Dr. Oz said he often gets asked about twitches and twitching body parts from fingers, legs, arms, hands to eyelids. So how do you know if your twitch is something more serious?
Dr. Oz said that reflexes cause involuntary twitching. For example, when a doctor hits your knee and your leg sticks out straight, it is because you have a reflex that goes from your tendon to your spine, which then fires to your muscle and makes your leg stick out. Dr. Oz also used a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device to show how electricity can make your muscle in your arm spasm. Usually, a TENS device is used in an operating room to make sure that the patient is paralyzed before starting an operation.
Dr. Oz said that eye twitching is rarely dangerous. However, you should see a doctor if your eyes close all the way when it twitches, if the eye twitch lasts for longer than a week or if material is coming out of the twitching eye (this could be an infection). Also, if you have a significant leg twitch, you should see a doctor because this could be a sign of Lou Gehrig’s Disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Melissa says
I have a bit of a leg twich which only seems to happen when I am laying down or sitting down. I also sometimes get it in my arms. I had a left eye twich which lasted about three weeks. It then slowed down until it was only doing it when I had a shower or when I would sneeze then it went away. I was wondering if the little twiched I am getting are a result of stress or if it’s something I should be concerned about. I am 28 years old and I have four children under the age of 6. I am just scared that it is something like ALS that is causing my leg to twich. It isnt all of the time it is just mainly at night or when I am at rest. Thank you and I look forward to your response