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Suggest Treatment For Buzzing Sensation In Leg When Diagnosed With Fasciculation Syndrome
Question: Hello,
Two weeks ago I felt a buzzing sensation in my right leg exactly at the spot where I wear my XXXXXXX phone; I thought the phone was buzzing but that wasn't the case. This caught my attention.
I stopped wearing my cellphone in my jeans but I kept experiencing the buzzing feeling every now and then.
After two weeks of carefully observing my body with this respect I can conclude the following:
During and right after normal exercise (bike riding a few miles, or walking a few miles) I experience this buzzing sensation in my right upper leg when I look down or move my head downwards; bend my neck, chine towards chest.
I do not feel any buzzing sensation elsewhere else, not in my spine, arms or my left other leg. Just that one spot in my right leg.
Also, I do not experience any pain sensations in my neck or coming from my neck elsewhere in the body as far as I know.
I experience this ONLY DURING or shortly AFTER this exercise. After a 15 minutes of rest (more or less) these symptoms do not occur anymore.
Also, I notice that when I straighten my back to a 'normal' poisture, the effect is still there but slightly less appearant.
Ive had this for the last two weeks, I think it might have started from one day to another, as I didn't notice it before and I allways wear my cellphone there (I would have noticed?)
A year ago I was diagnosed with BFS, benign fasciculation syndrome (mainly in my calfs, but also in other body parts). Especially after sporting (bicycle racing)
There are periods (weeks, months) that I don't really experience them, other periods I do, like this period.
In the past weeks I have had them all over my body, but just for short moments and I often mainly notice them when in bed resting (they are not very annoying and probably I often do not even notice them during the day)
But in general, its not really bothering me usually, although the past weeks they have been more present
A few months ago I had a swallow x-ray take for something else and the doctor pointed me to a vertebra in my neck that seemed somewhat worn. But, he assured me, nothing to worry about.. (this was a doctor for throat, nose and ears)
Also I have to point out that due to my work I spend most of my day sitting on an office chair in a not very natural position for my neck and my back (fine technical work)
Beside this I do not take enough exercise. And I know that my poisture is weak due to weak back muscles (I should start back exercise); my poisture is somewhat slumped when I sit but also standing up.
I read very negative things about this socalled L'Hermittes, with a strong connection to MS.
However, I don't feel any sensation in my spine.
I would like to know what is probably causing this (judged from my information)
If it is something I should worry about. If it is spine related, should I take action soon? Any risk for further impairment if no serious action is taken?
Or would back exercise and more exercise be sufficient? (despite the symptoms being mainly present after exercise)
Etc Etc
If you need any further information, please ask
Two weeks ago I felt a buzzing sensation in my right leg exactly at the spot where I wear my XXXXXXX phone; I thought the phone was buzzing but that wasn't the case. This caught my attention.
I stopped wearing my cellphone in my jeans but I kept experiencing the buzzing feeling every now and then.
After two weeks of carefully observing my body with this respect I can conclude the following:
During and right after normal exercise (bike riding a few miles, or walking a few miles) I experience this buzzing sensation in my right upper leg when I look down or move my head downwards; bend my neck, chine towards chest.
I do not feel any buzzing sensation elsewhere else, not in my spine, arms or my left other leg. Just that one spot in my right leg.
Also, I do not experience any pain sensations in my neck or coming from my neck elsewhere in the body as far as I know.
I experience this ONLY DURING or shortly AFTER this exercise. After a 15 minutes of rest (more or less) these symptoms do not occur anymore.
Also, I notice that when I straighten my back to a 'normal' poisture, the effect is still there but slightly less appearant.
Ive had this for the last two weeks, I think it might have started from one day to another, as I didn't notice it before and I allways wear my cellphone there (I would have noticed?)
A year ago I was diagnosed with BFS, benign fasciculation syndrome (mainly in my calfs, but also in other body parts). Especially after sporting (bicycle racing)
There are periods (weeks, months) that I don't really experience them, other periods I do, like this period.
In the past weeks I have had them all over my body, but just for short moments and I often mainly notice them when in bed resting (they are not very annoying and probably I often do not even notice them during the day)
But in general, its not really bothering me usually, although the past weeks they have been more present
A few months ago I had a swallow x-ray take for something else and the doctor pointed me to a vertebra in my neck that seemed somewhat worn. But, he assured me, nothing to worry about.. (this was a doctor for throat, nose and ears)
Also I have to point out that due to my work I spend most of my day sitting on an office chair in a not very natural position for my neck and my back (fine technical work)
Beside this I do not take enough exercise. And I know that my poisture is weak due to weak back muscles (I should start back exercise); my poisture is somewhat slumped when I sit but also standing up.
I read very negative things about this socalled L'Hermittes, with a strong connection to MS.
However, I don't feel any sensation in my spine.
I would like to know what is probably causing this (judged from my information)
If it is something I should worry about. If it is spine related, should I take action soon? Any risk for further impairment if no serious action is taken?
Or would back exercise and more exercise be sufficient? (despite the symptoms being mainly present after exercise)
Etc Etc
If you need any further information, please ask
Brief Answer:
No reason for panic
Detailed Answer:
I reason your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Reading at the description you provide, I do not think there is much indication for a spinal cause for that buzzing sensation. Spinal issues can cause sensation abnormalities, but they follow a distribution which corresponds to the effected part of the nervous system. If due to cord compression they cause symptoms on the half of the body on the affected side (or whole body and limbs below if both sides of the cord involved). If it was a compression of a nerve root it would cause pain and numbness following the nerve root coverage and that circumscribed area you describe doesn't correspond to any nerve root in particular. So I do not think it is a spinal cause.
One hypothesis might be a peripheral nerve issue, the only one which might explain it might be meralgia paraesthetica, due to compression of the lateral cutaneous nerve, but it involves more of the outer thigh than you seem to describe, if it really limited to the phone area do not think it's the cause either.
So I do not think you have any reason to overworry for the moment. Remember that benign fasciculation syndrome, while taking its name from the fasciculations does often have other associated symptoms such as paraesthesias, the medical term for abnormal sensations. Given the flaring of the fasciculations I would for the moment categorize this symptom under the same syndrome, probably anxiety playing a role as well, I do not think you have to fear about it progressing to something dangerous.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
No reason for panic
Detailed Answer:
I reason your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Reading at the description you provide, I do not think there is much indication for a spinal cause for that buzzing sensation. Spinal issues can cause sensation abnormalities, but they follow a distribution which corresponds to the effected part of the nervous system. If due to cord compression they cause symptoms on the half of the body on the affected side (or whole body and limbs below if both sides of the cord involved). If it was a compression of a nerve root it would cause pain and numbness following the nerve root coverage and that circumscribed area you describe doesn't correspond to any nerve root in particular. So I do not think it is a spinal cause.
One hypothesis might be a peripheral nerve issue, the only one which might explain it might be meralgia paraesthetica, due to compression of the lateral cutaneous nerve, but it involves more of the outer thigh than you seem to describe, if it really limited to the phone area do not think it's the cause either.
So I do not think you have any reason to overworry for the moment. Remember that benign fasciculation syndrome, while taking its name from the fasciculations does often have other associated symptoms such as paraesthesias, the medical term for abnormal sensations. Given the flaring of the fasciculations I would for the moment categorize this symptom under the same syndrome, probably anxiety playing a role as well, I do not think you have to fear about it progressing to something dangerous.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello doctor, thanks for your reply
Can you explain the obvious and clear connection between bending my neck and this specific buzzing sensation in my upper right leg?
The BFS has at random fasciculations.
The buzzing in my right leg only occurs when bending my neck after or during some exercise.
Can you explain the obvious and clear connection between bending my neck and this specific buzzing sensation in my upper right leg?
The BFS has at random fasciculations.
The buzzing in my right leg only occurs when bending my neck after or during some exercise.
Brief Answer:
Anatomically there is not a clear explanation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
As I tried to explain before, there can't be made any plausible association between the neck bending and the sensation in that area. Had it been a sensation in your upper limbs one might hypothesize a connection, due to changes of weight distribution on the vertebrae leading to increase pressure and compression on a nerve roots for the upper limbs exiting in the neck. But the area you describe is supplied by the nerves exiting in the lumbar region so there is no reason for the neck bending to affect those nerve roots (and distribution doesn't correspond to a nerve root anyway).
So the only way neck bending would cause symptoms in lower limb would be by affecting the spinal cord pathways themselves, like in the lhermitte's sign, but as I said and as you yourself said to have done the research, the distribution is much more than that circumscribed area you describe.
So I am afraid an explanation for that can not be offered right away, it is not always possible in medicine, the same way there is no clear explanation for benign fasciculations. Anxiety coupled with the fact you have been told to have a worn vertebrae in the neck may be a hypothesis for the association. As for the exercising electrolyte loss may be a predisposing factor.
But while I can not offer a clear explanation, I can assure you again that it does not suggest any threatening condition either. If there are any new symptoms later on which might change that opinion, don't hesitate to share and ask again.
I hope to have been of help.
Anatomically there is not a clear explanation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
As I tried to explain before, there can't be made any plausible association between the neck bending and the sensation in that area. Had it been a sensation in your upper limbs one might hypothesize a connection, due to changes of weight distribution on the vertebrae leading to increase pressure and compression on a nerve roots for the upper limbs exiting in the neck. But the area you describe is supplied by the nerves exiting in the lumbar region so there is no reason for the neck bending to affect those nerve roots (and distribution doesn't correspond to a nerve root anyway).
So the only way neck bending would cause symptoms in lower limb would be by affecting the spinal cord pathways themselves, like in the lhermitte's sign, but as I said and as you yourself said to have done the research, the distribution is much more than that circumscribed area you describe.
So I am afraid an explanation for that can not be offered right away, it is not always possible in medicine, the same way there is no clear explanation for benign fasciculations. Anxiety coupled with the fact you have been told to have a worn vertebrae in the neck may be a hypothesis for the association. As for the exercising electrolyte loss may be a predisposing factor.
But while I can not offer a clear explanation, I can assure you again that it does not suggest any threatening condition either. If there are any new symptoms later on which might change that opinion, don't hesitate to share and ask again.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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