Women's Health Community

Dear jeepgirl:Amazingly, this question arises at least once a month. I have done MULTIPLE literature searches at the National Library of Medicine site, and other search engines--none of which have ever yielded a conclusive answer. My best GUESS is fasiculations of the pelvic floor muscles. This would be analogous to fasiculations of the muscles of the eye lid. Most of us have had these uncontrollable eye lid spasms ("blephorospasms") at one time or another. The triggers for eye lid spasms are fatigue, caffeine use, stress. Some treatments are pressure applied near to the twitching muscle, or even Botox.

Here is a citation on focal dystonias [involuntary muscle contractions> from the National Library of Medicine site:

Tenn Med. 1997 Jan;90(1):18-20. Links Adult-onset focal dystonias: presentation and treatment options.Esper GJ, Charles PD, Davis TL, Robertson D. Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37212 USA.

Adult-onset focal dystonias (AFD) are common disorders that are often misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated. Their presentation is readily recognized, and botulinum toxin has become the agent of choice for treating these disorders. Most of the focal dystonias include cervical dystonia[CERVICAL MEANS NECK NOT CERVIX IN VAGINA--JHH>, blepharospasm, oromandibular dystonia, spasmodic dysphonia, and limb dystonia, specifically writer's cramp. Their onset is either idiopathic, familial, or post-traumatic, and the pathophysiology of the focal dystonias is not currently known. Local injections of botulinum toxin into the affected area result in chemical denervation of the muscle, resulting in a weakness of the muscles that are involved in the sustained contractions. This weakness alleviates the painful contraction of the dystonia. In this paper we present a case study of the most common type of focal dystonia, cervical dystonia. The etiology in this case was post-traumatic, and significant improvement resulted after treatment with botulinum toxin type A.

For more information on the more severe forms of focal dystonias this website offers a good overview:

www.dystonia.org.uk/about-dystonia-page7541.html

Jeepgirl, if you get a more definitive diagnosis be sure and let us know as this is surprisingly common.

Yours, Jane

have exactly the same symptoms and its driving me mad, its like a vibrating mobile phone before it starts ringing...bizzare! i have recently had a bladder infection so wondered if its something to do with this and also started taking the contraceptive pill 3 weeks ago....like you say its not at all painfull but so annoying.i have had it since sunday just woke up and there is was, please anyone can you help with any answers,,, does get less when i wear loose bottoms but worse when i wear tight jeans.

Thanks to both of you for responding. I would have never guessed that this type of thing gets asked about once a month. I guess I wouldn't have felt silly asking my doc then. Janeythree, I haven't had any type of infections that I know of and I have been on birth control for over 12 years. I can't think of anything that would have caused it except for what the dr mentioned....stress etc. I know when I get stressed my eyelids will twitch just as she described....who would have thought that it could cause such a thing is such an odd place. I hope someone at some point gets to pinpoint a cause. I know it may not hurt or be a life changing thing but it sure is annoying!

Glad to hear someone else is having this problem! I was losing my mind. I mentioned this to my obgyn and she looked at me like i was crazy. The only advice i might be able to offer is that in my case i have ovarian fibroids, endometriosis and a large cyst. I wonder if that might have something to do with this. This is so annoying! When i sit down to relax in the evening or driving in my car, i notice it the most. I hope someone finds an answer!!

Hope yours have stopped!!

Good Day Jane,

I myself have been having the same exact pulsations, but mine is constant it will stop for about 2-3 seconds and then start again. It is driving me crazy, the only time that I don't feel it is when I am sleeping. I know I might be self diagnosing myself but have you ever heard of this possibly being linked to fibromyalgia? I've been doing some research on line based on all of my symptoms. This all started exactly 1 week ago. I noticed feeling light headed along with the twitch but paid no attention to the twitch at first. After a while you can not help to notice (or should I say feel) the twitch. I am planning on making an appointment to see a Dr next week, but with my insurance co-pay being so high I was thinking that it might be better to see a neurologist. I just turned 30 4 months ago and prior to that I had to bury my Mother in June and my grandmother 7 months prior to my mother so I know I have been more than just stressed lately, but I can not even imagine this being caused by stress. Would you be able to give me some advice?

JEEPGIRL,

I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS I WAS JUST READING YOUR POSTING 2 DAYS AGO AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH THIS BUZZING FOR 1 WHOLE WEEK NOW. TODAY I FINALLY JUST BUILT UP THE COURAGE TO WRITE AND WHILE I WAS JUST WRITING I SEE THAT YOU HAVE ALSO WRITTEN A BLOG. HAVEN'T YOU HAD THIS BUZZING FEELING FOR SOME TIME NOW, HASN'T IT BEEN SINCE THE SUMMER OR SOMETHING. PLEASE READ MY BLOG THAT I JUST POSTED A FEW MINUTES AGO TO SEE WHAT I'VE BEEN READING ON LINE

I am also experiencing this and I thought I was losing my mind. I am Peri-menapause, about 1-2 months and didn't see anyone mention this but I just started feeling this within the last week. Some days it will pulsate all day and I timed it to be mild and 2-5 second's at a clip now. They don't hurt and this is not a turn on, it is becoming annoying. the only time I don't feel it is when I am sleeping. I asked my mom and she said she also had this occur but for her it was in the later stages of menopause and for me its the earlier stages. I am not worrying I have something wrong with me and just knowing others are experiencing it is comforting that I am not alone.

Mine started last night. I thought I was going nuts. It is the most annoying thing I've ever experienced. I just couldn't get to sleep and as I write this, it is buzzing every 3 seconds. I'm 70 years old, very active and youthful. Can't figure it out. At least I know I'm not crazy and there are others who have experienced it. I also had to build up the courage to post. Argh!@#! perky

Dear perky: Thanks for posting. In my clinical experience this nerve firing and muscle twitching does resolve without having to resort to Botox or visits to a vaginal floor physical therapist (PT) for pelvic muscle work. You can try decreasing caffeine, stress and fatigue (if present). You can also try applying gentle pressure to the area of the twitching. If it is persistent see your GYN for follow up.

Yours,
Jane

me too ive had it for 3 days now could i be pregnant

Last year I had Kidney stones and I had the same pulsating feeling. I went to the doctor and they prescribed some pills that really help with this issue. I am having the issue again today and I will drink a lot of water to flush out my system... I am assuming it is a small kidney stone. Also anytime I have had a bladder or kidney issue I have the pulsating in my area. It is very uncomfortable. There is medication. Of course God's medicine of plenty of water will flush out the system. I would try that first. Good luck and God bless.

I have also been experiencing the same feelings. It has been really bothering me today and am grateful that I no longer feel like a nut job. I am going to see my doctor to find out what is going on. I will keep you all updated. Jane thank you for your wisdom. I will be looking further into dystonia. Thank God for the world wide web so that we can brainstorm.

Thank you,

cindy

Dear cindy: If you do see a GYN, or pelvic floor PT, that gives a definitive diagnosis would you kindly write us all back? As you have correctly asserted, the use of internet search engines have allowed people with uncommon symptoms or conditions to access additional feedback and ideas.

On a personal note as a clinician, I would sometimes feel like I was "shooting from the hip" in giving an answer. Now it's easy to consult the National Library of Medicine site or review a specialty medical journal on line. The internet has changed the face of medicine for both patients and their healthcare providers.

With Respect,
Jane

Just another 'nut job' here experiencing this same weird twitching feeling all of a sudden. I am 54, healthy, active, no infections, pregnancy, stones, don't take the pill, or have any of the other symptoms that would seem to cause this to start occurring. I am also an early retiree with very little stress in my life. It has been happening for about three days now. As everyone else has stated, very annoying and at first, concerning. So glad I found this post to assure me it's something many others experience. I too will be waiting to see what Cindy hears from her OB/GYN. Thanks for all your posts.

Teresa