are less noticeable while I'm active, but will cause me to jerk my back, legs, arms, and neck. I get regular muscle twitches in my arms, legs, butt, back, side, ankles, and face.
My doctor said that it's all caused by Anxiety, so I am taking Xanax for that. I have noticed a little bit of an improvement, but Xanax is a tranquilizer, and I wonder if that is the only part that is helping me. Maybe just a cover up a greater problem?
October 6, 2008 - 4:51pm
#22
right buttock
I get it in my right butt cheek. Makes me think of the movie "French Kiss" where Meg Ryan is talking about the old men sitting around in the coffee shop smoking and saying, "you people make my ass twitch!" Also, during a really bad flare up, including pain down both legs, I went to PT. They massaged my left side and then had me turn over. My entire rib cage on my right side went into spasm. My therapist said she had never seen anything quite like that before.
Linda
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3 level 360 degree lumbar fusion (L3-S1) starting with eight-hour surgery to place hardware, discs could not be removed from the back due to scar tissue, so four days later, they went in from the front to complete the job. November 2008
October 13, 2008 - 11:35pm
#23
I as well get them after
I as well get them after stretching too much or after too much activity or sitting. They are worse at night when i'm laying down. They only last for a few seconds. I feel my muscles twitching in my lower left back muscle (para spinals), left glute, left hamstring or in my toes.
My doctor told me its from being over worked (the muscle becomes very cranky), and of course from nerve irritation.
October 14, 2008 - 1:09am
#24
Me Also
I have them too. Rt leg...in bed laying down..mornings...lying on my back.
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Namaste!
October 14, 2008 - 1:32am
#25
Twitching and more
I get twitching, uncontrolled movements, and severe jolts. I got them right after my first surgery, when I took opioids for the first time. and every since. They seemed to get more intense an frequent after I stared cymbalta. I get the worst "electric jolts" when I'm reclining in my zero gravity chair or laying down. While sleeping I get them bad and it freeks my wife out!
Good luck, Jim
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Click on my user name to see my medical history
You get what you get......not what you deserve! I stole that from Susan (RIP)
Today is yours to embrace....for tomorrow who knows what will be starring you in the face
May 29, 2010 - 7:44pm
#26
me too
I started having right leg and foot spasms and jerking in my foot right after I got home from my ALIF-PLIF two level fusion, the doctor put me on Soma, and it helped for a little while. But now they are continuing and nothing seems to help. I get them usually at night, pretty severe. And when Im on my back, I get them. My whole leg will jerk, or shake. Its sooo aggravating. Yesterday I had a CT scan of my low back, cause Im still having terrible back pain, and when I laid down, my leg started jerking and shaking. The nurse was like will it stop? I was so embarrased. If anyone has any ideas for me, I am open. Thanks
July 8, 2010 - 8:39pm
#27
just started
I just started getting twitches after I REALLY overdid it last week which sucks because I was starting to feel kinda good. I got an ESI tuesday hoping it would help but so far not much improvement.
The twitching feels real funny and worries me about how much damage I did over the week.
_____________
"sometime the best thing about my workday is the fact that my chair spins"-unknown
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Oh yes...the famous twitches. I get them all the time more so when I feel really bad. I also get the leg buckling when it gets severe.
Weird to see the muscles twitch and you can't control it. It happens probably several times a week to me. I notice it more when I really push myself too hard. I might sit too long or over do it at the gym...causes them to happen quite a bit.
Me too....left big toe (a.k.a. Twitchy) and occasionally my left calf muscle.
Before surgery it was almost constant...now just on days when I overdo it a bit.
My legs twitch every few moments when I am sitting down or laying down. When this first started around March, I thought is was a new med... But I stopped that med after 5 weeks and I still have the twitches.
Julie
I am not a doctor, my opinions are not meant to be medical advice. Just opinions from my personal experiences dealing with multiple spinal issues.
I have these too..like my muscles jump without my control. I thought mine was due to Cymbalta. Thats when they started. It happens every night. Maybe it is due to LBP??? no idea...just a little annoying when u are trying to go to sleep!!
I get muscle twitching all the time i notice it more at nghts, also several times a day my leg will involuntarily kick out or jump but with quite a force. Its got to be the nerves surely??????
I have herniations in my lb and my neck. I have twitching mainly in my left arm. Sometimes my left hand will pronate once or twice without me making it do that. It is a bit freaky. You are not alone!
I get twitches in the evenings and if i push to hard during my stretches.During PT, I had to do hamstring stretches and my whole lower back would flop around like a fish out of water.I get them in my calves and middle back/shoulders on occasion as well.
According to MRI impression readings: Chronic bilateral L5 pars defects with grade 1 spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 and marked bilateral foraminal stenosis.
After reviewing my records 10/17/08:X Ray DX via flexion/extension:
Severe DDD at L5/S1 w/ 2 mm of motion, 3 mm retrolisthesis at L4/L5.Spondylolisthesis due to Spondylosis.Time for a true 2nd opinion.
Gout in both feet, Type 2 Diabetes(diet exercise only), Bipolar 2, Panic Disorder, and Insomnia from hell.
Meds: Norco, Wellbutrin XL(breaktime), Ativan(as needed), Ambien(on call), Zyprexa(manic rides gone bad)
For the past year and a half, I have had spasms,, they have gotten worse over the past few months,, all te way to the toes,, leg to leg, knees,, all teh muscles ache 24/7,,,DX;ed as Immune deficient,, not AIDS,, pretty much reduced to trying to work,, coming home,, shower and go to bed where the spasms start all over again,,
Hi
I get twitching in my legs to if I sit for too long or push myself too hard exercising. I mainly get it in my thighs and calves. I was standing in a Q at the bank today and thought my mobile phone was vibrating in my pocket, but it was my legs!
Only rest and time gets rid of my twitching
Best Wishes
Anna
L4/L5 & L5/S1 Fusion and Decompression with instrumentation on 1st October 2007
I get the twitching, in my left upper calf. Happens every once and a while. Also get bad calf cramp, left side. Usually at night.
LOL this is so funny! I thought I was going crazy. I am noticing more and more weird muscle twitches in the last 2 weeks....in my butt and hamstring. They are weird.
Formerfire
L5S1 herniation & sciatica
MicroDiscetomy May 2008
I have had these infernal twitches and jerking for 8 yrs now and I thought I would never find anyone else like me!! Sorry for all your pain and suffering but I am so glad to know I'm not alone and not just plain weird! I have these in just about every part of my body. For a year I had a twitch in the tip of my tongue that was 24/7 that almost drove me crazy and then finally one day it just stopped. I have small ones and very forceful ones that end up really embarrassing me when I end up jerking so hard that I kick a trash can under my desk at work and making so much noise or tossing my computer mouse cause my arm/hand jerks so hard. I dont know what causes it either but I would love to have confirmation of it. I notice it more when I am hurting really bad and/or really tired (which I stay tired and hurting most of the time). If anyone out there knows why this happens to me and the rest of us, would you please be so kind to let us know? And if there is anyone out there that has any suggestions as to how to make it stop, PLEASE let me know!!! Any ideas or suggestions would be really appreciated.
Thanks so much and have a great day!
Karenc
I have been experiencing muscle twitches for the past couple of months. Some are full blown muscle twitches and other kind of feel like quick pulses. I get them all over, but alot in my legs (calves, thighs). I just had lab work done and all is well there. I thought maybe it was my potassium, magnesium, or thyroid, but all checked out fine. I'm not sure if they are related to my back since I have the twithes all over?? Confused myself=)
LBP in 2006
Herniated Disc L5-S1 with desication
Collasped Disc due to severe desication
Bulging disc L3-L4
I still have stiffness in LB, but no real pain.
I've had twitches even before the back trouble started. I attributed it to Wellbutrin, which has been known to cause twitching.
Severe tricompartmental stenosis related to arthritis and Grade 1 spondylolisthesis of L3/L4, L4/L5. Laminectomy and fusions with instrumentation followed by hip bursitis and probable SIJD.
I have muscle twitches too, and mostly at night in my thigh or butt. The worse my lower back is, the more I tend to get these.
Katie
Radiculpathy, DDD, fibromyalgia, spinal injections, microdiscectomy 1/18/08 with no relief; percocet, flexeril, lidoderm patch, SCS trial 2/09
[quote=maryelleninnj
i started this this medicine geodon 1 week ago when i went to the er for a drug reaction where i could not shut my mouth and my neck would not turn anymore they said it was a muscle tremors. it went away when they gave cogenton through a iv and it went away, it was so scary, i even cried. worst experince ever. the docter told me to stop takin the cogenton. so i did and been off of it for 4 days. the medicine the er prescribed me benztropine for the muscle spasm i had and ive been on it for 3 days now and for the second time im twitching all over and my eyes were dilated it is so scary. i was sleeping almost in the fetal position and as i was just falling asleep my whole body jumped i had that all night long. now my fingers are twitching alot and my rls( restless leg syndrome) is totaly worse, my hands are shaking slightly and i don't feel like myself so im gonna email my docter asap will keep u posted.