Our brain sends signals to our muscles for them to work properly. When something interrupts these signals, in any way, muscles start to be hyperactive as nothing is there to control them. This is not particular to a specific muscle, but can happen to any muscle, including your calf muscles, where you experience calf twitching.

Muscle twitching, in general, in medical field, is known as muscle fasciculations or myoclonus. These are muscle contractions that occur with you wanting them, also known as involuntary muscle contractions.

Myoclonus or fasciculations may either be physiologic or pathologic. Many muscle twitches, including calf twitching, might be physiological or because of some reason that is not serious, like benign fasciculations (which might be caused by stress, improper sleep, or low blood sugar), or restless leg syndrome. Pathologic causes include Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, or Lewy body dementia.

In this article, we will discuss some of the causes, including:

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Causes of calf twitching

BENIGN FASICULATIONS

This term is used in medical field for a condition where you experience muscle twitching continuously and repetitively. This is a common condition, and is not usually associated with something serious (like a disorder of nervous system).

You may experience calf twitching for a number of benign or non-serious causes, some of which are:

 

RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME

This is a condition which results in you experiencing urges to move your legs, and these urges are irresistible.

Even though the cause of restless leg syndrome is not known, but it is believed it runs in the families. This is called primary restless leg syndrome, where you do not have any other underlying disease. But there are some cases where you might have kidney failure, peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord disorders or iron deficiency anemia, in this case leg or calf twitching is called secondary restless leg syndrome.

Symptoms of restless leg syndrome include:

 

HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE

It is rare disease where your nerve cells in brain degenerate progressively. It is genetic disorder, and runs in families.

In this disorder your nerves lose their ability to work properly, hence muscles are in turn affected as well.

Symptoms may range from movement, to psychiatric and cognitive disorders. Symptoms include:

 

AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

This is a disease that causes your brain and spinal cord nerve cells to degenerate with time. When nerve cells are damaged, you brain would not be able to send any signals to your muscles, resulting in your muscles losing control. This disease is not curable, and is managed by medicines.

Symptoms include:

 

EPILEPSY

In this disorder, you brain activity becomes abnormal, resulting in seizures.

These seizures may be absent where you only stare blankly for some seconds, but if it more severe form of seizures your arms and legs may twitch.

Symptoms include:

 

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

It is a neurological disease that causes your brain to shrink, which in medical field is known as brain atrophy. In Alzheimer’s disease, your nerve cells in brain die, causing your muscles to work in an uncontrolled manner.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:

Alzheimer’s disease has no cure, but its symptoms are managed by treatment.

 

LEWY BODY DEMENTIA

In this disorder, small deposits of proteins are stacked up on your nerve cells. These small protein deposits are known as Lewy bodies. It causes dementia, a term used for inability to think, remember things, or make decisions.

Not only dementia, Lewy body dementia results in cognitive changes, and motor disorders (disorders where your movements are disturbed).

Symptoms of Lewy body dementia are:

People who are above 60 years of age, who are men, and who have someone in family who has Parkinson’s disease or Lewy body dementia are at higher risk of getting Lewy body dementia.

 

Diagnosis

Doctors start by taking a thorough history, where they ask you about your condition (when did it actually start, how long does it long for), about the medicines that you use, and other things.

To diagnose your condition, you doctor may request some tests including and EMG (or electromyography to check your muscle activity, EEG (electroencephalogram that monitors your brain activity), MRI, and blood tests.

 

Treatment

Because usually this calf twitching is caused by things that are non-serious reasons, you can usually prevent and improve your condition by following below mentioned things:

In case the calf twitching you, experience is because of some drug, or something else that you do, it is better to stop taking it, or at least reduce the quantity.

But in case this calf twitching is because of an underlying disease, you doctor will diagnose the cause and treat it accordingly.

 

When to see a doctor

If this calf twitching improves soon after starting, or does not bother you, it is nothing to worry about.

But there are certain issues that need to be kept in mind, as to when experienced or seen, you should rush to doctor. These points include:

 

Takeaway

Calf twitching is a common symptom experienced by many people, and is usually because of benign causes including restless leg syndrome, overexertion, lack of sleep or insomnia, unbalanced diet, mineral and vitamin deficiency (vitamin D, calcium, magnesium), stress/anxiety, dehydration, low blood sugar). Most of the times, this calf twitching improves soon, and does not disturb your daily activities. Some home remedies, and lifestyle modifications are enough for you to relieve yourself of this calf twitching.

But there are times when this calf twitching is because of underlying diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, Huntington’s disease, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). In this case you have to give attention to the symptoms that you might experience with this calf twitching (including calf twitching that last for 2 weeks or more, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, seizures, loss of consciousness). In this case you should visit your doctor, get yourself diagnosed and treated. Even though some of these diseases are incurable, but getting proper treatment will help you live a better life.