Re: Myoclonus

Posted By CCF Neurology MD on September 20, 1997 at 21:44:52:

In Reply to: Myoclonus posted by Perrie on September 19, 1997 at 19:46:48:







: I had a car accident in April and since then, alot of strange symptoms have shown up.  First I started getting numbness in my hands and lower legs.  I went to a neurologist and he gave me a nerve conduction test , which came back negative.  A little later , I started have large and small movements of my legs , arms and fingers as I started to fall asleep.  Also at about this time, my left arm and hand started to have strange creepy feelings in it. I would develope cramps in the thumb. Sometimes the feelings felt electrical.  I went back to the neurologist,and he gave me an EMG in that arm and hand.That was also negative.  Then I started to get little muscle twitches all over my body.  I was sent for MRI of my brain. All normal.  Some times when I am very tired or stressed, my fingers in my left hand will get a quick twitich.  When all was said and done, the doctor said that I have Nocturnal Myoclonus.  Does this sound right?  I must also include the fact that I have Fibromyalgia. Could this be a form of restless leg?  Thanks for your time.



    
Dear Perrie:
I do not think that the daytime symptoms that you have in your left arm and hand are necessarily related to your night-time or sleep twitching symptoms. Your arm symptoms are slightly worrisome and may represent a problem in or near your cervical spine, although this is somewhat less likely with negative EMG studies. With your history of a car accident (with a possible neck injury?), the diagnostic consideration of compression of one of the cervical roots/spinal cord may or may not be sufficiently strong to warrant an MRI scan of the cervical spine. Contrarily, these arm symptoms may be from an entiry unrelated neurological problem.
Nocturnal myoclonus, also called periodic movements of sleep, are quite prevalent, and may indeed be the nocturnal twitching you describe. This condition is often associated with "restless legs" BEFORE the person falls asleep.
I hope this answers your question.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options of your specific medical condition.