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I have strange goosebumps over a dermotomal distribution when an area of my arm is lightly touched, or if I hurt myself in another part of my body. I also experience twitching throughout the night. Are these symptoms related to Fibromyalgia?
I've had these symptoms since my mid-teens, although the twitching has only been commented upon in the last 10 years or so (I'm 46). Apparently the twitching occurs every 5 - 10 seconds throughout the night, although I'm only aware of it as I fall asleep. The twitches are completely involuntary, I'm unaware of them occurring until AFTER they've happened (unlike intentional movement), it may be a single leg, or arm, my abdomen, and can be a single twitch or a series of twitches in the same body part.
I'm curious as to whether these symptoms fall within the range of those found in fibromyalgia, maybe as part of central sensitisation?
I'm curious as to whether these symptoms fall within the range of those found in fibromyalgia, maybe as part of central sensitisation?
Female
asked Apr 06, 2010 at 09:22PM in Neurology/Brain Disorders
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1VotesFrom what you describe, it sounds like you are experiencing msuscle fasciculation.(or "jumpy muscles").
According to the National Institute's of Health Medline, there are multiple causes for this phenomenon:
-Diet deficiency
-Drug overdose (caffeine)
-Drug side effect (such as from diuretics, corticosteroids, or estrogens)
-Exercise
-Twitches not caused by disease or disorders (benign twitches)
---Often affecting the eyelids, calf, or thumb
---Normal and quite common, often triggered by stress or anxiety
---Come and go, and do not last for more than a few days
These nervous system conditions can cause muscle twitching:
-Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS - Lou Gehrig's disease)
-Damage to the nerve that leads to a muscle
-Muscular dystrophy
-Spinal muscular atrophy
-Weak muscles (myopathy)
Symptoms that suggest a nervous system disorder include:
-Loss of, or change in sensation
-Loss of muscle size (wasting)
-Weakness
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You mention fibromyalgia, which suggests you also experience what you think might be fibromyalgia symptoms. Perhaps you are also thinking of sensory integration disorder?
One area you can investigate for both of these conditions is mineral deficiency, especially magnesium but also calcium and potassium.
.
Here is information on the early and later symptoms of magnesium deficiency, also from NIH's Medline. It goes on to provide dosing guidelines:
Symptoms due to a lack of magnesium have three categories.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002423.htm
Early symptoms:
-Anorexia
Apathy
-Confusion
-Fatigue
-Insomnia
-Irritability
-Muscle twitching
-Poor memory
-Reduced ability to learn
Moderate deficiency symptoms:
-Heart (cardiovascular) changes
-Rapid heartbeat
Severe deficiency:
-Continued muscle contraction
-Delirium
-Numbness
-Seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations)
-Tingling
I hope you find this information helpful. No doubt you're not getting restorative sleep, and it's wise to try remedying this. -
0Votes
answered Apr 20, 2010 at 11:30AMgoose bumps is not a part of the spectrum of fibromyalgia. Goose bumps does occur when there is a shunting of the blood in the microvasculature of the dermis, as when you get a chill, painfull stimuli or fright.-
Excellent point, Gerry. I passed right over that point of the question because I couldn't find any information.Gina Pera commented Apr 20, 2010 at 11:42AM
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0Votesanswered Apr 21, 2010 at 02:22AMHi
I've been told that the twitching is periodic limb movement disorder, which I believe is part of the central sensitivity spectrum. I'm curious about the goosebumps - what does initiate the goosebumps then? Is it entirely peripheral or possibly centrally-driven?
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