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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@sjholden

Just a thought on whether this is a reaction to the COVID booster. My thought is no. I've been having these symptoms literally for years before COVID. There is no consistency with which part of my body it affects. I've also had all the neurological testing for things like MS or Parkinson's and, the good news is that it is not neurological. The bad news is that all conclusions seem to indicate that it is anxiety.

I will say that I've modified my diet a bit to be gluten-free and sugar-free. The jury is still out, but I am feeling better in general and hoping this will result in better sleep!

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I'm around that same age. I doubt it's anxiety. Glad I'm not the only one trying to get to the root of this. Trying some herbs to see what results. Keep you guys updated.

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@sierrafiedeffect

This started for me a couple months after having COVID but prior to receiving
any COVID vaccines.

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Any updates, are you still having symptoms?

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It still happens from time to time but never when I'm fully awake. I sure don't want to jinx it but it's very rare it happens as long as I continue to take my vitamins. I've also stopped drinking alcohol altogether.

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Did you determine what causes it? I experience the same.

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@waynehannum

I am having the same thing happen to me at night...but not every single night and of differing intensities and durations.. Vibration/buzzing/tingling mainly around the chest and collarbone area. Seems like around the same time between 1am and 4am. Sometimes I change my position and they go away, other times I have to get up and walk around until they will subside enough to go back to sleep. I am a 69 year old male and live a pretty heathy lifestyle although I do have a couple cocktails before dinner. This never happens during the daytime.

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Same here. Same time. Same part of body. Every night. Any answers yet?

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Hi @vitaminnd, I saw your last post here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/751014/ and wanted to ask you if you still have the vibrating or did it finally go away after taking the supplements suggested by your neurologist? Are you able to share what supplements were suggested for the neuroinflammation?

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@blueempath

Same here. Same time. Same part of body. Every night. Any answers yet?

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No answers yet. Mine are not every night and sometimes subside for a few days.
I see something on here about supplements so IDK

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@johnbishop

Hi @vitaminnd, I saw your last post here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/751014/ and wanted to ask you if you still have the vibrating or did it finally go away after taking the supplements suggested by your neurologist? Are you able to share what supplements were suggested for the neuroinflammation?

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Thanks John for asking about this. I would love to know what supplements the neurologist recommended. My doctor laughed when I asked about seeing neurologist, he's really not taking this seriously and frankly just doesn't understand it and is in the dark just like everyone else I guess at this point. I continue to have vibrations anytime I sleep. Very frustrating. I'm praying one of these national long hauler clinics figures out something in the not too distant future.

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@arthur57

Thanks John for asking about this. I would love to know what supplements the neurologist recommended. My doctor laughed when I asked about seeing neurologist, he's really not taking this seriously and frankly just doesn't understand it and is in the dark just like everyone else I guess at this point. I continue to have vibrations anytime I sleep. Very frustrating. I'm praying one of these national long hauler clinics figures out something in the not too distant future.

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Hi @arthur57, It looks like @vitaminnd only posted the one time in Sept 2022 and may no longer be following Connect. I did find some possibilities that you can discuss with your doctor or maybe a pharmacist.

"What supplements reduce neuroinflammation?
Vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, and riboflavin are key dietary antioxidants which simultaneously protect against excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation."
--- Micronutrients May Be a Unique Weapon Against the Neurotoxic Triad of Excitotoxicity, Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation: A Perspective:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8492967/

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I've had the vibrations for years when I'm sleeping or just awakening. They are in my chest. I'm thinking that my heart is fluttering. Perhaps beginning of stable angina??? Anxiety?? Anyone?

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