Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 11/8/2006

Question
Hello, I am a 28 yr old female.  I just had a question on brain tumors.  I have been having these episodes of insomnia due to body jerking while trying to fall asleep.  This all started about 3wks ago when I found out my son had asthma.  I was up everynight with him worrying.  I did not sleep much and than when I did try sleeping after a couple of nights of staying up all night thats when the jerks started.  They feel like a jolt. It could be my whole body or an arm or leg.  They subsided for a couple of nights but then I was taking off b/c pills and put on a new one and then started suffering from severe anxiety.  That's when the jolts kicked in again and now they wont go away.  I also have pain in the back of my skull near the hairline which radiates to my neck and left eye.  This seem to have started since I have not gotten any sleep.  The pain is not severe but when I put alot of pressure on it, it hurts. Can brain tumors cause body jerkig just at night while trying to fall asleep?  At night i can feel the pressure in my head, does this sound more like tension?  I have rapid heart beat too, while i am trying to fall asleep.  Can anxiety cause body jerking or just tumors in the brain?  I have been giving XAnax for the severe anxiety and that help with the body jerking but I am just so afraid of a brain tumor now.  

Answer
What you describe is a rather common physiological reaction that sometimes happen when you fall asleep. It has nothing to do with brain tumours, but may very well have something to do with your anxiety syndrome. I think you should discuss this with your psychiatrist. Your headaches may very well be associated with tension!
Good luck