What is this twinge alternating between my chin and thumb?

August 10, 2009 7:38 PM

(YANMD, but) what is this odd twinge that occasionally alternates between two points on my body?

It is always the same two points, one under my chin and one at the tip of my left thumb. I feel the twinge under the chin, then on the thumb, then the chin, then the thumb, and so on for a period of several seconds and then it goes away. I plan to ask my doctor about it, but maybe you can help me go in with some more information.

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (5 answers total)

The occasional random bit of weak pain I feel sometimes at whatever random point on my body always has a corresponding response somewhere else on my body. For example, if there is a brief flash of pain in my stomach, I might feel a sensation in my ankle. I think this is normal. Physically, I think it has something to do with the way neurons are grouped together in the brain stem or in the brain itself, and philosophically I seem to recall this dual characteristic is one of the foundations of acupunture. I've looked for maps on the Internet to try to figure out where connections might be, but most of what I've found is artsy traditional stuff.
posted by crapmatic at 7:52 PM on August 10, 2009

IANAD. Could be a postural thing: you may get into the same odd position without realizing it on several occasions over time and end up with seemingly related twinges at the same places when they're both caused by contorting yourself in an uncomfortable way. If it isn't bothering you I'd chalk it up to one of many interesting subtleties of the human body and mention it to your doctor in passing.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:58 PM on August 10, 2009

I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

You are suffering from acid reflux disease. Take some prevacid and prove me wrong.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 8:35 PM on August 10, 2009

By way of a better, slightly longer explanation. I have experienced the same exact thing, it ended up being minor esophageal spasms caused by ARD and some OTC medications took care of it.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 8:37 PM on August 10, 2009

Google "referred pain." It sounds similar to some "bodies are so weird" experiences I have on occasion. For example, if I place something warm on a certain area of my chin, I can feel it in a spot on my lower back. In your case, there doesn't seem to be any outside stimulus starting your experience, but, bodies are weird.
posted by thebrokedown at 4:42 AM on August 11, 2009