Therapy of twitching of the thumb | Twitching of the thumb

Therapy of twitching of the thumb

The treatment of thumb twitching depends on its cause. If a certain disease has been identified as the cause during the diagnostic process, e.g. Parkinson’s disease or another nervous system disease, it will be treated and hopefully the symptom muscle twitching will also be reduced. If malnutrition is the cause, it can be corrected with appropriate preparations, e.g. magnesium powder.

It may also be necessary to discontinue medication after consulting the doctor. Relaxation techniques and professional advice can help with stress-related twitching. In general, one should observe when thumb twitching occurs particularly frequently and avoid corresponding activities if necessary.

Duration of muscle twitches of the thumb

The duration of the twitching of the thumb is also variable, due to different causes. If these are caused by an incurable basic illness, the twitching can accompany one also lifelong. If there are more harmless causes, such as a deficiency or psychological stress, the twitching becomes less or disappears completely after its elimination. Often it is enough to observe the twitching at first, sometimes this state stops by itself after days or weeks. If the twitching is very frequent, stressful in everyday life or still present after weeks or months, you should consult a doctor.

Twitching of thumb and index finger

In principle, any muscle can be affected by muscle twitches, therefore the combination of index finger and thumb is also possible at the same time. In addition, the flexor muscles of the thumb (partially) and index finger are innervated by the same nerve, the median nerve (middle arm nerve). So if the twitching is caused by a (local) problem of this nerve, twitches are possible in these two fingers, and possibly also in the middle finger.

Twitching in the ball of the thumb

The musculature of the ball of the thumb comprises four muscles, which together form the so-called thenar muscles. These muscles are responsible for abduction (abduction), opposition (thumb movement towards the little finger), flexion (flexion) and adduction (approach) of the thumb. Each of these muscles can twitch uncontrollably.

If the abduction or opposition muscle is affected, there may be damage to the median nerve mentioned above. If the adduction muscle twitches, the problem could be with the ulnar nerve. Different parts of the flexor muscle are supplied by one of the two nerves. Which muscle or nerve is affected can possibly be determined by diagnostics.