Muscles that won’t stop twitching: Benign fasciculation syndrome

I never knew this had a name. This is wild and interesting!

Sitting watching this with a twitch in my lower leg 😂

Oh, I have that at least since my teens too, I always wondered what it was! My doctor only told me it was benign, without much more. I usually have it in my fingers, especially my thumb, occasionally in my legs and eyes. Mainly a bother, especially when the thumb just moves continuously. At least I am happy to hear I am not the only suffering from that haha.

OH MY GOD I HAAAATE THIS!!!!! It does that about anywhere in my skeletal muscles! I'm at a point after 32 years of this bs that I sometimes slap the fiber that does that while yelling "NO!" Sometimes it works, but it's always hilarious when that muscle twitches one last time out of protest 😂

Ive had this for a year now. When it first began, I googled... and got very VERY worried. MRIs, EMGs and blood tests later, all is well, and I am forever twitching still. Guess I just gotta accept it. Dehydration, stress, anger, low blood suagr/hunger and lack of sleep will trigger symptoms for me ++. In my case, I see them as gentle reminder to go easy ❤

i used to get this for yeaaaars. moved around my face n body quite often. then vanished n now never ever happens

I have this in my eyes. Good to be able put a name to it now.

Ugh, I hate when this happens. It doesn't hurt (for me) but it is very annoying. I also get facial twitches from time to time around my mouth and eye. Bodies are weird

I diagnose this as a neurologist and we are always thankful when it’s this benign condition as opposed to ALS which is devastating

Hey I have that too! Usually in my left biceps and brachialis, also in my eye. Fortunately I'm a lazy bum so I don't get much cramping 😎

Try some electrolytes. Or lots of electrolytes, everyday. And some calming breathing exercises. Might reduce the spasms.

Thank you for posting this. I've had a benign fasiculation in my right arm for almost 3 months now. Harmless yes, but super annoying and a bit unsettling. It keeps me awake for awhile at night.

Oh wow I feel so much better now. It’s been quite bad lately in my left leg, largely at night when trying to sleep after an active day. It has had me worried at times, especially when it just won’t stop and keeps me awake.

I have this pretty severely mainly in my calf muscles. Ive found that breathwork and meditation helps calm the nervous system and in turn calms my spasms.

This is very informative, I’ve had this for about two years now, I am in my teens currently, my first occurrence happened after I had coffee for the first time. I used to think that was why so I stopped drinking caffeine. It’s still occurring and is a lot more frequent when I’m cold. Very annoying 😭

This used to happen to me all the time. Amazing to learn it has a name, and that it's harmless.

And this is how I found out I have it too. I've never spoken to a doctor about it because I thought it happens to everyone. Happens very often to me, mostly to small muscles making up the quadriceps or gastrocnemius.

Good to know we aren’t going to burst from this involuntary twitching

I get this from time to time. I find it to be both bizarre and interesting. To be honest I kind of like the feeling.

I also have this in my calves - exercise makes it worse, hot weather makes it worse, standing around a lot (like I have today, at a wedding) also makes it worse. Hope yours gets better soon!

I've had twitches as long as I can remember, but for a year I had them in *big* muscles--biceps, abs, glutes, and that was unusual enough that I stopped by a neurologist just to make sure nothing was up. Needless to say, nothing was up.

Yup. Got the same, doc. Had it my whole life. I actually suspect I also have the "alien gains" mutation that makes you dry, more easily prone to muscle cramps. With that said tho my mind muscle connection in the gym is better than everybody I know, I can tense any muscle I know of with my mind to steel.

I've had this all my life in my eyes, my left one usually and my quads mainly but it does tend to do its own thing pretty much where it wants to. I thought it was due to stress and I thought I was alone. Thank you.

That's super weird. After watching your video on cramps, it was the same thing, I was like, "Oh, I haven't gotten any of those in a while." Then bam. 3 mornings in the span of 2 weeks, and my right arm started twitching, too.

I had this as a teenager for a few years, then it went away. It returned in late 2015, around the time I developed symptoms of and was later diagnosed with a rheumatic disease. That disease is now very well managed and totally under control. Meanwhile, the fasciculations very quietly stopped one day and I can't remember the last time I noticed it. Of course people automatically assume this is MND.

I absolutely hate vertical videos but I'm gladly binge-watching yours! ❤❤❤

The artwork behind and the Tablas....fabulous.

I remember you said something about you getting severe cramps as well, to the point the muscles in your legs showed sign of damage on scans. If these two things are connected, I wouldn't say this twitching is "benign".

I've had that my whole life too. Interestingly when I'm more sedentary it goes away and comes back when I increase my activity level, especially if I'm lifting

I will get it in the eyes and calves if I'm deprived of sleep. Another possible cause is dehydration, I'm constantly struggling to stay hydrated.

"Oh yeah, I get these fasciculations too every now and then. In my left ventricle," he thought as he watched the cardiologist's video short... ... ☝️🤨presenting to the emergency room

I had the same thing. I did a bunch of tests and when I did a stool test I discovered i had a parasite called blastocystis, which is known to cause muscle twitching when it spreads in the body from the intestines. Over the year I had muscle twitching what helped the most to reduce it was 3 day dry fasting and probiotics and some cleansing herbs. But what really helped almost eliminate it was artemisinin. It’s a powerful herb that is used against malaria that also kills blastocystis. Hope this information helps.

I get this when I exercise, although my twitch is slower than yours.

This has happened to me ever since I had the covid vaccine. Happens all over my body and inside organs too. Very annoying and scary but hoping it is benign like yours. Thanks for sharing the vid.

Would be interesting to know if you checked your diagnosis with a neurologist. Looks like a lot of people have similar symptoms - but are unsure wheather one should check them out.

Rohin you clearly did me and a bunch of other viewers a real solid with this short! Not only letting all of us who "suffer" from benign fasciculation syndrome know that we aren't alone, but you also gave it a name, so we know what to call it. Thank you! (seriously, I thought this was yet another aspect of my body that is uniquely broken in me, it's a tremendous relief to know that it's not only common, but it's benign. I never mentioned it to a doctor because it was never happing during a checkup, so I didn't want to claim what I thought was a totally bizarre and off-the-wall symptom if I couldn't show the doctor. This is truly a relief to know about)

WoW! Those are the exact two muscles (Eyes and Thighs) that used to twitch involuntarily (in additiona to occasional twitches elsewhere as well) before I immigrated to Central Europe. Had forgotten all about it! I am in India right now as well, but it does not seem to have returned since years now. Anyway, cool to know I have something useless in common with a smart & nice person :)

I had this twitching from my teens through my twenties, but sometime in my thirties it tapered off and eventually stopped. Looking back, the twitching decreased as the frequency of my migraines increased, though they may not be related. I certainly don't miss the twitching when it happened in my eyes, though even that was better than migraines.

I also get this occasionally, but today was the first time I heard it's proper medical term. Learning is awesome.

I have this as well! Well, probably not this condition specifically, since it's only been happening for a couple of years, but I get incredibly irritating muscle twitching in my legs and eyelids. It looks exactly the same - super intense, visible twitching. It looks wild, and it's beyond annoying.

Ohh god!! Thank you so much for this! I have been facing this since a year

I have had this since I was 18 which was ten years ago. I get it all over my body face, neck, arms, hands, stomach, back, legs and feet. Even my butt muscles do it crazy right. I'm currently having what they call a "hotspot" right now where one particular muscle will twitch for days. The longest one I had was my eyebrow that twitched constantly for 3 weeks then it went away. It's currently going crazy on the side of my left foot. Sometimes if affects my sleep cause its that annoying I can't sleep. But most of the time now I never really notice because I am so use to it. I do however notice it flares up more when I'm stressed or anxious.

Have had the same condition tho never knew the name, always just chalked it up to dehydration or potassium deficiency

sounds like a stress symptom, it's the closeness to your original family ;)

Oh shit I’ve had that for most my life as well, I just never thought too much about it since it’s not exactly debilitating only just a little uncomfortable, but it tends to pass quickly. Thanks for putting a name to it and giving us some info about it

Oh my God!!! I get this in my left shoulder blade regularly! I have no medical background, but teach PE and Science so regularly and ignorantly assume I know way more about human anatomy than I actually do and decided it was obviously a sign a heart attack/aneurysm was on the way in the near future (because I lack knowledge of anything else involving veins and arteries), thanks for clearing this up. I should just probably drink more and take electrolytes after 20k runs? Slightly expecting “the only exception is your left shoulder, in that case you’re dying”

Thank you. I have had this, mainly on the sides of my neck ever since I took a ten day meditation retreat. If I concentrate in meditation, they will tighten and then release. My muscle knots would do this if I am meditating and concentrating enough and then they'd release. But the ones in neck constantly return, it's annoying sometimes.

i have this.. and it also makes sound.. very creepy indeed.. if it starts.. nobody wonders ever.. they all seem to ignore the creepiness .. that it also makes sound.. but sometimes it seems to trigger some one.. that shouts.. shut up!.. and the sound fades away.. Yes, i had eyelid twitches.. for a time or muskle vibrations - or innerfoot cramps but the tinnitus is really no fun anymore..

Oh my gosh!!!! I wondered what I had! Thank you.

Good to know it's harmless. Have it sometimes too.

finally have a name!! i’ve been dealing with this my whole life thank you sm 😭😭😭😭

Ah yes, I had this regularly for a few years, mostly in my forearms but sometimes my legs as well. Didn't know what it was called until now though, thanks for that!

OMG! I keep telling people that it's not part of Tourette's but a totally different kind of involuntary twitch, both in my legs and my eye. After decades I was wondering if I was crazy. Now it actually has a name. Thank you!

Interesting information thank you for the straight forward explanation.

Happened to me a few weeks ago. My left eyelid twitched for days,then it stopped. Maybe due to the heat or stress or both 🤷🏾‍♀️

I get it in my legs sometimes, but basically every day in my right eye only. I just thought it was because I'm crazy.

Can you do a brief explanation on the differences between BFS and ALS?

I have that too. It tends to flare up for me when I don’t sleep well consistently.

Hey Rohin, Im a Neurologist and have bfs my self for about 9 years now. For me it started after a respiratory infection with twitching of my upper right lip and then after 2 weeks progressed on my hole body. I was in my second year of residency and i guess you can imagine what fears for other diseases that started for me ;) After about 2 years the fasciculations got less and it's about the same for me. I have them most of the time in my gastrocnemius. After the beginning of my symptoms my risk for muscle cramps went up as well now it's nearly back to normal in comparison to before. But i experience the same wake-up gastrocnemius cramps at times as well. Unfortunately due to the benign symptoms there isn't really a lot of research done in this disease but i would bet that there is an antibody associated with it (due to it starting after my respiratory infection)

well hot damn, now I have a name for it! good to know that it's benign; I always figured so since it's usually inconsistent and goes away on its own as you say, but having confirmation is a comfort!

I get this in eveeeeery part of my body since child. Every single finger and toe, tongue, eye, leg, elbow, shoulder, even on my nose. Can’t list them all. I know it’s nothing to worry about, but this amount of twitching, sometimes makes me worried. (Now my ear twitches)

I used to get these a lot. Great to know they are harmless.

Thank you doctor for information ❤

Since you mentioned it in that video I've had it almost every day. I've always had it but I rarely notice it anymore

my father had similar twitching but to a much higher degree. Turns out it was Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). Luckily he lives in Canada where treatment is free as it is VERY expensive treatment otherwise.

I have had this since I was a child too but I get it only very rarely, then a stint of it and then it goes away again for a long time. I wish I knew what the trigger was, the one in the eye is super annoying.

I have bfs… both calves for me all day everyday .. my left thigh twitches a lot I would say there my hotspots… also I get and have had them in my hand/thumb area.. lip eye lid shoulders biceps / triceps but they come and go whenever they want. But mainly it is my legs. And not going to lie these annoy the hell out of me as I’m typing my quad is going. Yes I’ve been down the rabbit hole I’ve seen a neuro he said no weakness or atrophy I’ve had them a year now. He diagnosed me benign cramp fasciculation syndrome. But I still find Myself on Google/ KZhead. Worried it might be something else. To note I was fine before I had the jabs(covid) ever since not been the same

I had something similar and thought it was the beginning of ALS. At some point I started taking more vitamin D and it seemed to have stopped.

Oh I thought that was just part of having a benign tic, sciatica, or my funny transient Bell’s palsy. Good to know!

I think I have it too. My leg spasms the same way as you showed sometimes after sports. Should I get it checked out although you said it's harmless?

This has been happening to me from 2015 till this day😢

Doc so fit his leg muscles twitch faster than his heart muscles… I think he had 30-40 bpm in an older video!

get these every day, mainly in my hands, legs and shoulders, occasionally in my arms, glad to see im not the only one

Whenever I overdo bicep curls, my right bicep keeps twitching for couple of days. But then it goes away

Wow, I get these in my shoulders and biceps a lot. everyone has always said I was crazy

Anyone here get this along with mild spasticity and myoclonus?

I get it too, usually in my upper eye lid, but I've also had it in my leg, hand and back. I find that, for me, it is often associated with extended periods of stress or sleep deprivation.

Neat! So this is what I have! I get those same leg and eye twitches in phases, but for the last week or so I’ve had it in my tensor tympani, which is quite annoying. It seems to show up out of nowhere and then the same muscle will randomly have twitching bursts dozens of times per day for a couple of weeks before going away just as abruptly.

I've had this since I was young-above my right knee and right eye. If I reach over to passenger side floor to pick something up it triggers the muscle wiggles and pain above and inside my right knee. Good to know it has a name! Thanks!

When I hear fasciculation I think bad, bad things. Good to hear there's a benign version!

ooh i get that sometimes. But other times I go for years without it. I always assumed that it was down to being stressed or not.

After covid (or vaccine), I get this type of twitching on my left hand between my thumb and pointing finger, sometimes it goes for the whole day.

Woah, the way your leg muscles are really getting involved in that twitching! I get it a lot with my eyes, whether it’s an eyelid or somewhere nearby, and other places less commonly… also in my knees and thereabouts (strong technical term there), but not with quite the same ferocity as this! SUPER annoying though, so if you ever figure out a way to calm them down, I’m all ears. (I’ve been trying to make a conscious effort to flex my toes upwards after your cramps video, instead of doing anything that might be construed as pointing them, which has staved off at least two cramps, so thank you for that!)

I have the same thing. My quad aswell, but it's a muscle closer to the knee or something. I also have cramps though mostly in my calves. Almost fainted from one when i was a teenager. awful all around.

I get this in my right quads and normally left eye especially if I am tired of stressed out which is quite often.

I get this often enough as well. I find it more amusing than anything.

I've had this since I can remember!

I used to get this a lot as a kid, recall eye twitches in maths lessons. Never painful just odd, haven’t had it since before menopause. Think it must be a sign of intelligence ! 😂

Character origin story unlocked 🔓

yeah I have that too, never knew it was a "thing", always assumed I was just kind of a freak 🤣🤣

Had this in my thigh in really hot weather and exercising too.

i've always had these and never knew what it was called, especially in my thighs and eyes. i just always thought it was related to stress and anxiety, maybe dehydration

I dont know if it occurreds in a specific spot but this occurs all over my body, usually the right side of my face, my biceps, and my foot

I occasionally get one in my neck, running up its length. Happens in my eye sometimes too, which is annoying lol; had a few days a month or two ago where it happened like 50% of the day, which was very annoying, and made my eye muscle sore after a while!

I HAVE THIS, I ALWAYS THOUGHT "well, I'm not rich enough to do anything about this mystery."

I've had this in my arm, back, and leg for 3 years now and it's nice to be able to put a name to it

Wondering if you have elevated creatine as well?

Oooooooooh that's what this is! I've never had it very extremely but I always wondered about it when it happened. Particularly annoying when I get it in one of my eyelids

Thanks mate! Now I know that I should go get some water.

Had this after covid shot.. for third year now... comes and goes