Hand Twitching: Causes, Symptoms, And More - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribe6 Causes of Hand Twitching

Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M.D. — Written by Kiara Anthony — Updated on August 1, 2018

Causes
When to see a doctor
Outlook

Twitching is common and often has no cause for concern. That being said, there is a chance that twitching may be an indication of a more serious disease or condition.

Involuntary muscle spasms or myoclonic twitching can happen at any time and occur anywhere in the body, including the hands. Though these spasms often occur for only a few moments, it’s not unusual for them to last minutes to hours.

Along with uncontrollable movements, hand twitching may also be accompanied by symptoms such as:

pain
burning or tingling in the fingers
numbness
shaking

What causes hand twitching?

1. Caffeine

Too much caffeine can cause bodily twitching, including in the hands. Caffeine contains stimulants that can cause muscle contractions.

If you notice your hands begin to twitch after having your morning coffee or drinking an energy drink, consider switching to a decaffeinated beverage.

2. Dehydration

Dehydration affects muscle function. Not drinking enough water can cause your muscles to cramp and can also cause your muscles to spasm and contract involuntarily. If dehydrated, you may also experience:

headaches
dry skin
bad breath
chills
fatigue

3. Muscle cramps

Muscle cramps are often caused by overexertion and strenuous activity. This can cause your muscles to tighten or contract, resulting in twitching and sometimes pain. Though they can affect any part of the body, muscle cramps are common in your:

hands
hamstrings
quadriceps
calves
feet
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed as it passes into your hand. It can be triggered by a number of factors, including:
use of repetitive hand motion
pregnancy
heredity
diabetes
rheumatoid arthritis

4. Carpal tunnel syndrome

Other than hand twitching, you may also experience symptoms including:

numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers
pain
shooting pain traveling up your forearm
weakness

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome will worsen over time without proper treatment. If diagnosed early, doctors will often recommend nonsurgical options such as using a hand brace or taking medication. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

5. Dystonia

Dystonia is a condition that causes repetitive and involuntary muscle contractions. It can affect the entire body or just one part, such as the hands. The spasms can range from mild to severe. They may cause complications including:

pain
fatigue
difficulty swallowing
difficulty speaking
physical disabilities
functional blindness

There is no cure for dystonia, but medical treatment and prescription drugs can improve symptoms and quality of life.

6. Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s disease causes progressive nerve cell degeneration in your brain. As a result, it may cause movement and cognitive disorders. Symptoms vary from one person to the next, but some of the more common symptoms include:

muscle contractions
involuntary jerking or twitching
poor balance
difficulty speaking
limited flexibility
uncontrollable outbursts
learning disabilities

There is no known cure for Huntington’s disease. However, prescribed medical treatment and therapy can help to improve quality of life while movement disorder symptoms are treated.

When to see a doctor

If your twitching worsens, rule out serious medical issues by seeking immediate medical attention. This is especially important if your twitching is accompanied by other symptoms such as:

hand weakness
numbness or loss of feeling
persistent pain
swelling
twitching spreading to your arms

Outlook

Hand twitching is relatively common and often resolves without medical treatment. However, incessant twitching and pain may be an indication of a more serious issue.

If you begin to notice worsening symptoms, schedule a visit to your doctor to discuss a diagnosis as well as to ensure you receive the best treatment options, if needed.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Involuntary movements. (n.d.).http://stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/the25/im.html
Jennings CD, et al. (2016). Carpal tunnelsyndrome.https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Dystonia.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dystonia/symptoms-causes/syc-20350480
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Movement disorders.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/movement-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20363893
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Huntington’s disease.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/huntingtons-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20356122
Movement disorders. (n.d.).http://www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Movement-Disorders
Myoclonus fact sheet. (2018).https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Myoclonus-Fact-Sheet

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Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M.D. — Written by Kiara Anthony — Updated on August 1, 2018

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