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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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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If things worsen for you, please think of the
possibility of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).

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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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Does sound very similar to my experience. Wondering when this started for you. Was it pre-Covid or was it after you had Covid and/or a Covid vaccinations. This might be a long Covid side affect or a vaccination side affect. Thank you for sharing.

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@rjjb

If things worsen for you, please think of the
possibility of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).

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@rjjb and all...Absolutely. I have early morning tremors, and please notice your going legs when you go to bed and attempt to go to sleep. I have serious Restless Leg Syndrome diagnosed during an overnight sleep study at Mayo Sleep Dept. My legs ache, all the time but especially at night in bed. My feet hurt, my legs have random pain, and I feel the need to move and change positions often, sometimes all night disrupting sleep, unable to get comfortable.

They tested my ferritin blood level and it was 15. That is extremely low and with daily Vitron C iron supplements, it rose in a year to 27. Better, but to attach the Restless Legs, it needs to be around 100+. So, I had 2 iron infusions in March. In April, the ferritin tested 99, and the RLS was much better. She added 1mg of Requip, used for Parkinson's, and my legs settled down, pain and discomfort were greatly lessened and even my daytime walking and lifting my legs improved. As was my entire life. I for the first time in decades had the energy to live the day. What a miracle.

Wow. Now, 8 months later, my RLS is worse again, my sleep is disturbed, my pain increased, and I feel lousy. No energy. Had a ferritin test Monday, and it was 55. Dropped since April about 1/2, going in the wrong way. So, I have 2 iron infusions soon and can't wait to feel better.

I may need infusions regularly as I don't absorb iron nor B12. So, I give myself B12 shots weekly. If I need infusions annually, I'll be so grateful to have them. Happy to get them whenever as they are a miraculous help in giving me a real life.

So, a long way to say, consider RLS.
Be well, be blessed. Elizabeth

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@ess77

@rjjb and all...Absolutely. I have early morning tremors, and please notice your going legs when you go to bed and attempt to go to sleep. I have serious Restless Leg Syndrome diagnosed during an overnight sleep study at Mayo Sleep Dept. My legs ache, all the time but especially at night in bed. My feet hurt, my legs have random pain, and I feel the need to move and change positions often, sometimes all night disrupting sleep, unable to get comfortable.

They tested my ferritin blood level and it was 15. That is extremely low and with daily Vitron C iron supplements, it rose in a year to 27. Better, but to attach the Restless Legs, it needs to be around 100+. So, I had 2 iron infusions in March. In April, the ferritin tested 99, and the RLS was much better. She added 1mg of Requip, used for Parkinson's, and my legs settled down, pain and discomfort were greatly lessened and even my daytime walking and lifting my legs improved. As was my entire life. I for the first time in decades had the energy to live the day. What a miracle.

Wow. Now, 8 months later, my RLS is worse again, my sleep is disturbed, my pain increased, and I feel lousy. No energy. Had a ferritin test Monday, and it was 55. Dropped since April about 1/2, going in the wrong way. So, I have 2 iron infusions soon and can't wait to feel better.

I may need infusions regularly as I don't absorb iron nor B12. So, I give myself B12 shots weekly. If I need infusions annually, I'll be so grateful to have them. Happy to get them whenever as they are a miraculous help in giving me a real life.

So, a long way to say, consider RLS.
Be well, be blessed. Elizabeth

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Thanks for the information Elizabeth. My legs feel heavy and
clumsy when I'm walking. And often start 'aching' when I'm
lying down. I take pramipexole pills everyday, and it does
help me get some sleep. It is NOT a sleeping pill, but taken
for RLS. Good luck to you dear lady, Ron.

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@edornton

Does sound very similar to my experience. Wondering when this started for you. Was it pre-Covid or was it after you had Covid and/or a Covid vaccinations. This might be a long Covid side affect or a vaccination side affect. Thank you for sharing.

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It started before Covid (maybe 6 years ago) but it did seem to be more pronounced after Vaccines. I have had the 2 shot Pfizer and 2 boosters, and have had Covid.

It seems to come and go, and at different levels of intensity.

I sometimes suspect what I eat might be a factor. I do like spicy foods from time to time but have yet to make a direct link to cause and effect.

Possibly dehydration? I am trying to drink more water just before bed.

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I actually went to a neurologist for this very problem. I referred to it as nerve activity to her. The activity seems to be more contained to the lower part of my torso. I have a disc that is slightly bulging and the nerve between my L4 and L5 disc is being pinched plus pain down my sciatic nerve. After several test she labeled it as being Fibromyalgia.

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I have had these internal tremors for years. The first time I noticed them was after my first pregnancy. It turned out I was anemic and b12 deficient. I supplemented and they went away. They came back after my net pregnancy and I was also b12 deficient with low iron. I supplemented and they went away.

Last year I developed POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia) and these tremors returned even though my b12 levels and iron were fine. b12 and iron deficiency cause neurological symptoms such as vibrations and pOTS is a neurological auto immune disease.

Someone in another forum mentioned that it is related to shallow breathing and that possibly makes it worse. I have heard it is related to GERD. I cannot get any answers and nothing helps. I do take clonazepam when it is incredibly bad. I always get these tremors when I am having a poTs flare.

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@whatsshakin

I have had these internal tremors for years. The first time I noticed them was after my first pregnancy. It turned out I was anemic and b12 deficient. I supplemented and they went away. They came back after my net pregnancy and I was also b12 deficient with low iron. I supplemented and they went away.

Last year I developed POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia) and these tremors returned even though my b12 levels and iron were fine. b12 and iron deficiency cause neurological symptoms such as vibrations and pOTS is a neurological auto immune disease.

Someone in another forum mentioned that it is related to shallow breathing and that possibly makes it worse. I have heard it is related to GERD. I cannot get any answers and nothing helps. I do take clonazepam when it is incredibly bad. I always get these tremors when I am having a poTs flare.

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

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@whatsshakin

I have had these internal tremors for years. The first time I noticed them was after my first pregnancy. It turned out I was anemic and b12 deficient. I supplemented and they went away. They came back after my net pregnancy and I was also b12 deficient with low iron. I supplemented and they went away.

Last year I developed POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia) and these tremors returned even though my b12 levels and iron were fine. b12 and iron deficiency cause neurological symptoms such as vibrations and pOTS is a neurological auto immune disease.

Someone in another forum mentioned that it is related to shallow breathing and that possibly makes it worse. I have heard it is related to GERD. I cannot get any answers and nothing helps. I do take clonazepam when it is incredibly bad. I always get these tremors when I am having a poTs flare.

Jump to this post

I've had GERD all my life and am also anemic. This is very helpful, thank you for your input and time.

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