I've been having these myoclonic (jerks? convulsions?) Meh... Don't know what to call them - but they sure are annoying. When they happen, my legs get really weak. It also seems to be associated with back pain - upper, lower, lumbar. On top of that, I can't feel my knees. They're numb to the touch, but more importantly, when I walk, I can't feel them. I can feel the pressure in my calves and thighs and feet, but not my knees - they're buzzy and floaty. And I keep getting this soft palate twitch - it sounds like a thumping in the left eardrum. And then there's the morning myoclonus in my legs and back... which sometimes also shows up during the day.
So I told my neurologist about this on Friday, and she tells me some interesting things. She thinks the myoclonic jerks are brought on by L'Hermittes. Which is an interesting idea - I suppose my slumping back could cause that reaction. She also thinks that I'm getting some garbled transmissions from other nerves (ephaptic transmission) which cross over and cause problems - rather like wires that have lost their insulation and cross, causing a short circuit.
She didn't want to prescribe anything at first, and I agreed - I'm already taking several different medications, some for my MS, and some for my blood clot. But after I told her about the problems I'm having with my legs/back, she prescribed Keppra for me. Small dosage at first, and if the symptoms persist, take it up to 500 mg a day. She thinks that as I keep having these problems, the nerves learn a new pathway, and these myoclonic jerks could get worse. That could definitely be the case - last bout I had, the jerks were longer, stronger, and involved more of my arms and legs.
So has anybody taken Keppra?