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Why Is My Arm Twitching!? An Inquiry.

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Biology 103
2005 Second Paper
On Serendip

Why Is My Arm Twitching!? An Inquiry.

Matthew Lowe

For several days now, and as I write this paper, a muscle in my left forearm has been twitching vigorously on a regular basis. It is not painful, but I am always able to feel it while it is happening. In general, an episode of spasms begins suddenly and with great rapidity; about ten contractions per second. It then usually slows to irregularly-spaced single spasms, with the occasional double-twitch. All individual spasms are very quick; the contraction and release taking a fraction of a second. The twitch is visible: it appears that a narrow section on the right side of the large anterior muscle (the one that lifts the wrist) is being pulled forward about a quarter-inch. The visibly affected area extends over the inner elbow and about four inches up the upper arm. I had originally attributed the twitch to caffeine or stress, as I find that my left eye twitches in a similar way during periods where I am forced to drink lots of coffee and skimp on sleep. However, for the past few days I have consumed no caffeine and gotten a reasonable amount of sleep. I got some light exercise, and was moderately nervous for a musical performance last night. One possible strain on my left arm was a pain in my wrist from probably straining too hard, playing guitar for a more extended period of time than I am accustomed. Extensive stretching, massage, and more aggressive tactics have done nothing to slow the spasms, indeed, direct pressure on the area will not even stop spasms as they are occurring.

The first step in diagnosing this annoying and increasingly distressing affliction seems to be to determine what is actually twitching. It seems that only the muscle itself has the ability to actually move a part of the body, but of course muscles respond to nerve impulses. Could ligaments or tendons be malfunctioning and triggering these movements? It appears that this would not be the case, as ligaments merely connect bone to bone and tendons muscle to bone. They are made of soft collagenous tissue, and classification of these tissues are based on stiffness of the "crimp" of the tissue and its resistance to load under pressure (1). These characteristics do not seem to suggest the capability of autonomous movement. The same is the case for actual nerves. The action, therefore, must be in the muscle. Something, therefore, is triggering the irregular bonding and release of myosin heads to the actin filaments. This action is also, at a certain level, uncoordinated, because though the movement of the actual muscle is large, there is no visible translation to a bone, moving a limb. Perhaps the "power stroke" of the muscle is so short, and in a small enough section of the muscle that it overcomes the deformation curve of the tendon. However, the timescale of this phenomenon is far shorter than the muscular action I am experiencing. Perhaps the muscle in question serves another purpose. The two strongest possibilities for identity of the offending muscle, based on the line the spasms trace, are pronator teres or the flexor digitalum superficialis (2). There is little reason to suspect the second, as it is a deeper muscle, and much more of it would likely move if it were to misfire. The pronator teres appears exactly the proper size and shape. This muscle originates at the Medial epicondyle of the humerus and at the coronoid process of the ulna, and inserts at the middle of the lateral surface of the radius. In other words, at the very bottom of the humerus, a few inches down the ulna, and between them on the radius, respectively. The muscle pronates and flexes (rotates and bends) the forearm at the elbow. Though it appears that the bulk of forearm flexion is performed by the Brachialis, most pronation is done by the pronator teres, further confusing the question of why my arm remains still when the muscle twitches (3). The muscle is innervated by the median nerve, a common site of nerve compression and repetitive stress syndromes. There exists a pronator teres compression syndrome, but it is fairly rare and its symptoms include pain in the area, weakness in the hand, certain types of palsy in the fingers, and do not include twitching of the muscle (4). None of these apply to my situation.

A visit to a medical reference site querying "muscle twitch" yielded information I had assumed at the beginning of my inquiry. Barring neurological disorders such as Lou Gehrig's disease and Muscular Dystrophy, causes of muscle twitching were simple: caffeine, excessive exercise, stress, a diet deficiency. The former three I was willing to rule out in my situation, but it is possible that there has been a deficiency in my diet. Returning to institutional food has greatly increased the proportion of meat in my diet, which had been significantly reduced during the summer, and it seemed particularly high in the past week. Further research suggested that spasms and cramps could be caused by a calcium deficiency resulting from high protein or phosphate intake. A deficiency in pantothenic acid (Vitamin B) were pointed to as a cause, but several prime sources of the vitamin were part of my diet in the period in question. A high Magnesium-to-Calcium ratio in the body was another cause. It is true that most recently, green vegetables and legumes, the major sources of magnesium, had not been in adequate proportions in my diet, but this would presumably result in, if anything, a low Mg/Ca ratio Consuming foods containing lactic acid was pointed to as a possible strategy (6). In the end, it was unclear exactly what could be done on a dietary level to correct this ratio, as consuming more of one mineral would block absorption of another in a complex web, and it would be impossible to be certain of the proportions in my body without knowing the proportions in the foods I ate, without having kept careful track of what I had eaten in the period in question.

Would there, then, be anything that could be done in the short term? It seems to stand to reason that the malfunction of myocin in the muscle would be triggered by the synapses of a nerve going haywire. Is there any way that the functioning of a cluster of nerve cells could be directly impacted? A relationship between electrical pathways in the body and acupuncture came to mind. Most charts of acupuncture meridians that I was able to find related the acupoints to organs, as opposed to specific muscles or limbs, which seemed like a dead end. This was interesting, however, as it was indicated that Eastern medicine traditionally conceived of disease as a collection of symptoms rather than a unified state of the body, which would suggest that their treatment strategies would target various body aches outside of the major organs in the trunk or head (8). Another article indicated that "The change of electric activity is part of signal transduction and can precede anatomical change," but that some electromagnetic patterns in the body mapped by a SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) are consistent with the meridian system, but not necessarily "any major nerve, lymphatic, or blood vessel" (9). The author goes on to note that "An "annealing" mechanism may play a role in acupuncture and related techniques: Small perturbations at singular points elicit a "shock" to the system - activates and shakes the biological system out of its abnormal and unstable state. After activation, the system has a better chance to settle at a normal, more stable state." It seems likely that acupuncture could have an effect on my own particular malfunction, if it is in fact related to the electrical impulses in the muscle, but it seems that to find out exactly how would require the involvement of a specialist, or, as the web seems to indicate, the purchase of a book.

In the end, this particular spasm episode will likely soon come to an end, but a few questions still remain unanswered in my mind. First: if, for instance, the spasms were caused by a nutritional deficiency, why would that macro deficiency manifest itself in one section of the body for an extended period of time? Second: another article outlining the system of nerve impulses involved in a reflex reaction demonstrated the level of communication necessary to return a reflex impulse to its point of origin. What if my left pronator teres or its median nerve thought that it was receiving an impulses and was actually responding normally? If so, what could this false impulse have been caused by? Most of my confusion arises from the specificity in manifestation of a generalized explanation. What is so different about this particular assembly?

1) Notes for a U-Michigan biomechanics course

2)Contents of upper limb and back, drawings of macro anatomical assemblies

3)Upper Extremity Muscle Atlas

4)eMedicine, Hand and nerve compression syndrome overview

5)National Institutes of Health, NIH Reference Site

6)Acu-cell, Nutritional causes of muscle spasms and cramps

7)Acu-cell, nutritional mineral ratio primer

8)The Med-Com Resource, Acupuncture primer

9)The Meridian System and the Mechanism of Acupuncture, Article on acupuncture research



Comments made prior to 2007
i'd be very interested to know what your final conclusion is. i've just had this same phenomenon start approxiamately three days ago. as you said, it doesn't hurt...it just makes me stop and take notice. i hope it's nothing. my activities/habits have not changed one iota ... Scott, 6 September 2007

Comments

Anonymous (not verified)'s picture

Expert advice,

Hi there, I've been doing some research on this matter, and the problem is that your diet is unbalanced.
The only problem is, is that you need to find out what your having too much or too little of.
With me, I had NO fruit in my diet, absolutely NONE.
So I started eating some fruit and my arm still twitched.
I was thinking, " why hasn't it stopped!"

The point is is that this twiching shouldn't last longer than a week :D

Marissa's picture

mine has lasted about a year

mine has lasted about a year now

Anonymous's picture

My Story

You're right, it has to be caused by an unbalanced diet. Right after my wife and I got divorced, I started to get depressed and un-motivated, therefore not keeping up on certain daily activities, as well as not eating correctly. I noticed after awhile my left arm/wrist area had decent sized twitching going on, and for a few weeks.

So I had consulted my doctor, who took a diagnosis, and I had told him what had happened the prior few months. My doctor then told me it was because of my irregular/unbalanced diet, lack of excercise, and being on the computer for prolonged periods of time. I won't go into the details of how exactly this affects your nerves, because honestly, I forgot.

Anyways, after the whole "arm twitching" saga, I've been eating more necessary nutrients, vegetables, etc., and also picked up my excercising. Now, even though it wasn't too big a deal, I am twitch free and more full of life.

Anonymous's picture

I know that when your eye

I know that when your eye twitches its a signifier of a potassium deficiency but other than that ive got nothing. Hope that helps some.

Anonymous's picture

Eye Twitching

You might have an irritated nerve in your neck area. See a chiropractor if you wish to go that route.

Anonymous's picture

muscle twitching

I am glad to know that I am not alone out there. My muscles have been twitching and flipping out for a few years now. My arms, left and right, legs, calf and thighs, lip sometimes, just go haywire and twich for hours at a time. Right now, my left bicept has been twitching regularly for over a week. I wish I knew what was causing it or how to make it stop. It usually dosent keep me from sleeping but is it is truly anoying. I have talked to my doctors and they have no clue. In fact, they really dont take the thing very seriously at all and that is frustrating to me. Maybe we should start the National Twitchers Club and build our website for twitchers only. Maybe even get government grants to find a cure. A cure for the chronic twitcher. Is there even a medical term for this? All I know is that it drives me crazy and I wish it would just stop. Is this something I will jsut have to live with the rest of my life? Will it get worse over time? Has anyone ever thought about using anti-siezure medication? Ill check back on this page in a few and see if there is a response. Thanks

Anonymous's picture

twitching

try ISAACS syndrome...

worried sick's picture

twiching everywhere

I feel movement in different parts of my body also.....is it twiching? I dont know how to call it anymore.....started last year, it just to be once in a blue moon....now is everyday, a few times a day in different places, calf, arms, legs, the side of my stomach, buttocks,,,,,sometimes it feels like a wave inside of me.....:(....

Anonymous's picture

twitching in my left thumb(at the base)

keeps doing it off and on.Does it alot for hours then stops eventually for a while then starts up again.I have had other muscles do it before and it is annoyihng and doctors wont do nothing if it aint a disease.We should start a awareness for this and put out the word.

Anonymous's picture

arm muscle twitching

Sorry to hear so many are having this problem. My left arm twitching started about 3 weeks ago and as others have said its not painful but keeps me from falling asleep. I saw my Dr today and he diagnosed it as a form of tennis elbow probably due to a repetitive action such as snow shoveling or playing my new short backpacking guitar or the vibrations from a snow-blower. He recommended a heat pad on the arm right before sleep to increase blood flow to aid healing. He saids that he had it also from cross country skiing on cheap skiis. He also said to use one of these neoprene elbow braces to help hold in the heat.. again to increase blood flow while exercising. Hope his advice works. He said to expect it to last up to 2 years. That how long it takes to heal these tears.

Anonymous's picture

my right arm has been twitching since yesturday morning!!!! rrrg

My right arm has been twitching since yesturday morning! But today its worst!! It twitches at a certain place on my right arm and it does it so hard that my whole arm moves.It doesnt always do it at the same place but at the same area! its sooo annoying and i dont want it to still do it tomorrow rrrg... But i am very use to twitching because it's been prob 1 or 2 years that i've started with the twiching..at first its kinda cool when you feel it with your fingers and when you see it jump but then after a while its like "ok STOP!"

anyways...i love seeing that some other people twitch 2! haha

Anonymous's picture

My Arm

I tried drinking...you know alcohol...arm still twiches and I wake up with a bad hangeover...but I did finally pass out.

Anonymous's picture

Arm twitching

I have this too. I also have eylid twitching on rare occasions, and lip twitching (elvis style!). It was pointed out to me a long time ago that such things are related to stress.

Thinking about my life at the moment and that i am prone to feeling stressed now and then, I can concur with the diagnosis! Lack of sleep (caused by stress) and a shody diet do not help!

The most annoying thing for me, as someone has pointed out here already, is that it can occur at night time seriously affecting the one thing that you need to combat stress, sleep!

I had a bout last night, and find if I sleep on my arm it can help, although this is very uncomfortable. First thing this morning, after a very rough night it started again.

A better diet, more exercise, and relaxation is the most likely cure.

NOTE: I am not a doctor and have no medical training. The opinions here are my own and other information is gained from discussion with non-qualified people. If you are concerned about this or symtoms worsen you should contact your GP/MD.

Dr. Pepper's picture

Uncontrollable lip twitching

my wife seems to have the same problem as you. She has a problem with both upper and bottom rapid lip twitching that occurs when she consumes alcohol. Seeing that she is a bad alcoholic and diagnosed with alcoholism, her lip twitches occur regularly. the worst part about it is that they both twitch at night. i wake up in the silent of the night thinking someone is driving a boat in my bed or someone applauding. I have brought my alcohoic wife to doctors and they cant seem to find a cure or a solution. After my visits to several doctors with no answer to the terrible lip twitching problem, i took matters into my own hand. I researched but could not find any medical cures. But, after hearing my wife's constant motor boat lip clapping sounds in the middle of the night, i came up with a simple solution. DUCK TAPE. every night she takes her drunk ass to bed, i apply several layers of duck tape accros her left cheeck to her right. now i can finally sleep in peace without the sound of an F-150 pulling up next to me.

Anonymous's picture

SAME THING...LEFT ARM AND

SAME THING...LEFT ARM AND EYELID TWITCHING. DID YOU EVER GET A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS. GUILTY OF STRESS,BAD DIET, AND CAFFEINE.
PERPLEXED

Anonymous's picture

Glad I'm not alone!!!

My eyelid and left arm have been twitching for a week now...and my arm keeps waking me up!! I've never had this happen...haven't changed my diet or exercise habits so I'm thinking it must be stress. Crazy what it can do to your body!

Dirty's picture

Same, I also have a bad

Same, I also have a bad diet, loads of caffine and stress also it usually only happens when i'm at the computer for long periods of time but once it starts it lasts awhile, i think it has to do with repetition of keyboard strokes, mouse clicks or holding your arm in a certain position for extended periods. Just take a few day break from whatever repetitionous thing your doing it should go away.

mk's picture

At least its not my lid this time!

This is happening to me right now! my left upper arm mucle is twitching. it does not hurt but its annoying. I think its because i have been run down lately and its coneected to my nerves, my eye lid usually twitches when im run down and it looks like im winking at people when i am not, lol so really im greatfull its just my arm this time.

Anonymous's picture

Same with me!

I have had a terrible time trying to sleep ALL WEEK because of my arm twitching! If anyone comes up with any solutions, let me know.

Anonymous's picture

I cannot sleep at all

I cannot sleep at all because the part in my left arm between my shoulder and forearm will not stop twitching!!! I'm currently on my ipod looking up ways to stop the twitching because its almost 2 in the morning! I know no one is going to reply to me in the next 2 minutes but for future reference please help! I was smiling because the causes that you named are exactly my case! I regularly eat cereal (with milk) and recently we ran out of cereal so there is my calcium deficiency, after running out of cereal for breakfast I've been eating eggs. And actually this whole week eggs have been my snack! So that was hilariously accurate, and then after we ran out of eggs I just skipped breakfast. Also whenever my school runs out of salads I just don't eat. So now that we know why this annoying nusience is happening, and my mom went grocery shopping today, all that's left is: how do I make it stop so i can sleep?!?!

Anonymous's picture

Arm twitch that prevents sleep

My solution: get my husband's TENS machine from his shoulder surgery and apply the pads ALL on top of the twitching muscle. Turn the sucker up until I feel like my hair is going curly, and leave it on until I can't stand it any longer. It temporarily makes my hand numb and hurts like a BLEEP, but the second I take it off, the twitch is gone. I've used it three times and gotten ten days of relief out of it each time. I know that I have cubital tunnel syndrome, so mine isn't dietary and all the docs say it's not treatable. Until somebody figures out a cure, I'll keep mildly electrocuting myself so I can sleep!

Anonymous's picture

arm spasm

you got a laugh out of me. thanks for making me feel better for a little bit. i have four months of arm/nerve/spasm pain already. i should find myself a tens unit and start mildly electrocuting myself, too.:-)

Yuki Souma's picture

My arm twitching

my arm has also been twitching, my boyfriend and i cant find much about it. it just starts twitching out of the blue and gradually stops and it doesn't hurt

all i know is it is probebly a nerve of some sort.....

Anonymous's picture

My arm has been twitching

My arm has been twitching recently too! It doesn't hurt at all but it gets pretty annoying after awhile. It won't do anything for about 3-5 hours, but then out of nowhere it will just start going again. Actually, this all began with my right arch twitching a few weeks ago. It stopped a few days later and then moved to my arm the week after. I don't think it's anything too serious. I figure I'm just tense and need to get a good massage.

When I started reading you're post I laughed so hard because it's exactly what I'm going through! Sorry I don't have any advice or information!!

Anonymous's picture

right arm twitching

Does this twitching have anything to do with the heart or poor circulation?
it does not hurt but it is annoying.

Anonymous's picture

twitching

Check the foods you are eating. Too many poor quality foods; meats, poultry, dairy and eggs ( especially) and some farm raised fish ( salmon) tend to set off an explosion of twitches. Even foods that are "said" to be organic can do this...this too is an indication that the foods you are ingesting are not well raised. Pesticides too, often can be the culprit to those annoying neurological twitches- almost like mimicking diseases of say- mad cow..M.S, etc. Corn fed or corn derived foods can do this as well. Keep an open mind. And try not to discount the idea that this information is simply "rubbage." BTW- poorly raised strawberries, lettuce and tomatoes will surely give you the twitches..

Anonymous's picture

I need more info, please!

I've been searching forever for something that might be causing my arm to twitch because although it doesn't hurt, it's annoying. You mentioned that eating too much dairy, eggs, and salmon can be the cause. Those foods are practically my entire diet. I was just wondering why those foods caused muscle twitches and if it is a serious issue that I should deal with, cause after all, not everyone goes around with a twitch :) Please e-mail me back if you have time or more info, please.

Thanks

Anonymous's picture

totally wild

I'm on day three of pretty much exactly what the rest of you are talking about. Even more interesting was when I noticed the mention of meats, dairy, eggs, and farm raised salmon as a possible cause. I have been actually been eating alot more of all of those products of late in attempts to increase protein intake. This is wild stuff. Thought I was taking crazy pills for a minute there.