Muscle twitching

[Jlwgsw]

Hi all, before I was diagnosed RA I suffered I suffered muscle in twitching my legs and I have had to come off my meds because I have had an infection for the last six weeks and the muscle twitching is back. Has anyone else suffered with this as I'm not sure if this is a symptom of RA.

[Karen12]

Yes, I started with muscle twitches a few years ago. First around the knee, then in other places, hands, arms, legs etc. It got worse when I was going into a flare, and would happen 10-12 times per day for about 30 seconds. Mine has settled significantly with new medication and I had the first one in about 6 months last week but nothing since.

[Jlwgsw in reply to Karen12]

I'm glad you replied with that because no one seems to mention this symptom and I know when I get it I'm going to get a flare up. I take sulphasalazine and methotrexate. Thanks

[KittyJ in reply to Jlwgsw]

Could it be inflammation starting to pinch nerves etc? Though I’ve never had this.

[Jlwgsw in reply to KittyJ]

I seem to get it when I'm getting a flare but have never mentioned it to rheumy nurse as I wasn't sure if it was a common symptom. It has been happening on and off for the last few days but normally get it if I have been standing all day at work.

[madme1]

Hi I suffer with twitching in the legs, sometimes feels like a rippling in my calves, I also have restless legs. It affects anywhere in my legs but mostly my calves. It's a very common effect of RA all to do with the nerves and nerve endings so I was told.

[Haz58 in reply to madme1]

I’m the same…it’s so annoying! I wasn’t sure what it was but reading all of this now I know. I told my rheumatologist it was like ‘little aliens crawling under my skin’. She thought that was funny.

[madme1 in reply to Haz58]

I also have the same sort of thing in my head and could only tell the rheumy it's like a million ants walking all over my head and some of them are wearing doc martens!

[Jlwgsw in reply to madme1]

It seems that quite a few people suffer from this but it's never asked when having a medical assessment

[Swanfull]

Yes I have that symptom worse when I am walking a lot. I too have rheumatoid arthritis.

[Jlwgsw in reply to Swanfull]

Thanks for that I don't feel as though enough about RA mainly because I haven't come to terms with it yet

[Mmrr]

Yes, I experienced muscle twitching for years before being diagnosed with RA and still do to a lesser extent now. You can see the muscles twitching, rippling under my skin. I felt reasonably well yesterday, drove to our local public garden, walked around 50 m from the car park and my legs started twitching. I'm in a wee flare today. Never fails.

[Jlwgsw in reply to Mmrr]

Thanks

[Hidden]

I had (self-diagnosed) restless leg syndrome. It used to be quite ridiculous.I could just sit and watch them twitching away. In retrospect I think it was a reaction to cocodamol.

Having read the above posts though, it may have ceased because I am now on amitriptyline which affects nerve pain (so presumably nerves also!).

nhs.uk/conditions/restless-...

[Jlwgsw in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[Swanfull]

Your welcome! It’s so frustrating at times no one wants to take medication but we know the pain if we don’t! I had a few niggling symptoms one of them was my muscles moving in my legs, very strange feeling. I’m slowly getting used to taking medication, I was devastated at first but when it started to work and ease the pain I knew I had to take it even though there are side affects. I am trying to jiggle the dose with the help of the nurses to ease the side affects. I often read the comments as it helps to know your not suffering alone. I wish you well, Swanfull.

[Jlwgsw in reply to Swanfull]

Thank you while I wish no one has to suffer pain this chat site has been such a great help to me, it's good to know we are not alone and while family and friends no our suffering a lot of people don't.