Benign Fasciculation Syndrome – Symptoms and Causes

Benign fasciculation syndrome is neurological disorder. This disease is also known as muscle twitching syndrome. Also the Benign fasciculation syndrome is known as fasciculation syndrome. This disease involves contraction and relaxation of the muscles. This disease can be reason for more serious disorders. These serious conditions can be multiple sclerosis, spinal injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Patients who are affected with this disease can be very anxious because the signs and symptoms of benign fasciculation syndrome can change a lot. In the most cases this disease can last with years. In other cases people who have recovered from Benign Fasciculation Syndrome can have in some periods stress, they do not sleep well or illness.

Symptoms of Benign fasciculation syndrome: The signs and symptoms of this disease can affect on any age and of any sex. This disease is characterized by twitching the various muscles in the body. Twitching can affect on any groups of muscles such as arms, legs, back muscles and eyelids. Also in some rare cases this disease can affect on the body muscles. [1]

Muscle twitching in Benign Fasciculation Syndrome: The twitches can happen in healthy individuals. These twitches are usually developing when the muscles is resting. They are disappearing when the muscles are moved voluntarily. This disease can affect the same area again or it can happen on other muscles. In many cases this syndrome can migrate from one muscle to another. Twitches are appearing mostly at night and during periods of infection, stress and exertion. These symptoms can approve after few months of treatment. In some cases these symptoms can appear months to years. In some periods you can feel increased symptoms while in others you can feel relief from your symptoms. As the time passes by the muscle twitching is getting less intense and in some cases the duration of the symptoms-free can be increased. [1,2]

Other symptoms:

• Pain: People who suffer from Benign Fasciculation Syndrome can have pain during its muscle twitching. There can be muscle cramping with can be processed with repeated contractions. [2]
• Fatigue: This symptom is appearing in the most cases when people are affected with Benign Fasciculation Syndrome. It is reducing the physical activity which is making people weaker and is reason for some neurological disorders such as ALS. Weakness is not symptom of the Benign Fasciculation Syndrome. If you have Benign Fasciculation Syndrome and you feel weakness, then you should consult with your doctor. This can be reason for more serious neurological disorders including ALS. [3]
• Numbness
• Muscle stiffness
• You have tingling or needles and pins feeling

Causes of Benign Fasciculation Syndrome: The exact cause for this disease is not known. Muscle twitches can be caused by nerves which are supplying muscle, problems at junction (this is the place where the nerve supplies muscle cells) and problems diseases of muscles. Some medical experts are believing that this disease is caused when the both sinus have infections so this is kind of autoimmune disease. Also there are theories that the anxiety and stress can be reason for Benign Fasciculation Syndrome, but there should be done more studies before they can give conclusion.

When to see a doctor? If you have some of the mentioned symptoms, then you should seek medical help. Physical exertion, stress and anxiety are related to the symptoms of Benign Fasciculation Syndrome, but they are not the real cause for this disease. These symptoms also can be sign of other disorders. You should be sure for your health if this is Benign Fasciculation Syndrome or it is other disease. Benign Fasciculation Syndrome is believed (in the most cases) that is result of autoimmune reaction from viral infection [4]. Also this disease can be caused by some medications that you have taken in the past; if you have deficiency in your organism of magnesium and other nutrients, opioids like morphine; chronic exposure to some types of medications. Your doctor will make test to be sure if your symptoms are caused by Benign Fasciculation Syndrome or it is other disease. Your doctor will give some of the next treatment: stress management, anti-anxiety medications, relaxation techniques such as meditation and reducing the use of stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine. [5]

References:

[1] McDaniels AK. What is causing that twitching in your muscles? 2018. Retrieved from www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-expert-benign-fasciculation-syndrome-20180925-story.html

[2] Dikmen P. A case with cramp-fasciculation syndrome. Journal of Clinical and Analytical Medicine. 2016;7(3):405-7.

[3] Leite MAA, Orsini M, de Freitas MRG, et al. Another perspective on fasciculations: When is it not caused by the classic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or progressive spinal atrophy? Neurology International. 2014;6(3):5208.

[4] Orsini M, Sztajnbok FR, Oliveira AB, et al. Benign fasciculations and corticosteroid use: possible association? An update. Neurology International. 2011;3(2):e11.

[5] Rana SS, Schramke CJ, Sangha A, Karpinski AC. Comparison of psychosocial factors between patients with benign fasciculations and those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology. 2009;12(2):108–10.