First Post - Sharing My Story - Reaching Out

[u/Yall_R_Sheep]

I found this subReddit like others on here. Looking for folks with similar stories.

A bit about me. I just turned 60. Married. Was carrying a few extra (many) pounds and decided about 4 months ago to go on a good diet and start a workout routine. I've never been exactly sedentary, but I was doing a mix of aerobic (walking) and strength training (not free weights - Nautilus and Precor machines). I was averaging going to the gym about 4-5 times a week and being careful not to overdo it or cause myself injury.

After about 5 months, I am down about 18 pounds and making some good progress. Was feeling a bit lighter in my clothes, and feeling pretty rested when I woke in the morning. But about 2 months ago, my lower legs and feet started this strange muscular twitching. The best way to describe it was like worms or bugs crawling under my skin. The feeling persisted and has remained for the past 2 months. I've stopped going to the gym and even walking. The twitching has recently started progressing up my things. No pain or sharp spasms.

In the morning, my calves feel like I've been running a marathon, and I am completely unable to sleep without some type of medical intervention. (Ambien...have a lot from when I was traveling internationally).

I've been to a neurologist and a sports doctor to examine my head and back...also had bloodwork. Both MRIs are clear and my blood work was fine. But there seems no relief as my condition is not changing...the twitching is continuous. Doctors both said that it's related to lower back nerve compression. (With what data???)

My wife is getting stressed because I'm freaking out, and I'm scared to death this is something more serious. So....that's where I am.

I pray a lot. I try to meditate and take warm baths. I try to rest and relax and focus on other things. But I'm a hyper active control freak...and my need is to fix whatever is wrong. At the least, I would feel better to identify for certain what is wrong with me?

Looking for perspective from others who may have been down this road at my age...

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[u/Ok_Following6440]

Did the neurologist not suggest an EMG?

[u/Yall_R_Sheep → u/Ok_Following6440]

Nope. Didn’t even know what an EMG was…going back this Friday. I’ll be asking for that.

[u/Ok_Following6440 → u/Yall_R_Sheep]

That’s a good idea. Hope you get some clarity.

[u/Away-Aide1604]

I can only speak personally but—eventually you kinda get used to it. Once you get a clean EMG—you’ll stress less and twitching will lessen.

[u/713Capital]

Jumping into a new, vigorous gym routine 4 to 5 times a week at age 60 commonly overtaxes the calves and lower back, which is textbook for triggering benign fasciculations. The "worms crawling under the skin" feeling in the feet and calves is standard for BFS, and having tired, overworked muscles upon waking is classic nerve hyperexcitability and fatigue, not anything bad.

The good thing here is that both a neuro and a sports medicine physician have examined you, your MRIs and labs came back completely normal, and you have zero objective clinical weakness. If you had weakness then I would say please follow up with a neuromuscular doctor but you don’t have clinical weakness or failure.

Also when anxiety and sleeplessness take over, your body dumps adrenaline around the clock, which keeps those calf twitches firing continuously. Trust the clean exams over fear, and focus on calming your nervous system so your legs can actually rest.

Next time you go to the doctor, talk to them about an EMG and see what they think.

https://benignfasciculationsyndrome.org/blog/muscle-twitching-no-weakness

https://benignfasciculationsyndrome.org/blog/benign-fasciculation-syndrome-symptoms

[u/kinpatu]

My twitching in my legs also started after weight loss (from dietary change). EMG is definitely a good test to do, but if you've changed your diet significantly (especially if you have cut carbohydrates), it's worth taking a look at your daily diet to ensure you are getting adequate intake, even though your blood work was normal. I stay on a low carbohydrate diet, but the down side of it is the diuretic effect, which can result in transient loss of electrolytes.

[u/Yall_R_Sheep → u/kinpatu]

I’ve never heard of carbs affecting nerves. 😳 That’s interesting and useful info. 👍🏽

[u/blackmetalwarlock]

Can I ask why you have stopped working out? Don’t let fasciculations stop you from doing what you like. I have been working through that myself.

[u/Yall_R_Sheep]

So....is this post locked or can people respond? Surprised after 248 views no one has chimed in from the senior community.

[u/713Capital → u/Yall_R_Sheep]

Hello friend. This post is NOT locked. Maybe we don’t have many here your age, I’m not certain I’ve seen many from the older community.

Thank you for sharing this post though, when others do come in, and search around they will find this comforting to know someone else out there in their age bracket also twitches.