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Benign fasciculation syndrome is a rare condition that causes involuntary muscle contractions, mostly in the face, arms, and legs. It can cause symptoms such as numbness, cramping, twitching, and fatigue. There is no cure, but treatment options include beta blockers, antiepileptic drugs, and stress reduction methods.
Benign fasciculation syndrome, sometimes referred to as muscle fasciculation syndrome, is a relatively rare condition that affects a person’s nervous system in which muscles contract and contract involuntarily. While this condition can occur in almost any muscle, including the tongue, the condition mostly occurs on the face, arms, and legs. The syndrome often resembles other conditions including Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and motor neuron disease. There is no known cure for benign fasciculation syndrome. Not a life-threatening disease, the syndrome is more irritating and can affect a person of any age or gender.
In addition to the spasms that don’t go away, general symptoms can include a pins and needles sensation, numbness, cramping, twitching, and fatigue. Other symptoms can be itching, pain and headache. While the disease is generally not disabling, it can cause some difficulty with various types of movement. For example, because the condition causes arm tremors, a person with benign fasciculation syndrome generally may have trouble writing.
Typically, an individual with the syndrome will experience more severe symptoms at night or when a person becomes stressed or overworked. The duration of symptoms varies from months to years. Also, symptoms can go into periods of remission and then reappear.
At some point, most people have some sort of twitch episode in their life. Sometimes, the contractions become very prevalent and occur in different parts of the body; if this is the case, the individual may be advised to seek medical help. The syndrome is detected by a neurologist who examines a person’s reflexes and conducts strength tests.
The condition can also be discovered through blood tests and biopsies. Some doctors may recommend an electromyography, which measures nerve damage. Because the syndrome does not affect the nerves, a normal electromyography can rule out other disorders and indicate benign fasciculation syndrome.
The exact cause of the syndrome is difficult to pinpoint. The syndrome is complex, as it is not clear whether the condition affects the muscles themselves or the motor nerves. Overexertion and attention deficit disorder can be factors that can lead to the condition.
No treatment completely eliminates the effects of the syndrome. Some beta blockers and antiepileptic drugs have been effective in treating the condition. Additionally, it may be helpful to treat the condition as an anxiety disorder and to use sedatives. Proactive methods of reducing stress, including exercise, getting enough sleep, and reducing the amount of caffeine in your diet, can also prove effective.
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