Twitching, fasciculations, etc...
Very glad this topic came up, thanks for starting it.
I've been a twitcher off and on for years now, perhaps even before I was officially diagnosed with ME/CFS.
It will go away completely for months, even a year or so at a time, but then comes back, often after 'overdoing' it. I think it there can be many contributing factors, or many possibilities.
Here's a few things I've found over the years, and reviewed just last night because my twitching, mostly from the knees down, has been terrible for the last 3 days.
OVERDOING it when we feel 'better' -- pushing -- and crashing. (sometimes unavoidable...)
Low blood volume / poor circulation
Poor adrenal function, thus poor electrolyte balance (licorice root w/white peony root helps me sometimes...brew them for 30 minutes as a tea...also adding salt to water)
Calcium/magnesium is often helpful -- one or the other -- but sometimes either of these can make my twitching worse...does this happen with you?
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to twitching/fasiculations/spasms.
Choline, folate, and/or B12 deficiencies, and/or all three together -- have seen reports online of twitching going away or diminishing when trying these b vitamins.
And suprisingly, not enough fats in the diet, especially saturated fats -- this applies mainly to underweight/skinny types, but is based on eastern (ayurvedic) principals and also chinese medicine. One of the main recipes for muscle spasm/twitching in TCM is egg yolks.
From online:
"Our body also makes adrenal corticosteroid hormones from cholesterol. These hormones include aldosterone, which regulates water balance through our kidneys[/I], increasing sodium retention by our renal tubules; and cortisone, which promotes the synthesis of glucose to prepare our body for fight or flight in response to stress, and also suppresses inflammation."
Might this help not only with twitching, but also low blood volume? I dunno...just a thought.
I wonder how many of us may be not eating "enough" foods like eggs, meat w/skins or some fat? I know I've been kind of cholesterol-phobic, so will try slowly adding an egg, maybe every other day, and see if it helps.
??? :Retro smile: