Help, my hands feel like they're from Heroes!

November 28, 2007 2:37 PM

Help, my hands feel like they're from Heroes! Tonight I experienced a very intense buzzing sensation in my hands, my wife and her friend held my hand and both said they could feel it. If we discounted any non-biological cause (ie a vibrating floor) what could they have been feeling? Secondly, what was I experiencing?

It was a very odd experience - to suddenly find your hands vibrating with energy, I was looking at both hands like I was in heroes and my hands were going to shoot out electricity.

Just some extra pointers...
I've recently given up smoking - the last time I did this I got very strange energy surges in my legs (perhaps Restless Leg Syndrome?) - I'm getting them again though these tend to only be around 3 times a week. They'll pass soon enough like last time.
I had just been to theatre and had been pretty distracted during the performance by the restlessness of my legs!
I'd had a quarter of a pint before the show, half at the interval and a cola during the second half (all in the space of 2.5 hours).
While I'm obviously concerned at the vibrating sensation, I'm more intrigued by others being able to feel it in my hand.

posted by razzman to Health & Fitness (10 answers total)

I've had some very short-cycle muscle spasms that sort of felt like a buzzing in the meat at the base of the thumb. Was it both hands, or just one? Both hands would seem strange.
posted by Good Brain at 2:56 PM on November 28, 2007

Response by poster: just double checked with wifey - definitely both hands.
posted by razzman at 2:59 PM on November 28, 2007

You're clearly a superhero. A superhero with a muscle spasm. Do you do a lot of typing or other work with your hands? I experience this now and then - sometimes in both hands - especially after doing a whoooole lotta typin'.
posted by katillathehun at 3:04 PM on November 28, 2007

Sounds like you just got a rush of adrenaline. Probably just part of the nicotine withdraw. I get a little shaky when I haven't gotten enough sleep.
posted by whoaali at 3:29 PM on November 28, 2007

Although it sounds unlikely, it may be a symptom of acute kidney failure. Please see a doctor and get it checked out.
posted by JaySunSee at 3:53 PM on November 28, 2007

This used to happen to my feet, totally freaked me out... I thought I had an alien implant. I had just quit smoking too...

It went away after a while. Haven't felt it for over 4 years.
posted by muscat at 4:58 PM on November 28, 2007

Same thing, just after I quit smoking, some years ago, except mine was my back muscles. Time passes, I start again, quit again, and it comes back, but not as strong. Yes, it goes away. I hadn't thought about it until just now to be honest.

Now I'm curious as to whether this is a documented phenomenon.
posted by eclectist at 11:49 PM on November 28, 2007

In the couple of year after I quit smoking in high school, I would get muscle tremors in my arms and such; sometimes you could look down and watch a portion of a muscle tremble without having to look very hard, like when you're watching a baby's head press against its mother from the inside (but, you know, rapidly and rhythmically.)
posted by davejay at 12:26 AM on November 29, 2007

Oh, and as for seeing a doctor: it isn't the symptom itself that is the red flag (the kidney failure page linked above mentions "hand tremors", but I've had 'em most of my life and it's just part of being me) but the fact that something like this has just started out of nowhere *is* the red flag. A quick call to your doctor wouldn't hurt.
posted by davejay at 12:28 AM on November 29, 2007

I have the same thing going off. After running some tests, my doctor concludes that the spasms are mainly caused by stress along with some nerve problems I have.

From past experience, quitting smoking can certainly feel quite stressful.

Still, if the sensations continue, it would be wise to have a doctor check things out.
posted by pinkbuttonanus at 6:00 AM on November 29, 2007