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Body vibrations when falling asleep or waking?
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 also experience this buzzing during waking moments. It seems to center around my upper chest/abdomen and mostly only happens after I’ve been asleep but not yet fully awake. It is a very alarming sensation, usually it occurs for 3 seconds and stops, then 3 seconds again and stops, this pattern repeats until I choose to wake up or fall back asleep fully. I as well experience a noise when closing my eyes harder than normal, a user above referenced, but that has always happened while awake. I’ve seen multiple doctors and was referred to a neurologist who was very hateful and not helpful, and that’s where my journey ended. This didn’t occur prior to contracting Covid however I don’t know if it’s related. I’ve read both articles regarding Brain Zaps and Sleep Myoclonus and neither of these point to my experience. I would love to know the cause and how to treat.
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1 ReactionHey there, @edornton . I'm a 31 M, and I had a bad reaction to the Covid vaccine myself. I recieved my first dose in June, 2021. Within 24 hours I began experiencing severe spine pain, numbness over the whole of my right-upper back, and sharp chest pain which led me to go to the E.R. Since then, I've developed a long list of new symptoms, many of which are neurological. One of the neurological symptoms being the vibrating when falling asleep and waking up. I've been experiencing this symptom every day for atleast a year now. For me, it's a rapid, rhythmic pulsing sensation I feel going from in my head through my arms and legs.
I've been seeing a neurologist for about 9 months now. Based on some imaging, my neurologist identified that I have a high levels of neuro-inflammation in my brain. They didn't find any lesions or growths.
I imagine the vibrating is either due to the neuroinflammation; whether that be a disruption or damage to my nerves, brain, or maybe a disruption in dopamine production.
Under the guidance of my neurologist, I've been taking a pretty hefty list of supplements and medications to help reduce neuroinflammation. At this point, most of my symptoms have either disappeared or significantly improved. The vibrating when falling asleep/waking up still persists, along with severe brain fog 24/7, but hopefully it will all stop with time and as I continue to work to reduce inflammation in my body.
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2 ReactionsI have had vibration in my body for I believe about 18 months now. While I can't speak to anyone else's experience for me it is NOT muscle twitching or over activity etc. that would be in line with myoclonus. It only happens when I lay down to go to sleep and when I wake in the morning for the first few minutes (that I'm aware of). Mostly in my extremities. I liken the feeling more to the vibration you would feel if you put your hand on a refrigerator when it is running... a humming. More intense some times, less so others.
I haven't been to a specialist as of yet. In the beginning it was upsetting but now is the new normal. Most Doctors I have spoken to have just said they've never heard of that. I've requested and have been referred for a sleep study as a starting point.
That timeline does coincide with when I began began receiving the Covid 19 vaccine and I would agree that since that time I have had the issue with vibration and inflammation and joint pain, but correlation doesn't always mean causation. However I never had either of these issues previously. I have been put on a couple doses of steroids for the pain during that time.
Wish everyone the best in their healing.
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3 ReactionsHello, this has happened to me like twice a year for a long period of time. I am 43 now and after not having this experience for a while, it started again 3 weeks ago. First time during these 3 weeks, happened around 3am while awake and trying to fall asleep again. It starst with a half spinning and the buzzing/vibration starts right after if I allow it, because I can control it. If I open my eyes, it stops and if I want it to continue I just need to close my eyes. It always happens when lying on my back. I like the sensations, but at the same time I concerned why this happens. Have you found out something else relating with it? Thanks so much.
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3 ReactionsWelcome @cifuentes, While you wait for @zeen8391 to respond to your question, I thought I would jump in since you mentioned this started twice a year for a long period of time and then stopped. Then it started again 3 weeks ago.
Was there anything different that you were doing during the interval when the symptoms were not occurring? Have you discussed them with your doctor?
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1 ReactionHello,
This is very comforting to know this type of thing is happening to others. I started experiencing these vibration sensations maybe 8 weeks ago. Never experienced this sensation before. I had the covid vaccines and 1 booster and also had Covid at the end of June this year. The first time it happened I thought it was heart palpitations or going into Atrial fibrillation it felt kind of like a fluttering. After having it happen a few more times I started checking my pulse to see if that was the issue but my pulse was normal. I work night shift so it only happens to me on my nights off. I think thats because when I work and sleep during days I take sleeping aids and maybe Im in a deeper sleep or fall asleep faster. It happens when Im falling asleep and right when Im waking up. At first I would only experience when laying on my side. After a while on my side and on my back….now I feel the sensation in any position I lay in. Also it increased in frequency it used to be once in a while and only one occurrence per night. I’m currently up right now @ 3:17 because it was happening every few minutes for the past hour. Its disturbing to me and I really dont like it. Does anyone have the urge to stretch after it happens? A few times my body got the immediate urge to stretch. Just feels good to know Im not alone even if there is no diagnosis. Is anyone thinking this might be related to something with the Covid vaccine or Covid?
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4 ReactionsWelcome @shaymomof3, You are definitely not alone. I haven't had the symptoms happen to me but have read the posts of others to know that there are many members discussing the same symptoms.
I shared a couple of links earlier in the discussion that I thought might be helpful in case you or others did not see them. @novajeff mentioned about similar symptoms in another discussion here – Has anyone experienced internal vibrations?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/231053/.
— 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
Have you discussed the symptoms with your doctor?
Thanks for those links. Im pretty sure what I’m experiencing is a little different. From what I was reading from the other people was that the shaking or twitching is an external thing that you can physically see. My symptoms are totally internal and cannot be seen when this happens. I’m happy to hear if anyone has any solutions or finally in the future may get a diagnosis. I haven’t seen a doctor but I will in the near future. Im really not interested in having LP, biopsies or anything invasive like that because its not causing me any discomfort more just a bit of anxiety. I appreciate the links though. Thanks again.
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5 ReactionsWhen mine first started happening I also thought about my heart but quickly ruled that out with monitoring. I also usually always stretch and change position in bed even though they come regardless of what position I am in initially. While stretching and moving it also makes me more awake and being awake makes them go away temporally until they come back as soon as a drop back into falling asleep mode. I find comfort knowing others are having similar experiences. Mine started after my second Covid vaccination (I never have had Covid that I am aware of) but that may just be a coincidence. Thanks for sharing
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5 ReactionsMake sure you are taking a daily vitamin. It seems to help a bit with mine. I've also found that the more I partake in something that suppresses my central nervous system such as drinking alcohol or taking daily top dose of NSAIDS like Aleve, it happens more frequently.
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3 Reactions