What might be the cause of random Finger Twitching?

Posted by gigiraj @gigiraj, Jul 5, 2019

Hello, just wondering if anyone can give insight onto random finger twitching? Worried that it's early-onset Parkinsons. It's mostly my pointer finger and thumb twitching randomly without me doing it, and when it does I can feel a sensation in the nerves up the arm in question. I've had random muscle pulses my whole life (which I assume is benign fasciculation syndrome) all over my body and have had gastrointestinal problems (kind-of constipation, more like delayed bowel emptying) for six years. I'm only 21 but am worried that this is a sign of early-onset Parkinsons; I know constipation and tremors (is this a tremor?) are early symptoms.

I know I kind of sound like a hypochondriac but I'm desperately trying to find out which tests I should prioritize. I'm not made of money and the possibilities of my conditions are far-ranging. I'm scheduled for an MRI in August but my neurologist didn't even acknowledge the finger twitching when he heard my symptoms. So if anyone has any insight, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

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@jenniferhunter

@gigiraj Twitching and spontaneous contraction can occur because of irritation anywhere along a nerve path from the spinal cord to the fingers and in all the places where nerves travel between muscles, tendon and bones. If this is happening in your dominant hand, pay attention to what increases or decreases symptoms. It may be something like the use of your fingers in texting combined with a forward bent neck position. That's a guess on my part as I don't know your habits, but texting is causing issues in younger people and all of that puts extra uneven pressure on the spine and discs. Over time, poor posture can cause spine problems and degeneration. Some of that is going to happen just from aging, so correcting posture when you are young is a great step toward future health. If I sound like a person who worries about spine health, well that's true. I am a spine surgery patient and learned through my own experience. I had an injury years earlier that with aging caused degeneration of a disc in my neck. I also have thoracic outlet syndrome which causes nerve entrapment in my shoulder and neck and is posture related and partly because of my physical build. A forward position of the neck and shoulders causes more pressure on the nerves. I can have twitching muscles if it gets bad. I also have carpal tunnel, and with all of this and multiple points of nerve compression, it can be complex to figure it out. Sometimes, it is just tight muscles and fascia that pull things out of alignment and put pressure on nerves. I did have a problem with my thumb and index finger that was caused by a spinal injection because of the pressure of the injected fluid. I already had central spinal canal stenosis at the time, and the injection was near the nerve root that innervates my thumb and forefinger. Your neurologist should try to pinpoint if there is a specific location of nerve entrapment or dysfunction. You might want to make a diagram to keep track of the issues and if it changes over time, and what type of symptom you have such as twitching, pain, tingling, numbness, etc. I actually had twitching in several places in my body caused by spinal cord compression because those were the source of the nerves that went to the twitching muscles. I have had spine surgery to decompress the spinal cord which resolved the problem.

It may be a physical issue rather than a disease. Physical therapy can help. There are are PTs who specialize in hand therapy. It helps me a lot, and my therapist also does a lot of myofascial release. We have a lot of information about that and how it helps lots of physical issues in the discussion that you can find here.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

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Wow thank you so much for all this information! That tip about correcting posture is super helpful. I'm going to research all the options (and make a diagram) you listed and follow up with my neurologist about potential nerve entrapment or compression. I'll also check out the link you connected. Thank you so much!

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@gigiraj

Wow thank you so much for all this information! That tip about correcting posture is super helpful. I'm going to research all the options (and make a diagram) you listed and follow up with my neurologist about potential nerve entrapment or compression. I'll also check out the link you connected. Thank you so much!

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@gigiraj you're welcome. I always have to work on my posture too. What helps me is building core strength because it supports everything else. I have a horse, and riding helps me a lot with that, and according to my surgeon maintaining core strength is the best way to support the spine to prevent future problems. I've had the nerve conduction testing too. It was kind of painful and I was glad when it was over. You can still do physical therapy even if the tests do not find a specific problem. Yoga stretching might be helpful too. When you hold a pose and wait, it does release the fascia if you wait long enough. I do a lot of stretching of the front of my chest by laying on a foam roller. It tends to get tight because everything we do has our arms forward. You can also lay on the floor on your back in a T position. Doing that on a foam roller allows the weight of your arms to stretch backward opening up the chest.

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I have the same tremors in my thumb and pointer finger. It was diagnosed as Essential Tremor. The difference between E.T. and Parkinson’s tremor is usually whether the tremors are noticeable at rest or in action. A Parkinson’s hand tremor is usually at rest, and an Essential Tremor is an action or postural tremor. I first noticed it when holding a small jar upright to apply makeup, or holding a newspaper up, or trying to thread a needle. I take Propranolol for it an it does help. It can progress over time, but usually at a small, slow rate. Stress, fatigue, extreme temperatures, and caffeine make it more noticeable. I hope you get the help you need.

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My Dystonia started out with essential tremors and finger twitching. As a kid, I was always dizzy, nervous, hyperactive, light sensitive, and my brain was in a heavy fog. My cognitive abilities were effected. I could not function properly and took jobs that did not take much brain power. My brain was not working properly. I was so sick! Doctors said I just needed SEX, yes SEX! HUH? Then I developed Spasmodic Torticollis that effects sufferers in mid-life. Look into a movement disorder neurologist who knows about Dystonia. A well-seasoned neurologist, and not somebody right out of medical school. Many are still perplexed about Dystonia and do not care to hear our stories. Excuse me, you learn from your patients. I being a RN, with this monster, teach movement disorder neurologists. I give them magazines and they end up throwing them into the trash cans. I end up leaving them in the dust. I've attended nation-wide support groups, started my own support group, been on TV and in the newspaper. I know this monster and how it effects your brain and body movements. It's nearly ruined me.

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My finger suddenly started moving involuntarily while dosing off to sleep. I would be almost asleep then I felt movement like my second pointer finger jumped for no reason. The movement has gone to my arm and head. I will be a sleep and all of sudden my head tries to fly off my neck. I have not said to much about it because it does not hurt. I just get a big surprise when it happens. I can't recall every problem because it is to much. I have been blessed even though it has been hard. Depression. anxiety, loneliness and family has been hard for me. Sorry I get carried away.

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@tigerlilly

My finger suddenly started moving involuntarily while dosing off to sleep. I would be almost asleep then I felt movement like my second pointer finger jumped for no reason. The movement has gone to my arm and head. I will be a sleep and all of sudden my head tries to fly off my neck. I have not said to much about it because it does not hurt. I just get a big surprise when it happens. I can't recall every problem because it is to much. I have been blessed even though it has been hard. Depression. anxiety, loneliness and family has been hard for me. Sorry I get carried away.

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Has your doctor commented at all on this involuntary movement of your finger when you drop off to sleep @tigerlilly? Will you talk more about the movement going to your arm and head and feeling as though your head is trying to fly off your neck?

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Updates! I've started developing parasthesia as I'm lying down to sleep! Super fun stuff! I'm totally not terrified!! More seriously, I've always been able to sleep when my head hits the pillow but now I'm awake for an hour or so because the parasthesia keeps my BOTH arms burning and feeling numb. I'm also kept awake because of the intensity of the internal vibrations, which used to happen only when I was tired or gassy--and even then I'd be able to sleep instantly. There will be times when the tremor in my hands is visible, in both my dominant and non-dominant hand. All in the space of two days!

@tigerlilly I've experienced something similar (tho not as extreme and only in my arm) when my arm will feel like it's about to seize and will jerk me awake. I've managed to schedule an appointment on August 20th after my MRI with the neurologist so that he can identify any nerve conduction tests/EMG/etc. Will update after that.

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@gigiraj

Updates! I've started developing parasthesia as I'm lying down to sleep! Super fun stuff! I'm totally not terrified!! More seriously, I've always been able to sleep when my head hits the pillow but now I'm awake for an hour or so because the parasthesia keeps my BOTH arms burning and feeling numb. I'm also kept awake because of the intensity of the internal vibrations, which used to happen only when I was tired or gassy--and even then I'd be able to sleep instantly. There will be times when the tremor in my hands is visible, in both my dominant and non-dominant hand. All in the space of two days!

@tigerlilly I've experienced something similar (tho not as extreme and only in my arm) when my arm will feel like it's about to seize and will jerk me awake. I've managed to schedule an appointment on August 20th after my MRI with the neurologist so that he can identify any nerve conduction tests/EMG/etc. Will update after that.

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Thank you I have not told anyone except a doctor .

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@tigerlilly

My finger suddenly started moving involuntarily while dosing off to sleep. I would be almost asleep then I felt movement like my second pointer finger jumped for no reason. The movement has gone to my arm and head. I will be a sleep and all of sudden my head tries to fly off my neck. I have not said to much about it because it does not hurt. I just get a big surprise when it happens. I can't recall every problem because it is to much. I have been blessed even though it has been hard. Depression. anxiety, loneliness and family has been hard for me. Sorry I get carried away.

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That's how mine started off. First my finger and then hand tremors but graduated to Spasmodic Torticollis. Usually at night, my neck was better. I had surgery, so I am 90% better. I was desperate, something had to be done! Mine is 100% GENETIC! Having it on both sides of my Mom's family has made me severely sick all of my life since a wee kid. I have truly suffered from this disease which made me do things I would never do if I was normal. Dated bad destructive men, taken jobs that required little brain power, and people noted I had problems. Embarrassed and worried that I may lose my job, I responded that I was okay, but I knew something was going on that I had no control. Back in the 1970s, nobody knew what I was talking about. I have suffered from this monster. This was back in the day when you took pride in your job, no matter how low your job was....

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@gigiraj

Updates! I've started developing parasthesia as I'm lying down to sleep! Super fun stuff! I'm totally not terrified!! More seriously, I've always been able to sleep when my head hits the pillow but now I'm awake for an hour or so because the parasthesia keeps my BOTH arms burning and feeling numb. I'm also kept awake because of the intensity of the internal vibrations, which used to happen only when I was tired or gassy--and even then I'd be able to sleep instantly. There will be times when the tremor in my hands is visible, in both my dominant and non-dominant hand. All in the space of two days!

@tigerlilly I've experienced something similar (tho not as extreme and only in my arm) when my arm will feel like it's about to seize and will jerk me awake. I've managed to schedule an appointment on August 20th after my MRI with the neurologist so that he can identify any nerve conduction tests/EMG/etc. Will update after that.

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@gigiraj I've had these symptoms too, and my arm going entirely numb while I was sleeping on my side, and it was not the arm I was laying on. That was the first symptoms I noticed of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome which is a compression of the nerves and vessels that pass between the collar bone and rib cage as they go to the arm. When we sleep, often our arms are in a "raised" position which causes compression on an already tight area. It causes tinging, arm pain and feeling like I have tight rubber bands around my arms. My hands used to turn blue and cold. I am in physical therapy for this and have had the most success with myofascial release (MFR). Some of the tests for TOS involve listening to the pulse in the neck and raising the arm while turning the head, and the pulse stops. Mayo did doppler tests and also measured blood pressure changes in my fingers with tiny finger blood pressure cuffs. Posture is very important for TOS, and sleeping on your back can prevent arm pain because it helps keep the shoulders back. It gets to be like wearing a straight jacket when your neck and shoulders are tight. Neurologists can diagnose this. There is surgery for TOS, but it can cause scar tissue that makes a patient worse, and my doctor advised against it for me. Here is some information on TOS and our discussion with lots of information about MFR therapy.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353988
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
https://www.painscience.com/articles/respiration-connection.php
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3501918/
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/scientifica/2014/248163/
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/CVC/997ThoracicOutletSyndrome.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4129179/

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