1. < Sleep Health

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 !

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sleep Health Support Group.

Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Dec 27, 2022
In reply to @violinkat "Has anyone tried CBD, CBG or melatonin ? I have worked with meditation audios to help..." + (show)
@violinkat

Has anyone tried CBD, CBG or melatonin ?
I have worked with meditation audios to help fall asleep and de-pathologizing the sensations. Although Remeron helped, the side effects weren’t sustainable. Also noticing some nights where vibrations are not as intense.
Thanks for the on-going discussion. I check these threads every day.

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Here's is the list of the discussions in the Sleep Health support group: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/sleep-health/

There are several different discussions on the different treatments used to help. If you click the link above you can scroll through the discussions or easily do a search of the discussions using a phrase or term to find what you are looking for.

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krismar | @krismar | Jan 1, 2023
In reply to @edornton "Thank you for your comments and information. I am curious as to how many of us..." + (show)
@edornton

Thank you for your comments and information. I am curious as to how many of us started having this issue after either getting the vaccination or having Covid. Mine did start after my third Covid vaccination and I have not had Covid that I know of. But I am nervous about getting the new booster for fear it might worsen my vibrations. Thinking it might be good for me to get an antibody test to see if I have unknowingly had Covid if my doctor will do it. If it was a positive then I would feel it would more likely to have been the infection rather than the vaccination.

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I have had 2 COVID vaccine plus a booster. Also had COVID in June of 22. It’s now December 22 and I’m having this feeling of internal shaking multiple times a week. It happens when I wake up and also when going to sleep. Happens more often when waking though. I’ve been having this feeling for about 12 years. It was sporadic at first and then it basically went away for a few years and now it’s back and happening much more frequently. I had breast cancer 6 years ago and also had a hysterectomy. In addition to shaking upon waking up I also have severe hot flashes when I wake up.

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krismar | @krismar | Jan 1, 2023
In reply to @rubyinparadise "Just updating my original post. The tremors I was having have subsided and I'm now thinking..." + (show)
@rubyinparadise

Just updating my original post. The tremors I was having have subsided and I'm now thinking they were most likely due to the onset of menopause, combined with some pretty severe insomnia being caused by some combination of menopause and anxiety. (Tremors, muscle twitching and insomnia are lesser-known symptoms of menopause, and can also be symptoms of anxiety.)

I've also been experiencing some left arm and hand weakness, pain, numbness and tingling for about 14 months that has not worsened. Sometimes a nerve pain runs down my inner arm and into my hand, thenar side (thumb and first finger most affected). Sometimes I also get numbness and tingling in my left leg and foot, that comes and goes.

Brain MRI came back normal. Cervical spine has some disc degeneration and disc bulges. There's something showing up on left brachial plexus MRIs that is most likely a benign tumor or cyst. Neurologist doesn't seem concerned, as we're not meeting again to discuss it until mid-February 2023, but she did say it could be causing or contributing to these symptoms. In the meantime I went to a chiropractor who immediately did x-rays and confirmed my c-spine and thoracic spine have lost all curvature. So now I'm working in an intensive program to help restore the curve in my c-spine and t-spine. It helps my symptoms so I'm feeling hopeful.
I want to note that the neurologists I've seen don't think that my straight spine syndrome has anything to do with my symptoms of paresthesia which seems bizarre to me. My lower spine has not been scanned as of yet. I'm going to continue with the chiropractic care and home exercises despite the neurologists not thinking it matters or that it will help. It has already helped.

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@rubyinparadise, I had a hysterectomy and both ovaries removed. Also due to breast cancer, I take anastrozole (eliminates estrogen production). I do use estradiol though. I was thinking my internal vibrations may be due to lack of hormones.

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2 replies
krismar | @krismar | Jan 1, 2023
In reply to @whatsshakin "I am a 42 year old female. Very active, vegan, and normal weight." + (show)
@whatsshakin

I am a 42 year old female. Very active, vegan, and normal weight.

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I am also a vegetarian and I get vibrations throughout my body…. Interesting.

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1 reply
rubyinparadise | @rubyinparadise | Jan 1, 2023
In reply to @krismar "@rubyinparadise, I had a hysterectomy and both ovaries removed. Also due to breast cancer, I take..." + (show)
@krismar

@rubyinparadise, I had a hysterectomy and both ovaries removed. Also due to breast cancer, I take anastrozole (eliminates estrogen production). I do use estradiol though. I was thinking my internal vibrations may be due to lack of hormones.

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It could be. My other theories are sleep deprivation and post-COVID syndrome. My vibrations mostly stopped when i started estradiol, but maybe you need to up your dosage? I still twich and jerk a lot when sleep-deprived. Especially in that zone when I'm finally relaxing and drifting off to sleep. I hope you find answers.

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violinkat | @violinkat | Jan 2, 2023

I was taking vaginal estradiol very low dose because I too had breast cancer, double mastectomy, ovaries out and hysterectomy. I was on tamoxifen first 10 years. I guessed the estradiol caused insomnia and stopped taking it to see if that would help w insomnia and anxiety. Then I was given several pharmaceuticals that I think clouded the issues. After coming off of the meds, im experiencing the vibrations more and using some natural sleep/relaxation aids— melatonin and herbal supps.
Wondering if all of these symptoms could be covid related or covid vaccine related. Thanks for your input.

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1 reply
edornton | @edornton | Jan 5, 2023
In reply to @violinkat "I was taking vaginal estradiol very low dose because I too had breast cancer, double mastectomy,..." + (show)
@violinkat

I was taking vaginal estradiol very low dose because I too had breast cancer, double mastectomy, ovaries out and hysterectomy. I was on tamoxifen first 10 years. I guessed the estradiol caused insomnia and stopped taking it to see if that would help w insomnia and anxiety. Then I was given several pharmaceuticals that I think clouded the issues. After coming off of the meds, im experiencing the vibrations more and using some natural sleep/relaxation aids— melatonin and herbal supps.
Wondering if all of these symptoms could be covid related or covid vaccine related. Thanks for your input.

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I also had breast cancer and had an implant. Was on chemo and tamoxifen. Not taking any estrogen. Interesting that most people having the vibrations are women so the possibility of a hormone imbalance cannot be discounted. I haven't eliminated my implant from causing the vibrations either since they are across my thorax.

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1 reply
birdie44 | @birdie44 | Jan 6, 2023
In reply to @zeen8391 "Hello, I have been looking everywhere for something that has been happening to me but I..." + (show)
@zeen8391

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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Great explanation! The same exact thing happens to me. It's definitely a tingling but it's not an unpleasant feeling. It's relaxing.

My sleeping pattern has been off for many years, but once 4-5 a.m. hits, my body begins to "vibe" and "buzz," and it can last for several hours. I haven't found any information on it. The only conclusions I've come to is hormonal changes, which occur throughout the night, anemia or some other vitamin deficiencies, or the lack of sleep causing some type of reaction.

I have a few disorders, and some of them could possibly be nerve issues, but nothing has been substantiated yet. Tests and radiologic and physical has been inconclusive.

Do you have any nerve disorders or vitamin deficiencies?

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enfivey | @enfivey | Jan 9, 2023

I am so glad to come across this answer. It absolutely fits my same symptoms and a very stressful last couple of years, but only recently I have developed this strange body/brain buzzing while falling asleep. This answer makes total sense.
Thank you.

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susu1 | @susu1 | Jan 10, 2023

I occasionally have these vibrations when waking. I have described as feeling like an electric current is running through me. I actually shake slightly from my head to my toes. I am glad to hear it has a name and is normal!

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