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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Hypnic Jerks
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Hypnic Jerks
by shamrock, Jun 01, 2006 12:00AM
I have been treated at CCF for hypnic jerks for about 4 years now. After about 8 years with this condition I have done extensive research and can never seem to find out the cause. Any new discoveries about this and why?
Thank you.
Shamrock
Thank you.
Shamrock
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Jun 08, 2006 12:00AM
Benign Hypnic jerks or sleep myoclonus is quite common in the general population and is not associated with seizures or epilepsy.
There is not much new in terms of causes - because it is recognised to be so benign, nobody is really doing any research into it - especially nowadays when money to do research is hard to come by and has to be shown to benefit the population.
Sorry!
There is not much new in terms of causes - because it is recognised to be so benign, nobody is really doing any research into it - especially nowadays when money to do research is hard to come by and has to be shown to benefit the population.
Sorry!
I have to say that I was dissapointed to see your posting. I have followed your case on the various forums for three years since my jerks started. I hadn't seen anything from you for quite a long time and had hoped you had found a cure which meant one was possible for this dreaded thing we have.
I do have some stuff to share with you that has helped me. Recently I discovered that I had pretty good nights if I drank a sports drink like gatorade before I went to bed. I discovered it totally by accident but it started me looking at minerals. I tried to duplicate the results with supplements but with no luck. It seems liquid form is better. I have however found that if I take the GNC Women's Ultra Mega vitamins I get similar results. I'm not sure what makes the difference but it I think it has something to do with the balance of calcium, potassium, magnesium and B vitamins. Anyway, I wanted to pass this along in case you could get some help from it.
I am curious to know if you are a woman that is near or in menopause. I have read on some womens forums that this is one of the symptoms of peri or full blown menopause and thought I would look into some of the natural hormones that seem to be helping so many. Have you heard anything about this?
Also, my problem seems to really flare under times of stress. Is this true for you also?
Finally, I read recently that this is symptom of fibromyalgia and is considered an alpha beta brain wave abnormality but I haven't been able to track down much about that. Was wondering if you had ever run across this in your research.
Anyway, please update me on how you are doing when you get a chance. Lele Bug
I am a woman and this started at peri-menopause and now I'm in menopause. I don't think this has anything to do with it for I know a few men that have this.
Yes,I do find that this flares up under stress. I also find that the more fatigued I become the worse it gets.
Interesting about Gatorade, vitimans and fibromyalgia.
Do you see a doctor, take any medications? How did your's start?
Hopefully the doctor here can shed some light on this.
Thanks again....Shamrock
I am new to forum. I am 48 year old female. You mentioned you had symptoms start perimenopause. Would any of your symptoms be generalized, widespread muscle twitching (fasiculations). Mine started about 3 months ago, I cant attribute them to anything. Of course, worried about ALS. Any help or information is appreciated.
Terri
Yes I did have fasiculations start in my calves at that time. I stll have them although I don't pay much attention to them anymore because I've learned to live with them. Once in awhile other parts of my body will twitch. For some reason that has never doesn't bother me at night.
Good luck.
Shamrock
Thanks for the reply. I did see my internist when this first started and he felt it was definately stress related. I was under enormous stress and he put me on prozac which did help and definately eliminated all my peri female symptonms like monster PMS. I weaned myself off after a few months and things were ok (mostly ok nights with a few bad ones, particularly right before my period)until recently when again, I was under extreme stress, and it really flared.
When it first started I had just had some surgery which I have heard can make this start.
When I have bad nights I manage them mostly with benadryl and the occassional valium if they are really bad. I always have a couple of glasses of wine at night because it really helps me get to sleep with no jerks. Not the best solution I'm sure but it works.
I definately think the hormonal thing is a connection. I know men can have this but they have hormones too! Not sure if it is the root cause but may be a trigger, among other things, of the disorder. I'm definately going to pursue the natural hormone thing. I'll let you know how it goes.
Also, about the vitamins. I also found that tropicana orange juice with calcium helps. I looked at the label and it has lots of potassium, calcium and other minerals so I started looking into electrolyte imbalances and the sypmtoms. Jerking is definately one of them. This morning I woke up a 4AM and couldn't get back to sleep because and got up and drank some juice...was back to sleep in less than an hour. Not bad
Anyway, worth a try!
Talk to you soon.
Lele Bug
Good luck to you.
Shamrock
I was looking around on the net and found an article about hypnic jerks. It seems the mayo clinic has/is doing some research on it. Here's an excerpt:
"While this phenomenon happens to most everyone, studies have recently begun to link occurrences of “Hypnic jerks” to sleep anxiety, fatigue, and discomfort. People who are having trouble sleeping or can’t get comfortable in bed appear to experience the sensation more often throughout the night. It is especially more common with people who are trying to fight falling asleep or have deprived themselves of sleep for more than 24 hours.
Researchers believe that the lack of sleep from sleep anxiety or sleep deprivation confuses the muscles and the brain. The muscles continually attempt to relax and shut down for rest, while your brain remains awake creating continued “misinterpretations” of falling or loss of balance."
Have you had any anxiety problems in the past, prior to your problem? I sure did and still do when I'm stressed and I definately have sleep anxiety. My sleep anxiety started just before the jerks started.
Anyway, I thought it was interesting and I'll try to find out more about the research project. Still doing better with the sports drinks and OJ. How about you?
Lele Bug
I am sad to read that Shamrock has had these for 8 years. I am a hopeful person and was praying that they would go away forever.
I don't know anyone personally who has ever experienced these so it's very frustrating. After seeing multiple doctors I have stayed with a neurologist for a while now.
Do any of you ever experience an electrical jolt throughout your body with these jerks. It's such a vicious cycle because when I am trying to fall asleep and get them, they cause my heart to race and lead to sleep anxiety