Thumb twitching can be caused by overuse, nutritional deficiencies, carpal tunnel syndrome, neurological disorders, prescription drugs, anxiety, or tension. Repetitive motion injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome can be relieved by ceasing offensive actions. Chronic twitching with a loss of muscle coordination may indicate serious neurological disorders.
Muscle twitching is the presence of uncontrollable muscle contractions that could be temporary or chronic. When this occurs in the thumb, it may be referred to as thumb twitch and could occur for a variety of reasons, including overuse of the muscle from playing video games or texting, nutritional deficiencies, carpal tunnel syndrome, or restricted blood flow. Other causes could include neurological disorders, side effects of prescription drugs, anxiety or a chronic state of tension. Muscle twitching is very common and most cases of thumb twitching are benign, but continuous twitching indicates a serious condition.
Repetitive motion injuries are a very common cause of thumb twitches. Modules and remotes for video games, cell phones, and other electronic gadgets require constant, unnatural use of the thumb, irritating the nerves that control the thumb muscles. The thumb may have annoying muscle twitching, tingling, burning or tendonitis from constant stress.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, a type of nerve injury in which the median nerve is unduly compressed, can cause thumb twitches but is usually associated with wrist pain or burning in the wrist joint. Repetitive motion injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome are usually relieved when offensive actions cease, although carpal tunnel syndrome can have underlying causes ranging from genetics to more serious physiological factors such as fibroids.
Thumb twitching could be caused by an electrolyte imbalance due to nutritional deficiencies in the diet. A lack of calcium or magnesium has been shown to cause muscle spasms and cramps throughout the body, including the thumbs. Side effects from medications could also cause your fingers and thumbs to twitch. Drugs such as corticosteroids, estrogens, diuretics, and caffeine stimulate muscles, which may cause contractions. Extreme anxiety releases hormones that upset the balance of the nervous system, causing muscle spasms that could include thumbs.
Chronic twitching of the thumb with a gradual loss of muscle coordination is usually a sign of more serious neurological disorders. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive and debilitating nerve disorder. Symptoms of ALS usually begin with muscle spasms in the chest and rib area, progressing up the arm and sometimes affecting the thumb. Multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s syndrome also affect the nerves that control muscles, including the thumb. Although many cases of thumb twitching are benign and are caused by environmental factors, ongoing twitching that becomes increasingly severe requires a medical diagnosis to determine the underlying cause.
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