Involuntary muscle contraction during sleep?

[Beartiger]

Hey, I'd like to know if someone else has this problem, because I haven't been able to find any information online.
I have the usual muscle soreness and pain, but a while back I noticed that when I sleep, I contract all my muscles involuntarily, and this causes me to wake up with even more pain than normal. I usually deal with it by taking a hot shower, but it doesn't suffice 100%.
Has anybody else experienced this? And is there anything that can be done to solve it? I don't take any medication.

 

[Florida Guy]

Not quite the same but I have a problem with stretching in the morning. If I straighten my legs or turn over I go into this major stretch where my leg muscles tense up. It usually causes a cramp and discomfort. I try not to do it but its almost unstoppable. Fortunately, it doesn't happen during the night and doesn't wake me up except in the morning. It usually feels good to do a stretch but this just keeps tightening up and does not feel good. A muscle relaxant might help

 

[Beartiger]

Not quite the same but I have a problem with stretching in the morning. If I straighten my legs or turn over I go into this major stretch where my leg muscles tense up. It usually causes a cramp and discomfort. I try not to do it but its almost unstoppable. Fortunately, it doesn't happen during the night and doesn't wake me up except in the morning. It usually feels good to do a stretch but this just keeps tightening up and does not feel good. A muscle relaxant might help

I have the same issue, I stretch in the morning and my leg cramps up a bit.
My mum had prescriptions for muscle relaxers, but hasn't gotten them in a while. I wonder if I can get a muscle relaxer, because sleep already doesn't restore my energy, and then I wake up feeling sore all over.
I think it may be related to stress. Nobody seems to talk about this anywhere.

 

[lenora]

Hello @Beartiger......A prescription for pramiprexole may help. I just take l/2 tablet and it works just fine for a few days even. Now your spasms may last longer, I don't know. Just try it. Also, I was on robaxin as and when needed.

Pramprexole is suppose to be addictive, so I'd watch for that but, personally, I've never had a problem as I don't take it regularly anyway. Good luck with trying them. Yours, Lenora

 

[junkcrap50]

I used to think I had and did this. I still might, but I'm not sure anymore. But that's exactly how I would describe my muscle aches in the morning, like verbatim.

I bought a cheap Wyze security camera & recorded my sleep to see if I could see anything. It didn't really show me anything. I thought I slept on my side mostly which was causing my neck pain, but I was mostly a back sleeper. There was no obvious visible sign of me contracting of my muscles.

I think my mattress is contributing to most of the morning muscle aches, not having enough support. Maybe that's something to consider, do you have less pain when sleeping on other mattresses?

 

[Beartiger]

Thank you for the tip, @lenora, I'll see what I can do about it. I had never heard of the medication before.

I used to think I had and did this. I still might, but I'm not sure anymore. But that's exactly how I would describe my muscle aches in the morning, like verbatim.

I bought a cheap Wyze security camera & recorded my sleep to see if I could see anything. It didn't really show me anything. I thought I slept on my side mostly which was causing my neck pain, but I was mostly a back sleeper. There was no obvious visible sign of me contracting of my muscles.

I think my mattress is contributing to most of the morning muscle aches, not having enough support. Maybe that's something to consider, do you have less pain when sleeping on other mattresses?

Never thought of recording myself sleeping, but I considered doing a sleep test for many reasons, including this one. Maybe they could figure out something. However, I never got a referral for a specialist who would conduct them.
I used to have a mattress that was extremely stiff and it definitely caused more pain. I noticed that my pillows are never comfortable either. At home we switched our pillows about a year ago, they seemed okay at first, but not anymore. In fact, I've been waking up with a stiff neck these days.
(Sometimes I wonder if I have CCI, but I don't know.)
I sleep in a fetal position most of the time, maybe it's related to these muscle contractions...

 

[lenora]

I think we reach a point where "comfort" was something known to us in the past.

Today's mattresses are quite different than those of yesterday. As far as I'm concerned, the box mattresses are not comfy at all. I'm Goldilocks and those mattresses just don't measure up. Hard is too hard, medium isn't (or doesn't) feel like it used to....and soft, well that's perhaps the worst of all.

Pillows seem to fall into the same category. I've returned to using my old, very old mattress. It's definitely not comfortable, especially as it's a mechanical bed.....but you know, it used to be. Good luck in your hunt. Yours, Lenora

 

[Florida Guy]

I found something that helps a lot with tight muscles. I've been having tight and sore leg muscles in the morning. And if I stretch a little, my legs go into cramps. A few days ago I tried putting some magnesium oil on the sore muscles and in the morning, everything was much better. I've been using it for 3 days now and it keeps working. I think it will always work but you never know about that

The stuff is a little pricey, I paid $20 for a 4 oz bottle but you should be able to make your own. It has 2.8gm of MgCl per ounce of water. I saw magnesium chloride on ebay for $12 for 1 lb and free postage. At that price you could dissolve some in the tub water and soak in it for as long as you like. Or make up a bottle of the "oil" for about 25 cents

The bottle I got was a spray applicator but you could just dab it on with a cotton ball or something. It takes a while to start working. I'm thinking if someone bought an lb they could send their friends several grams to make their own lotion

 

[bad1080]

there is this thing with restless leg syndrome (not saying that's what you have but it's also involuntary muscle contractions) being helped by having a bar of soap in your bed at night. might be worth trying as it is low risk and cost.

 

[Florida Guy]

I have had restless legs before. Its like a pain keeps starting up in the legs and if you move a little, it makes the pain stop so you are constantly having to move. It can make it difficult or impossible to sleep.

My problem comes in the morning, mostly, and when I move the legs, there is an urge to stretch them and the stretch turns into something similar to a cramp. Instead of movement stopping discomfort, movement starts the urge to stretch so its almost the opposite. I can stop it from happening with willpower but its hard. Then the rest of the day my legs feel kind of sore

Its also different than what the OP wrote about which happens in the sleep and is noticed in the morning. But that and my situation are similar in that it involves tight muscles which lead to pain. I think magnesium topical is a good thing to try. Try putting some on at night in the areas that are usually tight and painful. It takes an hour or two to start working and by morning it should make a big difference. This may also help with restless legs, its certainly worth a try. Fibro sufferers should try it too.

To test it to see if it works for you, you could take a cap of mg that contains some mg chloride and mix with water and try that. Or, if you are able to order some of that chemical it will be very cheap and you can make your own mg topical serum. I saw a pound for sale for $12 including shipping.