Jumping when falling asleep

Hi nearly each night when i am drifting off to sleep I experience a big "Jolt" or jumping sensation which wakes me up, I am in a bit of a state, heart racing etc, then I try again and it happens, 6+ times before eventually falling asleep?

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Myoclonus is a specific type of sudden muscle movement. Based on the description you provide, one possibility is hypnic jerks, or "sleep starts" which are as you describe jerks, myoclonus, that occur as one falls asleep. These typically do not imply a progressive underlying neurologic disorder and typically do not interfere with sleep but can, particularly when there is excessive fatigue, poor sleep the prior night, excessive caffeine intake, etc. Another type of myoclonus occurs while asleep, these are termed periodic limb movements and involve flexion at the hip, knee, and ankle. If your symptoms become so severe as to result in day time sleepiness and daytime fatigue, evaluation by a sleep specialist is recommended.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.