Body Stretching while sleeping (Page 1)

Aerobic and heavy exercise should be taken during the day. Exercise is stimulating to the mind and body and interferes with the body's need to calm down before sleep. Stretching helps the body relax tense muscles and bring warmth to the joints and surrounding tissues. It restores balance to the body after a day responding to the affects of gravity and other postural challenges.
Stretching is an ideal way to relax the body before sleep. Slow stretching combined with breathing techniques that help calm the mind, are an enjoyable way end the day.

thanks

Did you ever find out what was causing the uncontrolled stretching? My body started doing the same thing.

I've had this problem for over 10 years. (I'm a 49-year-old man). I've had a couple sleep studies done, and doctors are stumped. They don't seem to be concerned about it, but I can't tell whether that's because they don't think it's a problem or they just don't know how to react to something they've never seen before. They don't say, "it's not a problem." They just say, "I don't know." I've searched the internet over the years and found next to nothing. I've seen a few others with the problem: A pregnant lady, someone with multiple sclerosis, and a couple people with Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome. They all think it's related to those conditions, but I doubt it. Those are pretty diverse conditions.

Anyway, I'm starting to be concerned that years of dozens of these spasms a night will affect my blood vessels, especially in my brain. These stretches are valsalva maneuvers, which, according to some studies, cause spikes in cerebral blood flow or spikes in blood pressure or both. Will this repeated stretching of my cerebral arteries weaken them? Will a spike eventually cause failure of one of these arteries?

This is one of those problems that happens to so few people and seems so benign that there's no research into it. But is it benign in the long run? There's no way to tell. I mean, if you have this problem for a few decades and die from or are disabled by a stroke, does anyone even consider that they might be related? And if they do, do they tell anyone? Is a study done? Apparently not. But that doesn't mean that they're not related.

So, if anyone gets any insight at all into this condition, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks.

Coolgya, you should stop giving advice. Your advice is unrelated to the subject, and clearly you have no idea what you're talking about. I'm sure you're a nice fella, and I'm sure you think you know what you're talking about. But you don't. So be a real nice fella and stop giving advice.

Well you are not alone! I'm 39 years old and wake up in a full body stretch at least 3 to 5 times a night. I saw a doc and he prescribed Klonipin. It worked great at first, but I did not like being on a narcotic. I started taking half the dose and I found myself waking later in the night(early mornin) but started the stretching again. My doc stated that the condition was some sort of hyperdream state and the Klonipin should rebalance my rem sleep. Whatever all that means:) Anyway still confused, I see my doc again in 2 months. I'll be glad to update you. I guess I will continue to stretch all night, and I do mean stretch! I stretch so hard sometimes I catch a cramp.

Added thought: I used to stretch like that in the mornings when I woke. Now I stretch in a seriously deep dream state. Do you dream real deep? I dream heavy all night whereas I uses to not dream so much. Let me know if you find out anything.

Doublenot, I'd be curious what your doctor's long-term plan for you is and what exactly he means by "hyperdream state." Obviously you can't stay on Klonopin forever. And how would temporarily being on Klonopin have a long-term effect? How long have you been stretching in your sleep?

I doubt that you dream more than you did before. If you don't wake up during or shortly after a dream, you won't remember dreaming. The stretching is most likely waking you up during or shortly after a dream, and that's why you remember dreaming.

It would be great if you could let us know what your doctor says.

Ahh yep sounds all to familiar, 37 yr old female here who has been waking up several time a night to a full body stretch. It's been about 1 year that I have noticed it. I too have stretched so hard that I get a calve cramp and worse yet.... Threw out my lower back 2 times!! Pure agony for 2 weeks each to recover from those! I have no insurance at this time so I am curious to what you all find out ! It drives me crazy, there has to be a reason for it...

I have been stretching multiple times at night for a few months. I am a 57 yr. old female. I have a fused neck and was thinking it could be the position of my neck is compressing my spinal cord and causing me to have an uncontrolled impulse to move.

i am a 58 yrs male and i had this problem for over three yrs, I wake up at night and have to stretch my body and feel blood coming to my head and feel like my head is going to burst and my heart start beating faster for a few seconds.when i fall asleep again it starts all over again.I have seen two neurologists, i have been on Mri scan for the spine and for the brain, also stress test holter test, ecg,and gave me about 6 different pills but i still have the symptoms and no one knows what it is.

It is a relief to know that others too have such problems and it is not serious. I have been worried about my 9 year old son. He is having this problem for last 3-4 years. His veins are so prominent now on his whole legs due to constant stretch outs. He stretches out in the day time also. Doctors never gave any sort of explanation. Two neurologists advised him to do EEG but no solution to the problem. He is a very sensitive boy, takes everything so serious. I am very much worried. Any suggestion??

My night stretches began shortly after my hysterectomy two years ago. I have hot flashes that seem to coincide with these stretches during sleep state. The Premarin I take controlled the hot flashes and the stretches but now it no longer does. I don't sleep!

If the stretching happens all/mostly at night, then it is probably Restless Legs Disorder (RLS) or Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD). They're both night/sleeping disorders that make you feel the need to stretch. It might also be an iron deficiency. I hope this helps.

you can do regular exercise for it and can sleep well this is due to stretches in veins.

Thanks!!

I'm a 25 year old female and I've recently noticed that I've been doing this. The only difference is I wake up to find myself stretched out, and it's painful but I can't stop doing it. Then I wake the next day and I can't get out of bed as the pain is so bad. I'm stuck in bed for about 20 minutes and its probably the worst pain i've ever had.

I get up and its still there then easiest off slightly but I cant move my neck all day. Really bugging me now as its affecting my job. Scary stuff!

I am a 45 year old male and have the same problem. Sometimes I stretch so hard my heart starts to race. I recently read that the vagus nerve sometime controls stretching. So sleep position may have something to do with it.

I'm a 39 year old female and have recently started stretching in the night. It happens at least 3-4 times and I wake myself up doing it. I too stretch so hard I get cramps in my calfs and just the other day I put my neck out. My mom gets RLS so I'm wondering if it's genetic?

Had this since this past Feb...onset 3 wks after forced switch from Lipitor to Atorvastatin. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD A MED SWITCH PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF THESE EVENTS?
Recently had a sleep study, dr could not see anything, even tho I reported 3 events that I was aware of. I understand that it is very likely he did not see any since being wired and taped with electrodes over most of my body, even up my nose, does not make for a restful night's sleep....my events mostly occur during REM sleep and I could not settle into a solid sleep.
Also, my stretches often occur AS I TURN or move in my sleep, or sometimes they feel more like I am pressing myself into the mattress...either of these would be hard to spot, but on MY end, I can definitely feel them. You all know how hard they are to describe. Since they don't fit any known and established syndrome or illness, I'm concerned they will be discounted as "all in my head" and ignored, leaving me to twitch and stretch and never again get a solid night's sleep.

I have had the same stretching syndrome for 5 years now. Changing mattresses or pillows doesnt work for me. Using sleeping pills seems to mask the issue. I have queried my doctors for years and no luck....

Seems like all your doctors are useless, it's definitely Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. Check your Iron AND Ferritin Levels as well as magnesium, vitamin B and folic acid levels. A lot of times it's associated with Narcolepsy so I would probably ask your doc for a referral to a Sleep Specialist for an overnight sleep study! Sometimes iron supplementation if your ferritin is low helps a lot so discuss it with your doc!

Feb 2011 I had a nose bleed.The area was local in the nose.Two months later stent was placed.Now Feb 2013 I got up one night streching my upper body area so much that I punctured my nose in same area with induced pressure.My nose has been treated but I still wake up towards mornings streching my body again but I manage to interpt and stop . but i fear every night i go to sleep.I am on usual post-stent medication. any sugestions.

Hello,
For having relief you should make some less stretching and do Yoga...

I have been suffering with the same disorder and its not getting any better. I have had this problem for over five years. The doctors have no answer and keep sending me for scans, this has reveled that I have a cervical disorder in my neck, however I dont think this is the cause. It would be great if we can find some answer to this most annoying feeling

Has anyone tried magnesium supplements before bed? I helped me for a good two years...until yesterday. I was taking 400-500 mg before bed. I slept all night and no stretching...until yesterday...now I am stuck I can not tolerate more magnesium, my stomach goes out. I am trying th magnessium oil, but that didn;t work last night Help! It hurts real bad..my back and legs/.

Up Date, Got some magnesium oil sprayed 6 times and took 2 mg oral. Plus did light yoga before bed. It worked..Hope this helps others.