I am 22, female. Why does my left eyelid keep twitching?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 22-year-old female. I will be turning 23 in a few months. For over two weeks, I have had a persistent twitch on my left eyelid. The twitch feels like a pulsating sensation, and I can sometimes trigger it by blinking hard or quickly blinking many times.

Although I have not noticed any weakness, I have been having some tightness and swelling on my left shoulder for about a week, and the trapezius muscle on my right shoulder appears smaller than the trapezius muscle on my left shoulder. I also recently had some swelling and mild pain in my left temple after coughing hard, but it has since faded. I also get random jerky twitches all over my body (mostly on my lower legs, thighs, arms, torso, etc.), but these twitches do not have the pulsating feeling that the other twitches do; rather, they are more like sudden sparky twitches.

It might be worth noting that the eyelid twitching began during my mense,s and shortly after my menses ended, I caught COVID-19, which I am currently recovering from.

Please advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Most common twitches are benign and are often caused and exacerbated by stress and anxiety. However, there are tests to confirm if it is benign or pathologic. COVID-19 is new, and there are reported cases of neuromuscular symptoms after having been infected, which were self-limiting. It is good to have a face-to-face consultation with a neurologist because your muscles will be visually inspected for atrophy, and the fasciculations and muscle strength will be tested. Reflexes will be tested too.

Then, blood tests may be performed, such as serum Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, and Magnesium. Electromyography will be requested too. Meanwhile, avoid caffeinated drinks, get a good sleep and rest, and have proper hydration and nutrition. If your stress level is high, take a break and try relaxing activities. It will help.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a chronic condition that progresses over months. And it does not happen in two weeks. The electromyography test would help determine if it is ALS or not.

Thank you.