Can internal tremors caused by cervical spine issues?

@rnheidi Welcome to Connect. From your handle, I wonder if you are a nurse? I am a cervical spine surgery patient. I did have cervicogenic headaches and facial pain because spasms were throwing my neck and jaw out of alignment prior to my spine surgery. I hope you do get some answers. You may want to visit the Spine Health group for lots of discussions related to the spine.

I've had the icy cold feeling before. In one of my big toes, in my numb fingers, and I've also had small spots along my spine that have felt cold (and hot). For me, I think it's all related to my OA and PsA.

What did your MRIs show?

I have stenosis in C4-C6. I get terrible cramping in my back, shoulder blades, and ribcage. It's almost like I'm curling up into a painful ball when it happens in my ribs. This happens after overexertion, which; for me, is about the same amount of movement as an unaffected person would make on a given day. I also get frequent charley horses in my toes for the same reason. I haven't officially asked my doctor if it's related, but I'm sure I don't have to. No tremors, but probably just as irritating a sensation. I'd say keep asking until you get to the bottom of it.

Maybe see a neurologist because it could be something neurological and it needs a deep investigation. My cervical nerve root compression causes arm weakness and I suppose can cause spasms like you described but the chills and internal vibration sounds scary and I hope you feel better and get the doctors to look into it. It can take many specialists before finally figuring it out.

I have something a little similar. My whole body will spasm and I sometimes have to let out loud sounds because it is so uncomfortable. None of the doctors I have spoken to have any idea what it is. I am getting very frustrated with the state of medicine and I live in NYC where supposedly we have some of the best spine surgeons. I'm going to go to a Dr at Boston General, head of spine surgery, hopefully he will be more able to diagnose this and help. I also have throbbing in my calf muscles and sometimes up into my upper hamstrings which I've had for six years now. I had laminotomy that helped only for four and a half months.

Hi!
Thank you for sharing your story. I too have been recently diagnosed with DDD and moderate spinal stenosis with c4-c7 disc herniation, bone spurs as well. Lots of tremors and intense internal vibrations. Sometimes they wake me up at night. My journey to diagnosis began with severe radiculopathy pain. I started feeling intense internal vibrations for the first time once my pain improved from 100 to about a 7. I informed the neurosurgeon about it and he dismissed it completely. My pain improved a few days after my first steroid injection, then the internal vibrations became more intense and started also manifesting outward as if I suddenly developed Parkinson's. I'm sure it was the steroids that made them much worse. I also began to notice gait and balance issues and my fine motor skills were getting worse. I called my doctor and was told that I was ok and to go to the ED if I got worse. I also developed other symptoms but no one was able to explain the tremors. I ended up getting a second injection a few weeks later and the internal vibrations got even worse. The external tremors then became out of control and even has movements that were violent like I was being internally electrocuted. I felt like I was short circuiting and the tremors were set off by the smallest touch, movement, or startle. Doctors couldn't explain so they labeled me as having some sort of mental instability and anxiety related because the tremors were "unusual." Neurology dismissed my concerns that tremors started as internal buzzing vibrations and got much worse after steroids and labeled me as having essential tremors made worse by anxiety. Like you, they had nothing to do with my emotions and I was not feeling anxious. I have never had mental health issues or anxiety. My husband even said that he could feel the internal tremors intensely while holding me as I slept and it frightened him. The violent tremors have calmed two weeks after the second injection, but action tremors remain and internal tremors persist. I am still currently fighting the constant questioning of my mental health state because providers are not used to seeing this and labeling me. I feel like I am being gaslit each time I visit a doctor. My brain scan is normal as well. Your internal tremors are real and there is peer reviewed literature that supports it. I am an RN and have done my share of research and still, no one listens. Healthcare professionals need to stop using mental health to explain what they don't understand and do more research. I have been told my canal is congenitally smaller which explains why I am unusually symptomatic, but also being told my symptoms are too severe when comparing to my imaging. Because of that, surgery is postponed and I have to live with these symptoms until I actually lose bowel and bladder. I'm hoping neurology can help validate, but won't be surprised if they refuse to do helpful evolked potential or EMG tests and take the easy route and label me as anxiety ridden as well. I will continue to suggest testing. It's one thing to see patients get unfairly labeled as a healthcare professional, and a whole other experience being on the receiving end. I could write a book! See neurology. Hope they can provide answers. Stay positive and good luck!!