Severe spasms that look like seizures

[Sugarflowers]

Does ANYONE have bouts of muscle spasms/contractions that look like a grand mal seizure?

My "episodes" start with minor tendon pulls that escalate into full body spasms. I have been told that this issue is not possible with MS. These spasms twist my left arm to the left and dig my nails into my palm. At their worst, I am doing involuntary situps and V-scrunches.

These spasms ate triggered by some medications, paint fumes, cigarette smoke or smell for more than a few minutes, extreme fatigue that includes extreme leg pain.

Has anyone had anything similar to this?

Please help.

Michele

[Sugarflowers]

Thanks for sharing that information.   I hope you do not have these tremors very often.

I've been told that these spasms aren't possible.  I have yet to figure out why.  The brain controls the body, the brain is damaged, and the outcome of the damage varies from person to person.  What's so hard to decide on that?  

I can tell you that I have freaked out a LOT of doctors, nurses, EMTs, and family members.  These episodes are quite painful, so ERs want to give me pain meds.  These don't help and I'm allergic to morphine based meds anyway and the pain is from the severity of the spasms. Pain meds don't even have an affect on the spasms.  I've been told I'm crazy, literally.  

Very recently, after being refused medication at an ER, I asked the doctor to make a fist and hold as tightly and for as long as he could.  He refused.  I was then discharged and rolled to the front door to wait for my ride home alone and I was still have spasms.  I file a complaint with the hospital.

Thank you to everyone who has responded to this post.  It is very much appreciated.

Michele

[tingletingle]

Hey there sugar (sorry couldn't help it)

I don't know about grand mal seizures.

One of my lesions is in the right temporal lobe which is apparently the area responsible for seizures. When the whole MS thing started last year I did have the shakes and tremors through my body.

Since I developed a lesion in my neck at c4-5 my tremors are now more in my left arm and upper body. This only happens when I am having a relapse or episode of unwellness.

Sometimes, in my mind only, I feel as if I would like to just throw myself on the floor and shake the whole thing away. But it hasn't come to that.. hopefully never will.

Blessings
Alex

[Sugarflowers]

Thanks for the responses. I do have MS. I was diagnosed in 2001. I started with four lesions, now I have eight. My CSF contained three oligcolonal bands, two indicate MS. I have many of the typical symptoms such as extreme fatigue, low stamina, optic neuritis, and muscle weakness, especially in my left leg.

I looked up dystonia and stiff man syndrome. Stiff man syndrome is a possibility, but my symptoms do not totally fit. This doesn't mean that that's not my problem, I just don't know.

I have been tested multiple times for seizures. I do not have any seizure activity.  I have also researched all the types of demyelination disorders. MS is the only one that fits.

The main question was is there anyone out there who has or has seen these types of episodes?

[jumpinjiminy]

Not sure if this fits but it sounds kind of similar, have you ever come across something called Stiff Man Syndrome?

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

Following on the same line as Lulu, have you been dx with anything remotely related to the brain, eg MS, epilepsy, mental health etc? Tested for all the various types of seizure's or is this 'not possible' comment coming  based on your description of what you experience?

Seizures are not unrelated to MS, though what you describe doesn't sound quite right though for MS. Its this bit "doing involuntary situps and V-scrunches" that has me wondering if its not even related to seizures, is it slow shortening/tightening that pulls you into this position or a violent jerk?

Theres a really great site called 'wemove.org' that has just about everything you can think of in regards to movement disorders, so it might be worth having a read through it. Also found an article on all the different seizure, with descriptions etc that also might be worth you reading, see below...

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/different-types-of-seizures.html

Cheers...........JJ

[Lulu54]

hi sugarflowers,  you don't say if you have MS, but the reaction you are listing doesn't sound like one to MS. At least not to me.

Can you give us a few more details about your physical problems or diagnosis?

best, Lulu