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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Hi @cricketlips, Welcome to Connect. It sounds like you've done a lot of research on the symptoms. You will notice that we added to your discussion title to hopefully bring in members with similar symptoms to share their experience. @novajeff mentioned about similar symptoms in another discussion here - Has anyone experienced internal vibrations?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/231053/

Have you seen these two articles on the topic?
-- Brain Zaps Anxiety Symptoms: https://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/brain-zaps/
-- What to know about sleep myoclonus: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/sleep-myoclonus

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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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@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 get brain zaps that seem to be related to acid reflux.

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Can some of these be muscle twitches that are, in a sense, sub-clinical? I had something similar after a back injury was, seemingly healed and stable. For a few years, I'd have what felt like electrical pulses or just something odd and the orthopedist explained that the muscles had spasmed so much and so strongly, for nearly a year, that they could retain a kind of reflex spasm response that loses strength over time.

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I have the same… vibrations when falling asleep or waking up, in my head, chest and sometimes arms…sometimes mild, sometimes all night. I attribute them to cervical nerve compression or stenosis because they appeared around the same time. But now, as my neck improves and the vibrations persist, I wonder if they are related.

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I feel the same. Any new news?

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I had something possibly similar as a child. Sometimes, I'd have a feeling of partial-spinning...a feeling of turning maybe 20° to the right, then 20° to the left. It felt as if it went on for a minute or so, getting progressively slower and fading away. All I remember was that the pediatrician told my mother that it was fairly common and I'd likely grow out of it. And it was fun in a way.

It still happens, maybe once every few years, if I get overtired. An acupuncturist once told me that it's just the body rebalancing energy when the body is at rest.

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@traut4

I have the same… vibrations when falling asleep or waking up, in my head, chest and sometimes arms…sometimes mild, sometimes all night. I attribute them to cervical nerve compression or stenosis because they appeared around the same time. But now, as my neck improves and the vibrations persist, I wonder if they are related.

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Hello @traut4 and @medskush, Welcome to Connect. Here's some information on the topic that may explain what is happening:

"The term for this is sleep myoclonus, or hypnic myoclonus, and occurs when your brain is shifting from one sleep phase to another. The physical ..."
-- Weird Feelings in my Head (Tingly, Brain Zaps, Anxiety) When Falling Asleep:
https://www.sleepadvisor.org/weird-feeling-when-trying-to-fall-asleep/

@traut4 you mentioned cervical nerve compression or stenosis and your neck has been improving but the vibrations persist. Did you have any surgeries or procedures done to your neck or spine? Did your surgeon or doctor have any thoughts on your question?

@medskush it sounds like you have a similar problem with the vibrations when falling asleep or waking up. Have you seen a doctor about your symptoms?

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Hello, I have been looking everywhere for something that has been happening to me but I couldn't find anything, but this thread is somewhat like what I'm experiencing. Maybe someone could give their input on why or what is happening. So sometimes when I sleep for a very long time or don't sleep enough I experience my whole body begin to tingle/vibrate/buzz. It's very hard to explain, but it's not like when your arm falls asleep and it begins to tingle, it's more of a very very pleasing tingling/buzzing. This can happen when I'm almost asleep or if I just wake up in the night and go to sleep again, but it happens when I 'am awake. Also i can kinda intensify it if I close my eyes harder or look up. When you close your eyes hard you can kinda hear it / feel it in your ears and that's the feeling * 100.

Also it's one of the most pleasant feelings I've ever felt, and it might sound a bit weird but it almost feels like an orgasm.

I personally think it has something to do with sleep myoclonus where my mind is awake while my body is being sedated

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Hello @edornton and @zeen8391, Welcome to Connect. It seems like everyone in the discussion has similar symptoms with the tingling/buzzing but no one has found any answers.

@cricketlips started the discussion but has not been back so hopefully will come back and share if they have found some relief and can share what they found out.

Have either of you considered seeking help at a major teaching hospital or health facility like Mayo Clinic?

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