Twitching in the abdomen
definition
Jerks are involuntary, painless, differently pronounced and time-limited contractions of individual muscle fibers, muscle bundles or entire muscle bellies and are referred to in medicine as "muscle twitches".
In principle, they can occur in any muscle in the body, but occur more frequently in the face and extremities. Jerks are usually without clinical findings and therefore only in rare cases require medical evaluation.
The reasons
Rare and short-lasting muscle twitches that only occur in individual regions of the body usually have harmless causes. For example, stress and emotional stress can cause twitching. These usually occur on the eyelid, the corners of the mouth or the extremities. Another common cause is temporarily pinched or irritated nerves. Caffeine, alcohol, drugs and some medications are also common triggers of twitching, but they disappear again as soon as the body has broken down the substance in question.
Another important cause is electrolyte imbalance, which can often occur after intense exercise. Above all, magnesium and sodium, but also calcium and potassium, play a role, since these electrolytes are important for the transmission of the nerve impulse to the muscle and the subsequent tension.
The so-called "twitching to sleep", which occur especially in the late phase of falling asleep, are usually without any disease value. In addition to these common harmless causes, diseases can also be behind them. Therefore, long-lasting, unusual or very frequent jerks should be investigated neurologically. Examples of such diseases are epilepsy so-called "tics", Tourette's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, polyneuropathy, bacterial and viral infections, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and many more.
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The accompanying symptoms
Depending on the cause of the muscle twitching, different accompanying symptoms are possible. If the cause is stress or emotional stress, the twitching leads to further stress in addition to the existing stress. Frequent jerks can be a limitation in everyday life, as they are very annoying and are often perceived as uncomfortable. In addition, there is often fear of illness and the fact that the twitching will not stop or go away.
If the twitching is caused by pinched or irritated nerves, it is often associated with pain in the area and may be orthopedic. Electrolyte disorders, such as a magnesium deficiency, are often expressed as muscle cramps, a feeling of weakness, headaches, lack of concentration and muscle tremors and can be improved by administering magnesium.
However, if an organic or neurological cause is responsible for the twitches, these can vary widely. It is therefore a good idea to look out for changes, pain, and unusual symptoms, and see a doctor if necessary.
The appearance of the muscle twitches
Twitching after exercise
Muscle twitches after exercise are not uncommon. As a result of the intensive training, the body sweats more intensely and you lose a lot of fluid. In addition to water, sweat also contains important minerals, the so-called electrolytes. Magnesium is particularly important in this context. It plays an important role in the functioning of the muscle, since a deficiency can lead to over-excitability of the muscle cells. This manifests itself in the form of twitching. However, the twitching should go away a few minutes after training, as the body needs some time to regenerate.
If symptoms persist, this could indicate a magnesium deficiency. It is advisable to ensure a balanced diet and, if necessary, to take magnesium separately. If there is no improvement in the symptoms, you should consult a doctor, as there may be serious illnesses behind it.
This article might also interest you: Diet and exercise.
Twitching after sneezing
When sneezing or coughing, the pressure in the abdomen increases. The abdominal muscles tighten and are heavily used. After the tension, the muscles relax again - this can occasionally lead to twitching.
The twitching is usually not a cause for concern. However, if the symptoms persist, a medical examination is recommended.
Twitching of the abdomen
Jerks that occur immediately after eating can usually be attributed to the consumption of certain foods. A number of foods, such as rhubarb, flaxseed, coffee and alcohol, have a stimulating effect. These can increase the muscle contractions of the intestinal wall. The contractions can also be accompanied by twitching.
Usually this is a harmless symptom. If the twitching occurs regularly, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Convulsions before the period
The muscle twitches before your period are not uncommon. Just before your period, hormonal changes occur as the body prepares to reject the tissue. To do this, the muscles in the abdomen contract and twitching can occur if the muscles are not relaxed. These cramps can then radiate into the abdomen, where they cause twitching in this area.
However, if the twitches are accompanied by severe pain and occur regularly, a gynecologist should be consulted. Endometriosis or an ovarian cyst may be behind these symptoms.
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Left or right hand twitches
Muscle twitching is usually only perceived when the muscle is directly under the skin, as there are no corresponding “sensors” in the depths of the abdomen. Viewed from the outside, a person's stomach is usually relatively symmetrical and only differs in the organs below.
Therefore, an uneven occurrence of a twitch when compared to the other side is usually either a coincidence or may be related to a pinched or irritated nerve on one side.
The diagnosis
If the need for further clarification by a neurologist has arisen, he will first ask some important questions about the twitching, as well as about the person himself, in order to reduce the large pool of causes. This is followed by a physical and neurological examination by the doctor.
If no cause has yet been found, neurological examinations such as EEG, EMG or ENG can follow. If necessary, more general examinations such as cross-sectional imaging (CT, MRT), blood tests, liquor punctures or allergy tests can be arranged.
The treatment
Treatment for muscle twitching depends on the cause of the twitching and therefore varies widely. Most of the time, however, these are harmless and self-limiting jerks that do not require any further treatment. If symptoms occur more frequently, stress in everyday life is usually the trigger and can therefore be prevented by taking relaxing measures such as sport, autogenic training or yoga.
A balanced diet with particular attention to an adequate intake of magnesium, as well as avoiding alcohol and caffeine, can also bring about relief from the twitching. Medicines can also have side effects that cause muscle twitching. If this is the case, you should discuss with your doctor whether you can switch to a similar drug.
However, if there is a neurological or organic disease causing the twitches, the treatment is directed against this disease. For example, neurological "tics" or "Tourette's syndrome" are treated with so-called neuroleptics. If there is an epileptic cause, this is treated with anti-epileptic drugs. It becomes more complicated with diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which in addition to drug therapy can also include accompanying treatments such as physiotherapy or physiotherapy.
How can you reduce stress? Read on here.
The duration
The duration of a muscle twitch can vary widely and fluctuates between a few milliseconds and minutes. However, the twitching usually takes a few seconds and usually stops on its own.
However, there are some exceptions, for example a rhythmically recurring twitching, which is medically called "tremor" and occurs, for example, in Parkinson's disease, can also be chronic.
Can that be a magnesium deficiency?
Indeed, muscle twitching can be caused by a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is an important electrolyte - as a cofactor it regulates numerous enzymes. In addition, it plays an important role in nerve and muscle cells. It regulates the stability of the cell membrane and prevents overexcitability of the cells.
In the event of a deficiency, this regulating property no longer applies or is only reduced. As a result, twitching occurs. Most of the time, these twitches appear on the eyelid or calf. But other areas of the body can also be affected by a deficiency.
The magnesium balance can be restored through a balanced diet. For this, foods such as whole grain products, nuts, legumes and plenty of vegetables should be consumed. If this does not lead to an improvement in the symptoms, a doctor should be consulted. The magnesium may need to be taken in the form of a dietary supplement.
You can find more information at: The symptoms of a magnesium deficiency.
Indication of pregnancy
In principle, muscle twitching in the abdomen and pregnancy are not related. The earliest baby movements are usually only noticed from the 18th week of pregnancy and differ significantly from the typical superficial muscle twitches.
However, if there is a possibility of pregnancy and increased muscle twitching occurs at the same time, this may be related to a magnesium deficiency and should be clarified.
What are the symptoms of a magnesium deficiency? Find out more about this here.
Twitching in the abdomen during pregnancy
Muscle twitching in the abdomen and the rest of the body can occur more frequently during pregnancy. The reason for this is the increased need for magnesium. This is caused on the one hand by a hormonally increased excretion of electrolyte in the urine and on the other hand by the increased, stress-related breakdown of magnesium. This increases the need for pregnant women by around 30%.
As already mentioned, magnesium plays a very important role in the development of muscle twitches and cramps. The muscle excitation is disturbed by the deficiency and sudden, involuntary impulses occur. This muscle twitch can occur all over the body and appear both as a superficial twitch and as a painful muscle spasm. This can be avoided through a diet rich in magnesium and regular check-ups by the gynecologist.
Find out all about the topic here: Magnesium.
Twitching in the abdomen after caesarean section
A caesarean section, despite its frequency, is a major operation and involves a relatively long incision in the abdominal wall. Often not only skin and fatty tissue are severed, but also smaller nerves and vessels. This can lead to numbness postoperatively, as the nerves can no longer carry information.
After a while, these nerves are "repaired" again, which can often lead to muscle twitching in the lower abdomen, but disappears again after a while.
The pathophysiology
Muscle twitching refers to a sudden and involuntary contraction (= tension) of the muscles. The brain sends impulses to the muscle via the nervous system. However, these can also arise involuntarily and even overlap. This can lead to a wide variety of muscle twitching variants, which in medicine are classified by different names.
So-called "fasciculation" is the name given to the involuntary contraction of individual muscle bundles, which are often visible through the skin, but usually do not trigger any movement. Muscle twitches that result in movements are called "myoclonia". These occur, for example, in epileptic diseases.
Another, more common example is the so-called twitching to sleep, which occurs regularly in around 70% of the population. Further examples of muscle twitches are the long-lasting contractions ("dystonia"), which are colloquially known as "cramps", as well as rhythmically recurring twitches, which are medically known as "tremors" and are often associated with Parkinson's. The classic "muscle tremors" or "chattering teeth" in the cold are examples of muscle twitching.
