Benign Fasciculation Syndrome

Definition

Definition of Benign Fasciculation Syndrome
Benign fasciculation syndrome (BFS) is a neurological disorder resulted as fasciculation (twitching) of various voluntary muscles in the body. It can occur in any voluntary muscle group but is most common in the eyelids, arms, legs, and feet.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Benign Fasciculation Syndrome
The tongue may also be affected with the disease. The twitching may be occasional or may go on nearly continuously. Any intentional movement of the involved muscle causes the fasciculations to cease immediately, but they may return once the muscle is at rest again.

Causes

Causes of Benign Fasciculation Syndrome
Though twitching is sometimes a symptom of serious diseases such as spinal injury, muscular dystrophy, Lyme Disease, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), it is much more often due to more benign causes (BFS, over-exertion, etc.), and virtually everyone will experience some episodes of benign fasciculation during their lifetime.

The precise cause of BFS is unknown, and, in fact, it's not known if it's a disease of the motor nerves, the muscles, or the neuromuscular junction. Mitsikostas et al. found that fasciculations "were slightly correlated to the body weight and height and to the anxiety level" in normal subjects. Another factor that seems to be common in many cases is a history of regular strenuous exercise. Attention deficit disorder (or drugs used to treat it) and/or a related disorder may be a contributing factor, and people with essential tremor appear to have a greater than normal likelihood of developing BFS. In addition, there are likely other genetic and environmental factors that make the patient more susceptible to BFS.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Benign Fasciculation Syndrome
Another abnormality commonly found upon clinical examination is a brisk reflex action known as hyperreflexia. Standard laboratory tests are unremarkable. According to neurologist John C. Kincaid: In the absence of clinical and electromyographic findings of neurogenic disease, the diagnosis of benign fasciculations is made.

Features

Features of Benign Fasciculation Syndrome
The main symptom of benign fasciculation syndrome usually is focal or widespread involuntary muscle activity (twitching). In addition to the twitching, some sufferers experience pain, generalized fatigue, exercise intolerance, globus sensations, muscle cramping, and/or paraesthesias.

Another common feature of the disorder, when seen by physicians, is an increase in the patient's level of anxiety, especially health-related anxiety. It's not uncommon for the patient to fixate on ALS, MS, ME, Parkinson's, vCJD, Wilson's Disease, Dystonia or some other serious neurological disorder, refusing to believe the BFS diagnosis. Many health anxious people are greatly helped by the discussion websites (see External Links section) containing a wealth of knowledge on the conditions and symptoms discussed by long-term suffers willing to help and calm the worries of people mistakenly fearful of having one of the more serious disorder.

Treatment

Treatment of Benign Fasciculation Syndrome
Control of the fasciculations may be achieved with the medication used to treat essential tremor (beta-blockers and anti-seizure drugs). Any accompanying anxiety should be treated immidiately. Proactive approach to decrease the overall daily stress. Common ways to reduce stress include: exercising more, sleeping more, working less, meditation, and eliminating all forms of dietary caffeine (e.g. coffee, chocolate, cola, and certain over-the counter medications.