Re: Nervous jerking/twiching

Posted By Completion of post on October 19, 1998 at 15:31:11:

In Reply to: Re: Nervous jerking/twiching posted by CCF neuro MD MM on October 19, 1998 at 15:20:55:






I recently (1 month)started to experience jerking in my sleep, sometimes limbs...sometimes full torso. I now get occasional nervous jerk/twich/surges during the day...and usually when I am staying relatively still. I'm male 40, in better than average shape..social drinker
Thanks






: The symptoms you describe probably represent myoclonic jerks, these have a
variable signifciance depending on the circunstances, almost everyone occassionally has
myoclonic jerks while falling asleep, they are completely normal. More
severe jerks which wake you up, are more unusual and may require
investigation and treatment usaully with a drug called Klonepin.
Myoclonic jerks are also asociated with a form of epilepsy called juvenile
myoclonic epilepsy, when the ocurr primarily in the morning and may progress to full blown
grand mal seizures, you sound as though you are
           =


The symptoms you describe probably represent myoclonic jerks, these have a
variable signifciance depending on the circunstances, almost everyone occasionally has
myoclonic jerks while falling asleep, they are completely normal.
More severe jerks which wake you up, are more unusual and may require
investigation and treatment usually with a drug called Klonepin.
Myoclonic jerks are also asociated with a form of epilepsy called juvenile
myoclonic epilepsy, when the ocurr primarily in the morning and may progress to full blown
grand mal seizures.
You sound as though you are too old for this syndrome although a form of benign myoclonic epilepsy has ben described with onset in adults. in an otherwise healthy adult this is probably not a very significant finding but this has been described in some genetic syndromes including mitochondrial  disorders and as part of drug toxicity.
I would suggest that if this does not settle down you should be seen by a neurologist and have this evaluated by means of at least an EEG and other testing if he/ she thinks it is indicated.