Trying so hard with my twitching

You sound like your body is in permanent fight or flight response, with high adrenaline and cortisol. You never allow yourself to rest or relax and your muscles are constantly tensed. Couple this with being on high alert for your son and I'm not surprised your muscles twitch constantly. You're exhausted.

Anxiety can do horrible things to your body. My suggestion to you would be this. Speak to your GP about treatment for anxiety. Be completely honest that it's not just now and again, and yes, you can have panic attacks in your sleep. Try medication for a good period of time.

Cut down on the excessive exercise.
Allow your partner to take over being on alert for your son for periods of time so you can rest.

Being treated for your anxiety doesn't mean that you have to stop investigations for other things, but you may just find that if it's dealt with, and you finally get some rest that the twitches will stop.

You have a lot going on in your life. It's really important to those you care for that you also care for yourself. I can't stress this enough.

You can get through this, with the right help and support.

It’s very addictive. Have you tried any medication for anxiety?

I have also been told that mine could be my body's way of releasing tension. I find them violent and sometimes physically painful but afterwards I relax and feel better.
Homedics percussion massager can help. Used daily to iron out tension

OP you can listen to Dr Claire Weekes on YouTube. Or if you go on Audible and get a free trial you can listen to 2 of her 3 books for free. Or you can read the full book at the internet archive for free.

OP I have been where you are with all the exact symptoms. I was convinced I was imminently going to be diagnosed with a serious neurological condition.

I was going through an incredibly difficult period in my life but once the big stressors were gone the twitching disappeared. A clear mri scan was fundamental for me to be able to move on. I also took sertraline for a few months - not great as you say the adaptation period, side effects and withdrawal are BAD. For people with the symptoms we have a course of diazepam for a couple of weeks would be far better - truly breaking the cycle of anxiety, insomnia and physical symptoms while anxiety treatment starts. But doctors can't prescribe it.

I know your life is objectively stressful and that won't change any time soon. Please have a chat with a doctor to discuss the pressures of caring for your child and the effects on your mind and body. They can help and you can absolutely feel better - hell you can feel GOOD.

Just read your updates. Wow, sounds exhausting. No wonder you are twitching..

I also had/have hyperreflexia, I jump out of my skin over any little sound or dog bark. I still have that to some extent, but I no longer worry about it. It’s just anxious ‘ol me.

Are you not able to get an EMG? That would put so many of your fears to rest. I can’t tell you the incredible relief I felt when mine came back normal.

OP I also suffered from constant twitching. I completely identify with the anxiety you are feeling. My tongue, legs, arms, almost everywhere. I would sit and watch my twitches, counting how many I had in a minute. I would also wake myself up with a horrible twitch. I was 100% convinced I had MND (ALS) without a doubt. The mental agony I went through was indescribable.

I eventually had an EMG (electromyography) which came back normal. Bloodwork normal. Oddly enough (not really) after my EMG my twitching eventually went away. The weakness I thought I had, gone.

I never really thought about MND before the twitching and other symptoms started, I can’t explain why they did. But it has been about six years since all this happened and I am still healthy!

I hope this brings you some comfort. (I wanted to add you do seem incredibly anxious, I am the same way. This will perpetuate your symptoms, as they did with me.)

Sorry only had a quick squizz at your comments but have you been to see someone about Tourette's? Me DD had TS and the meds clonidine, work pretty well

My only rule for ghosts is if they move shit, it better be the vacuum cleaner and they better empty it afterwards.

They would have seen anything concerning on your scan.

Turn your phone off and read until you’re super tired.

Yes, meds and cbt. A lifesaver. And I truly believed nothing could ever stop me worrying about my own personal health trigger. I do sometimes slip into bad habits but I know how to deal with them now so they don’t get out of control.

They would have had to scan your whole head, not just your ear.

It’s not me you’re thinking of but I have twitched in the past when my anxiety was bad. The worse my anxiety, the more I fixated on the twitching (and yes, my mind went to neurological diseases because I’ve got health anxiety) but when I sought help for the anxiety, the twitching disappeared too.

But you don't HAVE a neurological disorder. There is nothing to suggest that. All your symptoms are easily explainable as rampant anxiety which you do have and are refusing to treat. This is like someone beating their head against a wall for an hour then insisting they must have a brain tumour and demanding a scan because their head aches.

Treat the disorder you know you have and then you will know if any symptoms remain that you need to look into more closely.

I’m sure you are lovely. You don’t need to live like this though and we can’t help you, you need to see the dr. You don’t have a serious disease, you need help with your mental health. Life could be so much better for you if you addressed it.

With all due respect, you won't come to terms with any future diagnosis by googling and worrying about it. This is how cycles of anxiety are maintained. Google your local NHS talking therapies service and self refer for some therapy for health anxiety, and try the Sertraline whilst you wait (waiting lists are likely to be very long unfortunately :( )