Body vibrations when falling asleep or waking?

Posted by cricketlips @cricketlips, Jun 2, 2022

After many google searches for the reason I feel vibration in my head, shoulder and arm just before falling asleep and waking, I found nothing that satisfactorily explained it. Of course anxiety seems to be a common explanation but there was nothing specific enough to help me. I am currently reading Incognito by David Eagleman. It discusses the functioning of the brain as an organ. This morning, going through my routine to get ready for work, I thought of a way to understand the vibrations. Similar to the hypnic jerks we experience occasionally just before we fall asleep, I think the vibrations are intended to arouse me to stay vigilant. Which is the fight or flight mechanism in action. So there is the anxiety connection. Originating in the amygdala. I was thinking Parkinson's or MS but my symptoms don't indicate those conditions, thankfully. It seems counterintuitive to be anxious and sleeping at the same time but the brain can do that. The cerebral cortex sleeps but the life support systems of the brain must stay online, obviously. If you thought you were in danger, sleeping would put you at risk but at some point sleep becomes absolutely necessary. I think the vibrations I have been experiencing are caused by my sympathetic nervous system and not a neurologic disease. Thankfully !

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I have been an insomniac for 50 years and take Temazepam and have taken it for many, many years. I cannot sleep unless I have a sleeping pill (unfortunately).
For the past 2 months, I have what I now call internal tremors in my stomach when I go to bed. I am afraid to take a pill but need it. I would hold my stomach to seee if I could feel the movement but it's on the inside and I am not able to discern U anything. I went to Sleep Medicine doctor to ask about Temazepam long use and, at the time, I just described what I was going through as being "asleep but awake" at the same time. Since then I discovered Internal Tremors and feel that is what i am experiencing.
I have IBS M and wondered if something was going on with my intestines.

I do not drink caffeine because of IBS but I do make a very weak cup of coffee with very small amount of coffee which helps me to have BM.

It's very confusing and it happens every night nos.

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@edornton

I am having a very similar condition. About 9 months ago I started having a vibrating sensation in my upper chest around the area of my collar bones. It would only happen when I was just drifting off to sleep, when briefly waking up during the night, or when waking up. It would never happen when I was awake. It scared me at first so much that I was afraid to even go to bed but over time I realized it didn't seem life threatening and just accepted that it would happen. It happens every single night with no exception. Sometimes it is continuous all night long or comes and goes throughout the night. Having some medical background I ruled out a heart problem (EKG, Stress Test and Chest X ray); most medical issues (normal Hemotology, Chem, B-12 , Blood Glucose an Blood Pressure) and any supplements or medications. I have seen my Doctor and he doesn't know what it is. It happens no matter what position I am in. It always it is same rate but intensity varies during the night and night to night. I can reduce the intensity by stretching and changing position but it only goes away completely when I am fully wake up. I am a female 74 years old, still playing soccer so active, retired veterinarian and not under any stress. Got my third Covid vaccination shortly before signs started and have never had Covid that I know of. I would love to find out what this is and be in any study if one was available.

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I have same exact problem, for 2 months now. Did you ever get any resolution? I do not sleep well anymore…

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@avril799

It is so comforting to hear that I’m not the only one experiencing this! I’ve been scouring the Internet using search terms like “internal head vibrations while sleeping.” But I’ve not found anything that sounds like what I’m having besides what you & an few others are describing on this thread! I am a 43 yo female & this began about 18 months ago. It happened once, was very frightening, and then didn’t happen again for several months. I have not received a single COVID vaccination but I had the DELTA variant. I got very sick but was not hospitalized. I have since learned I am Vitamin D deficient but am otherwise healthy. I did receive the antibody infusion which I believe saved my life. I have found things online that make we wonder if this is a Long-COVID symptom but it literally ONLY happens while I’m in sleeping position—either falling asleep, in a very light stage of sleep in the night, or upon waking up. It came back with increased frequency about 4-6 months ago & is now happening most nights & every morning without exception. I saw a sleep specialist to discuss this tremor along with insufficient deep sleep (per my Apple Watch, which I began wearing to look for patterns during these vibrations). Nothing showed as abnormal during the times I noticed the vibrations but they always stop when I come out of that lightest phase of sleep to check the time. Just as you mentioned, I have never once (thankfully) experienced this feeling while being fully awake or even upright. Mine originates in the base of my skull so I start to feel it in my jaw & lips first. Changing head position stops it temporarily. I’m no longer frightened as I seem to be okay when I’m awake but the sleep specialist seemed completely stymied & that didn’t make me feel great. I did an at-home sleep study which showed some signs of minor sleep apnea & snoring (my husband says I don’t). But maybe it’s too quiet to hear & is causing this tremor somehow. He’s ordered me an on-site sleep study for more info. Perhaps something will be found there.

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Any resolution?

I am 59 year old male, and for past 2 months have had internal vibrations when going calm and about to drift off to sleep. It happens every night and seems to be getting worse. I am having trouble sleeping as it wakes me up what seems like every 15 minutes. Gabapentin helped initially but not so much now.
I have Moderna Covid shot, no booster years ago and contracted Covid years ago without any issues. I felt cruddy for maybe 1 day and worked (from home) the next day. I have neurology appointment soon but not confident I will get a diagnosis. I have been blessed with incredible health my entire life, no meds, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. Just had annual physical- everything fine. PCP doesn’t think it’s MS or PD, because no other other symptoms.

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@cst

Any resolution?

I am 59 year old male, and for past 2 months have had internal vibrations when going calm and about to drift off to sleep. It happens every night and seems to be getting worse. I am having trouble sleeping as it wakes me up what seems like every 15 minutes. Gabapentin helped initially but not so much now.
I have Moderna Covid shot, no booster years ago and contracted Covid years ago without any issues. I felt cruddy for maybe 1 day and worked (from home) the next day. I have neurology appointment soon but not confident I will get a diagnosis. I have been blessed with incredible health my entire life, no meds, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. Just had annual physical- everything fine. PCP doesn’t think it’s MS or PD, because no other other symptoms.

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Interestingly, my vibrations have almost completely ceased. They had faded in severity over time & I haven’t noticed any in months, with the exception of my right hand. I am right-hand dominant, in case that matters—but I have not even the slightest hint of a tremor in my waking life with that hand. Also, I only notice it when I bend it to put it underneath my pillow. I can be sleeping on my side or my back & experience this tremor in my bent arm, either way. So, I’m happy that it’s now limited only to that part of my body & only in that position. I have gone months without these tremors (elsewhere in my body—mostly my neck & head) before they came back, nightly. But, as of now, I am almost completely sleep-tremor-free. I will note that I stopped drinking alcohol since last October-ish, and hadn’t thought about the connection with the tenors stopping, but maybe there’s something there.

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@avril799

Interestingly, my vibrations have almost completely ceased. They had faded in severity over time & I haven’t noticed any in months, with the exception of my right hand. I am right-hand dominant, in case that matters—but I have not even the slightest hint of a tremor in my waking life with that hand. Also, I only notice it when I bend it to put it underneath my pillow. I can be sleeping on my side or my back & experience this tremor in my bent arm, either way. So, I’m happy that it’s now limited only to that part of my body & only in that position. I have gone months without these tremors (elsewhere in my body—mostly my neck & head) before they came back, nightly. But, as of now, I am almost completely sleep-tremor-free. I will note that I stopped drinking alcohol since last October-ish, and hadn’t thought about the connection with the tenors stopping, but maybe there’s something there.

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That’s excellent news! You gave me a bit more hope today. Thanks for the quick response.

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I have internal tremors upon awakening from sleep whether in the morning or from a nap. It feels electrical in nature and lasts only about a minute. My doctor does not seem concerned. Braun MRI shows no abnormality

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Does anyone also have low blood counts, namely low WBC and platelets? Over the last handful of months, I've had low platelets and WBC. I'm currently seeing a hematologist (more to investigate there), and still experiencing internal trem with variable severity. If I haven't slept well, I can usually feel them when I'm in a resting position or on the computer at times during the day. Still occuring mostly around bedtime, throughout sleep and waking. My docs are doing all the same stuff, orders for brain MRI, heart monitor for second time, etc.

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I had low ferritin and am now on an iron supp. Checked for Colon bleeding and nothing.
I get the vibrations more when tired. Feeling better w iron supp.
Keep us posted.
Best to you!

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@violinkat

I had low ferritin and am now on an iron supp. Checked for Colon bleeding and nothing.
I get the vibrations more when tired. Feeling better w iron supp.
Keep us posted.
Best to you!

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@violinkat Thank you. My ferritin has been in normal range so far, but I have a history of anemia from IBD...I'll try adding more iron and see if it helps.

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I have entire internal body vibrations (not external) when trying to sleep, non-stop. Although gabapentin helps some, it makes sleeping extremely difficult. Neurologist has ordered tests relating to small fiber neuropathy. I don’t have any other health issues other than recent cervical stenosis diagnosis.

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