What might be the cause of random Finger Twitching?

Posted by gigiraj @gigiraj, Jul 5, 2019

Hello, just wondering if anyone can give insight onto random finger twitching? Worried that it's early-onset Parkinsons. It's mostly my pointer finger and thumb twitching randomly without me doing it, and when it does I can feel a sensation in the nerves up the arm in question. I've had random muscle pulses my whole life (which I assume is benign fasciculation syndrome) all over my body and have had gastrointestinal problems (kind-of constipation, more like delayed bowel emptying) for six years. I'm only 21 but am worried that this is a sign of early-onset Parkinsons; I know constipation and tremors (is this a tremor?) are early symptoms.

I know I kind of sound like a hypochondriac but I'm desperately trying to find out which tests I should prioritize. I'm not made of money and the possibilities of my conditions are far-ranging. I'm scheduled for an MRI in August but my neurologist didn't even acknowledge the finger twitching when he heard my symptoms. So if anyone has any insight, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

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@jenniferhunter

@gigiraj I've had these symptoms too, and my arm going entirely numb while I was sleeping on my side, and it was not the arm I was laying on. That was the first symptoms I noticed of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome which is a compression of the nerves and vessels that pass between the collar bone and rib cage as they go to the arm. When we sleep, often our arms are in a "raised" position which causes compression on an already tight area. It causes tinging, arm pain and feeling like I have tight rubber bands around my arms. My hands used to turn blue and cold. I am in physical therapy for this and have had the most success with myofascial release (MFR). Some of the tests for TOS involve listening to the pulse in the neck and raising the arm while turning the head, and the pulse stops. Mayo did doppler tests and also measured blood pressure changes in my fingers with tiny finger blood pressure cuffs. Posture is very important for TOS, and sleeping on your back can prevent arm pain because it helps keep the shoulders back. It gets to be like wearing a straight jacket when your neck and shoulders are tight. Neurologists can diagnose this. There is surgery for TOS, but it can cause scar tissue that makes a patient worse, and my doctor advised against it for me. Here is some information on TOS and our discussion with lots of information about MFR therapy.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353988
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
https://www.painscience.com/articles/respiration-connection.php
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3501918/
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/scientifica/2014/248163/
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/CVC/997ThoracicOutletSyndrome.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4129179/

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Wow once again, you've provided some amazing resources. Thank you again, so so much. I started sleeping on my back a month or so ago because I kept waking up with my arm completely numb and having to shake it out when I slept on my side. Good to know that's useful.

My neurologist is from Mayo Clinic and you mentioned in one of the links that Mayo Clinic doctors know about TOS so hopefully he can take this into consideration

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@oakbourne

That's how mine started off. First my finger and then hand tremors but graduated to Spasmodic Torticollis. Usually at night, my neck was better. I had surgery, so I am 90% better. I was desperate, something had to be done! Mine is 100% GENETIC! Having it on both sides of my Mom's family has made me severely sick all of my life since a wee kid. I have truly suffered from this disease which made me do things I would never do if I was normal. Dated bad destructive men, taken jobs that required little brain power, and people noted I had problems. Embarrassed and worried that I may lose my job, I responded that I was okay, but I knew something was going on that I had no control. Back in the 1970s, nobody knew what I was talking about. I have suffered from this monster. This was back in the day when you took pride in your job, no matter how low your job was....

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so sorry you had all those experiences but good to hear you're 90% better! Did the dystonia start with finger twitching by itself and no other symptoms? Or did your dizziness/nervousness/etc that you had as a child predate the finger twitching?

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@gigiraj

Wow once again, you've provided some amazing resources. Thank you again, so so much. I started sleeping on my back a month or so ago because I kept waking up with my arm completely numb and having to shake it out when I slept on my side. Good to know that's useful.

My neurologist is from Mayo Clinic and you mentioned in one of the links that Mayo Clinic doctors know about TOS so hopefully he can take this into consideration

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@gigiraj Thanks, and you're welcome. You might ask your neurologist about TOS. I'm sure they will listen and consider it if they are from Mayo. TOS gets missed and misdiagnosed a lot, so to get an accurate correct diagnosis, you need to go to a place that treats it. I have been working on my TOS for years with MFR therapy. I had to stop for a little but for spine surgery, but I am making good progress on the TOS.

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@lisalucier

Has your doctor commented at all on this involuntary movement of your finger when you drop off to sleep @tigerlilly? Will you talk more about the movement going to your arm and head and feeling as though your head is trying to fly off your neck?

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I will be sleeping and all of a sudden I wake up. It feels like my head jerked side to side hard enough to wake me up. There is no pain just waking up from my sleeping. The finger and arm is the same but the finger just jumps once and the arm lifts and drops once. The involuntary movement are random, not often and activate separately. I have been doing this for 10 to 15 years but it is getting worse.

I have developed tingling in my head 2018. The tingling does not hurt. I do not feel bad after it happens. It comes and goes just as fast. It is spreading from my front right side diagonally to the back left side. Recently tingling went down my neck and shoulder. It is worse. Maybe it is related to the involuntary movements.

It could be meds I take 8 or 9 bottles nightly and sleep a lot.

My doctor said if I had a stroke then go to the ER. I do not have any after effects so it must not be a stroke. I do not know what stroke is like. I am having a MRI done of my neck and head in August.

PS: My left leg tends to go numb from bending it when I try to sleep.

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@tigerlilly

I will be sleeping and all of a sudden I wake up. It feels like my head jerked side to side hard enough to wake me up. There is no pain just waking up from my sleeping. The finger and arm is the same but the finger just jumps once and the arm lifts and drops once. The involuntary movement are random, not often and activate separately. I have been doing this for 10 to 15 years but it is getting worse.

I have developed tingling in my head 2018. The tingling does not hurt. I do not feel bad after it happens. It comes and goes just as fast. It is spreading from my front right side diagonally to the back left side. Recently tingling went down my neck and shoulder. It is worse. Maybe it is related to the involuntary movements.

It could be meds I take 8 or 9 bottles nightly and sleep a lot.

My doctor said if I had a stroke then go to the ER. I do not have any after effects so it must not be a stroke. I do not know what stroke is like. I am having a MRI done of my neck and head in August.

PS: My left leg tends to go numb from bending it when I try to sleep.

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Hi, @tigerlilly - wondering how things are going with the finger twitching and the tingling you were having in your head?

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@gigiraj

Updates! I've started developing parasthesia as I'm lying down to sleep! Super fun stuff! I'm totally not terrified!! More seriously, I've always been able to sleep when my head hits the pillow but now I'm awake for an hour or so because the parasthesia keeps my BOTH arms burning and feeling numb. I'm also kept awake because of the intensity of the internal vibrations, which used to happen only when I was tired or gassy--and even then I'd be able to sleep instantly. There will be times when the tremor in my hands is visible, in both my dominant and non-dominant hand. All in the space of two days!

@tigerlilly I've experienced something similar (tho not as extreme and only in my arm) when my arm will feel like it's about to seize and will jerk me awake. I've managed to schedule an appointment on August 20th after my MRI with the neurologist so that he can identify any nerve conduction tests/EMG/etc. Will update after that.

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Hi! I also have internal tremors and finger twitching along with a very stiff neck and muscle spasms in my neck at times. Did you ever find out what is causing your internal tremors?

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@tigerlilly... Sounds to me that you might have Zinc Finger Protein problems There is a gene (ZNF189?) that causes that, OMIM says 603132. Sometimes it is called "Trigger Finger". You may also have multiple disorders that together produce these effects. Even FKTN is a possibility.

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Hello @hrmills1 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect and this discussion. I can see @oldkarl has provided you with some information to consider with regard to your finger twitching and that you are interested in hearing from @gigiraj with regard to internal tremors.

Can I ask when your finger twitching started and if you have ever been seen for it?

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Hi I also need help with my fingers tremor. New to the group. @hrmills1 I hope my situation will help. About 3 years ago, I noticed my pointer finger right hand was trembling on the steering wheel when ever I was turning it. It was super crazy! My dad died from complications of Parkinsons so I was worried I might have it. It led me down a bunny hole! I had several consults but the Dr. I valued his opinion told me that this could just be a "benign essential tremor". I had DNA testing done thru a hospital and I did not come out with any genetic mutations/variants. I also learned close to that time about a year ago, that I had a moderate case of RA which explains body stiffness and hyperthyroid which causes shaky hands if not treated. Although, my finger twitching did progress to a hand tremor only when moving, I have done nothing about it. It's only off and on. It doesn't bother me at all. If it gets worse, than I will see the neurologist I had liked before. I will also ask him about nerve function testing too. I hope this helps! I totally understand what your situation is. 🙂

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I have autonomic small fiber neuropathy and have experienced finger fasciculations as well as fasciculations elsewhere. Gastrointestinal issues are also a symptom of AN. I recommend discussing with your neurologist. I wish you well and that answers may be forthcoming.

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