involuntary jerking

[mistrawberry]

I am a 51 yr old female. I am having problems with my body jerking. Sometimes it will be just my legs, arms, hands or my entire body. Sometimes it will only be on one side of my body. When my arm jerks sometimes it looks like I am just raising my hand rapidly and repeatedly. My legs go straight out and up. When my whole body jerks it looks like I am having a seizure. I am diabetic with thyroid, asthma, allergies, depression and neuropathy. Could someone please help and tell me what this could possible be even my doctors can't figure it out. This has been going on for about 2 yrs ever since I got injured at work.

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

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.

Are your lab works (such as BUN, Cr, calcium, etc) within normal range?

The jerks you describe may be myoclonic jerks. Myoclonic jerks can result from a wide-range of illnesses. They can be a form of epilepsy. They are typically more worrisome if there are other abnormalities such as weakness or speaking difficulties. In addition to seizure, they can be from a prior stroke, injury, infection, metabolic abnormality, tumor, etc. The differential is broad. If you have not had a thorough workup, I would suggest an EEG and brain MRI. Lastly, you should be evaluated by a neurologist.

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

[mistrawberry]

Concerning my lab work the only things that aren't in normal range are thyroid and glucose. I will ask my doctor if he would refer me to a neurologist and have me go for an EEG and brain MRI. Thank you for helping me. At least I have some ideal of what it could possibly be.