“Before I was diagnosed with MS, I felt like I was sitting on a pager that was under my couch cushions,” one MyMSTeam member shared. While tremors are a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), some people experience only the feeling of vibration, without physical movements like a twitching eye or shaky hand. This sensation usually isn’t painful, but it can be annoying or confusing.

Medical professionals sometimes describe sensations of internal vibration as internal tremors, or IT. Internal tremor is defined as abnormal sensations of tremors, shaking, or vibrations that aren’t caused by actual movements.

If you or a loved one has felt unexplained vibrating sensations with MS, you’re not alone. Read more about what vibrating sensations feel like for different people living with MS, the connection between MS and internal tremors, and how to manage this MS vibrating feeling.

What Does Vibration in Multiple Sclerosis Feel Like?

MS can cause different symptoms in each person, and some individuals experience buzzing or vibrating sensations (a type of tingling). “It’s like throbbing vibrations,” one member explained. “It’s not too bad, but I could really do without it.”

MS can affect your sensory system, causing altered sensations such as numbness and paresthesia (feelings of buzzing, tingling, or pins and needles) in any part of your body. It could also cause a visible tremor that may happen while resting or moving a part of your body.

“I felt like I was sitting on a pager that was under my couch cushions.”

— A MyMSTeam member

Some people with MS report another symptom, “internal” shaking, which is described in different ways but isn’t visible on the outside. Direct evidence linking internal shaking to disease activity in MS is limited, but if you’re experiencing this symptom, it’s worth mentioning to your doctor.

MS symptoms vary, and you may feel altered sensations caused by MS in different parts of the body. People with MS often report tremors in their arms, hands, feet, and legs. Internal shaking can be vague and more difficult to describe. “I feel it a lot at night or when I’m lying around for a while,” one MyMSTeam member explained. “I can feel the lower half of my body vibrating like I’m lying on a vibrating bed.”

Does MS make you feel shaky inside? Or do you, like other members, experience MS internal tremors as “slapping” inside your chest, abdomen, back, or limbs? “I had a constant slapping feeling that started in my hands and feet that eventually moved to my lower legs and arms,” one member wrote.

“I have those symptoms too, especially in my lower back area,” replied another.

Other MyMSTeam members offered these descriptions:

• “My brain is vibrating.”
• “Eyes and face vibrating. It feels like my face wants to cry or laugh, and my muscles are sore from it.”
• “Ears numb and vibrating …”
• “Having vibration issues like I’m plugged into an outlet.”

How Common Is a Vibrating Sensation With MS?

In a study that involved people with a few different chronic conditions, more than one-third of participants with MS (almost 36 percent) reported experiencing internal tremors.

Among all the participants who said they had internal tremors, the frequency varied:

• Thirty-two percent said they felt them once a day.
• Twenty-nine percent experienced them two or three times a week.
• Thirty-nine percent reported feeling them four to seven times a week.

What Causes Vibrating Sensations in Multiple Sclerosis?

MS is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin (the coating that protects nerve fibers) in the central nervous system (CNS). This damage can lead to lesions on the brain and spinal cord. If lesions form in the areas that control movement, you might experience symptoms such as tremors, speech problems, numbness, burning, tingling, or weakness.

“Having vibration issues like I’m plugged into an outlet.”

— A MyMSTeam member

Some people with MS describe a feeling of internal shaking or buzzing. This sensation is harder to assess and tie to a specific cause, but doctors believe it may stem from the same damage that causes visible tremors. This damage often affects the cerebellum and thalamus (parts of the brain involved in movement) or the nerve fibers in the spinal cord.

The feeling of internal shaking can also happen with other long-term conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor disorder. If you experience new, persistent, or worsening sensations, talk to your neurologist. They’ll try to figure out what’s causing your sensory symptoms and work with you to find the best ways to manage them. To understand what’s behind internal tremors, your doctor might also consider your other symptoms.

In MS, common symptoms include motor and sensory issues such as:

• Numbness
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Incontinence
• Dizziness
• Optic neuritis (blurry vision)
• Muscle spasticity
• Unsteady gait
• Slurred speech
• Lhermitte’s sign (electric-shock sensation when bending the neck forward)

Managing Vibrating Sensations in Multiple Sclerosis

Vibrating sensations can be distracting and annoying but not necessarily painful. You may not need immediate relief from internal tremors. However, you may want to get medical advice from your doctor or neurology specialist if you develop new vibrating, prickling, or tingling sensations or a visible tremor.

Depending on your symptoms, several treatment options may help provide relief.

Anxiety and Stress Reduction

One study published in the journal Parkinsonism & Related Disorders found that participants with MS and internal tremors reported significantly higher anxiety levels than those who had MS without internal tremors.

Members of MyMSTeam have described linking stress or tiredness with this symptom. “I get it at night … usually at the end of the day, when I’ve done way too much,” one member shared. Another member indicated that getting enough sleep seemed to help: “Much better sleep — vibrations seem to have stopped!”

Stress is also a frequent cause of MS pseudo-exacerbations (false attacks), which are temporary periods of worsening symptoms that resemble relapsing. However, pseudo-exacerbations aren’t generally associated with increased disease activity, inflammation, or nerve damage. Instead, brief flare-ups make MS symptoms worse after periods of stress, illness, or excessive heat.

Some people find that stress-reduction techniques such as yoga, exercise, medication, or therapy can be beneficial. “Moving around helps me sometimes,” shared a member regarding their vibration sensations. Stress reduction is an important part of keeping MS symptoms under control.

Medication

The sensation of internal shaking or buzzing isn’t well understood, but if you’re dealing with visible tremors, certain medications might help. Although no medications are specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MS-related tremors, some drugs have been found to help manage this symptom. According to the MS Society, commonly prescribed options include propranolol, gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise), and clonazepam (Klonopin).

It’s important to keep in mind that all medications have potential risks and side effects, so they should be considered only if your tremors affect your daily life. If stress management techniques don’t provide enough relief, ask your health care provider whether there’s a medication you could try.

Other Treatments

Other treatment options for visible tremors include physical therapy, neurosurgery, and electrode implants. However, these approaches may be too extreme if you’re experiencing only a vibrating sensation. Talk to your health care provider about what you can do to safely manage your symptoms, slow the progression of MS, and improve your quality of life.

Find Your Team

MyMSTeam is the social network for people with MS and their loved ones. On MyMSTeam, more than 217,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with MS.

Do you have vibrating sensations with MS? What does this symptom feel like to you? Share your experiences in the comments below or by posting on your Activities page.