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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@craig007

I have been ordering otc supplements on Amazon for quite some time but they add up fast. Thank you for the info. Any idea how to follow up with this?

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Only income is social security. I was on disability for 2 years and social security started in April. I have the Medicare advantage because I meet income requirements. I also keep some of the medicaid because of income requirements. Medicaid pays my Medicare premium. I've worked since I was 13 years old and paid into social security and Medicare so I don't really consider the medicaid assistance and discounts a hand out. I'm 64 and had it not been for back issues and pinched nerves in neck forcing me to take disability, I'd still be working as a hair stylist. CVS is the pharmacy where otc products come from through Medicare.

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@violinkat

Thanks everyone for the comments and questions.
There must be a commonality.
My vibrations have been going on for years but minimally in my neck and always just as I was falling asleep. I attributed them to melatonin kicking in as I was taking 20 mg. as cancer prevention. However, I was advised by a Dr. to get off of that dosage when my sleep issues started. Then the vibrations got a lot worse!
After a year of doctors and pharmaceutical meds which were very unpleasant, and after getting off of all the meds last winter, the vibrations seemed to be better. I had to go back on mirtazipine at a lower dose, 7.5 mg/night to help with sleep. Vibrations are less than before but are still there. I’m wondering about CNS issues as I was diagnosed with mold toxicity last summer. I have not done the protocol yet but may start that soon. It’s expensive!
So I wonder about melatonin and other hormonal triggers/variation. Also, because I have Hashimoto’s disease, my thyroid has been really variable and I’ve had to adjust my dose 3 times in the past year. Prior to this year my dose was the same for a long time, maybe 8-10 years.
Mirtazipine regulates norepinephrine etc. and so I wonder if hormones are a major player in these vibrations. I have not had a sleep study but think that may be helpful. Also wondering about pulmonary issues. I am a runner and all the the symptoms feel better when I’m exercising. Thank you all for the input. With everyone’s input, we may get closer to a diagnosis than any single doc. alone.

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I researched mold toxicity because I live in mobile home and sure I have some mold because of a once leaky roof. I didn't experience ANY of the symptoms it said were signs of mold toxicity so I'm assuming that isn't an issue for me.

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I have fibromyalgia, and as I’ve aged, waking up is very hard and unpleasant. I have shocks when I wake, like being tazed, but I never had that done to me, so I’m guessing. Now recently, several months, I wake with internal vibrations all over my body, and they don’t stop until I’ve gotten active and don’t feel it. This is very unpleasant, in no way do I have ability to stop it when I’m having a fibro flare up, or otherwise.

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Look into cervical vertigo. My neck has disc issues which is basically arthritis in my neck. I am only 48 so it is not always and older age issue that one might assume. It has been for me very life interfering. Strange vibration when trying to fall asleep at night is just creepy. The daily lightheadedness interferes with many things. WebMD has a very thorough explanation for this. I have been going through this for years and it's effected my life considerably. Get an MRI of your neck. 3 docs I spoke to about my hypothesis had not heard of it yet. You'll need to be your own best advocate. Physical therapy helps if the therapist knows and believes what is going on.

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@hbates218

Look into cervical vertigo. My neck has disc issues which is basically arthritis in my neck. I am only 48 so it is not always and older age issue that one might assume. It has been for me very life interfering. Strange vibration when trying to fall asleep at night is just creepy. The daily lightheadedness interferes with many things. WebMD has a very thorough explanation for this. I have been going through this for years and it's effected my life considerably. Get an MRI of your neck. 3 docs I spoke to about my hypothesis had not heard of it yet. You'll need to be your own best advocate. Physical therapy helps if the therapist knows and believes what is going on.

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Lightheadedness is putting it mildly.

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@hbates218

Look into cervical vertigo. My neck has disc issues which is basically arthritis in my neck. I am only 48 so it is not always and older age issue that one might assume. It has been for me very life interfering. Strange vibration when trying to fall asleep at night is just creepy. The daily lightheadedness interferes with many things. WebMD has a very thorough explanation for this. I have been going through this for years and it's effected my life considerably. Get an MRI of your neck. 3 docs I spoke to about my hypothesis had not heard of it yet. You'll need to be your own best advocate. Physical therapy helps if the therapist knows and believes what is going on.

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I've had vertigo for 40 years. I also have issues with discs in neck and back, since 2000. I've had vibrations since 2019.

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@kelic

Have you lost a loved one around the time the vibrations started? I have vibrations too (heightened nerve tingle or electrical type energy feeling that's vibrating on the body and becomes more intense heightens within the body also) which started after my husband unexpectedly passed ( it's almost been two years ago now). I don't get them every night or all night when it does happen- appx. every 4-6 weeks time frame. I can be asleep and become aware that's it's happening, or it happens right when I'm drifting off to sleep and it fully awakens me. Sometimes it's so intense it's like a tickling feeling which I can't handle 'cause I'm very ticklish (right at my sides and my husband used to tickle me and laugh watching me laugh and beg him to stop). When I do move into another position the vibrations will stop, but sometimes will come back shortly after I go back to sleep ( also will stop when fully awake, but have felt it lightly and briefly when awake a few times). I feel like my husband visits me the reason I get these vibrations. The first time I felt it I was asleep my husband called out to me loud and clear, I didn't awaken but just became aware, then I felt this tingling vibrations and hugging feeling it all was so strong and intense. I used to be scared too (sometimes I still am), just because I felt that I would "see" or experience something I wasn't ready for... By the way I'm 49 years old with no health problems. I'm a licensed practical nurse, and haven't been vaccinated for COVID ( had COVID once July 18, 2022; feeling like I had a cold/sinus congestion for three days, temp 102.0 F.

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Hello, what is the probability of finding a description very similar to my situation.
I also had my father-in-law's death recently from Covid (medical conclusion/report)
and i started to feel strange symptoms even before his death he went to the hospital and was diagnosed with Covid and he died within a few days, the day before going to the hospital he was shaking a lot which doesn't seem like a symptom of Covid to me.
The truth is that everyone in my family started to develop neurological symptoms, my oldest daughter trembles a lot in her hands, one night in the beginning she said her legs were shaking/vibrating a lot and she couldn't stop her legs i thought of Restless legs syndrome!!
My youngest daughter suddenly developed epilepsy .

Me myself (44 years old) started to develop intense tinnitus and dizziness, lack of appetite with weight loss, tremors/vibrations especially in the arms and chest just recently,
also some lack of coordination that comes on suddenly (I thought of MS!!), a total mess.
I went to several doctors from different specialties and nothing was detected... they just detected high ferritin values ​​but the doctor said it was unrelated.
I went to Psychiatrist, neurologist, gastroenterologist and finally otolaryngologist and nothing.
I am not vaccinated only my wife (she developed some vibrations in the armas recently).
I do believe we were all exposed to a neurological agent or it was due to the covid virus.
I also have GERD, and sometimes my throat burns.
I really don't know what's going on and it seems to me that nobody has the solution/idea...
Do you have any news regarding vibrations?
Do you also have ringing in your ears and dizziness?
Have you ever heard of the havana syndrome?
I wish you well.
If you have any news, please reply.

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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’ve been experiencing the same. The internal vibrations started shortly after my first and only Covid booster in January of 2022. In April of 2021 I began experiencing severe anxiety shortly after receiving my first vaccination, and when I got a very mild case of Covid 4 months later the anxiety worsened. As I mentioned the vibrations started about a week after I was boosted in January of 22. I believe the internal vibrations I experience are related to anxiety induced by the vaccine and having had Covid. I have not been boosted in about 16 months and the vibrations are very mild when I do experience them. Ive noticed that they’re more intense a certain times during my cycle and less intense when I am well hydrated. I have a strong meditation practice, I exercise regularly, and eat a balanced diet.

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@luisb1f979

Hello, what is the probability of finding a description very similar to my situation.
I also had my father-in-law's death recently from Covid (medical conclusion/report)
and i started to feel strange symptoms even before his death he went to the hospital and was diagnosed with Covid and he died within a few days, the day before going to the hospital he was shaking a lot which doesn't seem like a symptom of Covid to me.
The truth is that everyone in my family started to develop neurological symptoms, my oldest daughter trembles a lot in her hands, one night in the beginning she said her legs were shaking/vibrating a lot and she couldn't stop her legs i thought of Restless legs syndrome!!
My youngest daughter suddenly developed epilepsy .

Me myself (44 years old) started to develop intense tinnitus and dizziness, lack of appetite with weight loss, tremors/vibrations especially in the arms and chest just recently,
also some lack of coordination that comes on suddenly (I thought of MS!!), a total mess.
I went to several doctors from different specialties and nothing was detected... they just detected high ferritin values ​​but the doctor said it was unrelated.
I went to Psychiatrist, neurologist, gastroenterologist and finally otolaryngologist and nothing.
I am not vaccinated only my wife (she developed some vibrations in the armas recently).
I do believe we were all exposed to a neurological agent or it was due to the covid virus.
I also have GERD, and sometimes my throat burns.
I really don't know what's going on and it seems to me that nobody has the solution/idea...
Do you have any news regarding vibrations?
Do you also have ringing in your ears and dizziness?
Have you ever heard of the havana syndrome?
I wish you well.
If you have any news, please reply.

Jump to this post

I have tinnitus but have had it for years. I have vertigo, had it for years. I have acid reflux but take omeprizole for that. It works wonders. I did wake the other night with throat burning so bad I used chloraseptic spray to numb it. It was fine in a little bit. I did not have the covid shot nor did I have covid. I've not had vibrations for 9 nights straight now, I use nasal cpap 4 hours before I go to sleep. When I have very bad tinnitus, I use the debrox ear wax removal and once got a good bit from left ear. Doctor checked ears and said they looked clear but I was still having tinnitus. Now I have started to put a couple drops of alcohol into each ear and surprisingly that helps some. I've had vibrations since 2019 and I honestly believe mine are from injury to phrenic nerve caused by swallowing a big gulp of air while taking meds one morning. There are many, many people with internal vibrations and in varying parts of body. Mine are in torso area mostly but will move to pelvic area too. I hope somewhere there is someone willing to take on this strange phenomenon. There has to be a common factor.

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@goodwitch

I’ve been experiencing the same. The internal vibrations started shortly after my first and only Covid booster in January of 2022. In April of 2021 I began experiencing severe anxiety shortly after receiving my first vaccination, and when I got a very mild case of Covid 4 months later the anxiety worsened. As I mentioned the vibrations started about a week after I was boosted in January of 22. I believe the internal vibrations I experience are related to anxiety induced by the vaccine and having had Covid. I have not been boosted in about 16 months and the vibrations are very mild when I do experience them. Ive noticed that they’re more intense a certain times during my cycle and less intense when I am well hydrated. I have a strong meditation practice, I exercise regularly, and eat a balanced diet.

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My vibrations started 2019. Had no covid shot nor did I have covid.

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