body jerks, what are they called again?

[supermum_ms]

Hey Guys and Dolls,

For a while now, I've had what I thought were just nocturnal jerks, always thought it was normal. hmmm there seems to be one important element missing if this is just nocturnal jerks. Whats missing is the 'falling asleep' part, my jerks have nothing to do with sleep, falling asleep or even being bodily relaxed or dreamy, I am 100% awake!

They also seem to happen more when i'm in an episode, not being a big believer in coincidence, I wonder if i am again passing something thats actually abnormal off as being normal. What i am experiencing does happen when i'm laying down but like I said i'm 100% awake, eyes open or closed doesn't seem to matter, though usually my eyes are closed. I'll be thinking up a shopping list or what ever, knowingly conscious and then for reasons unknown, my body jerks. I'm not entirely sure if its my entire body making it happen or not, i do suspect it is.

They arn't little, they are hard fast bangs, like my muscles have suddenly contracted, it doesn't hurt necessarily but they do shock me by the unexpectedness of them lol the bed actually moves the jerk is so hard. When they happened last night, i'd just closed my eyes and BANG, i opened them and BANG, i'm thinking ok that was odd and bang. I felt a little tingly and my muscle spasm in my calf went off, then the one in my thigh started, even my stomach got into the act lol.

So does it sound like normal nocturnal jerks or is this something else? What do you experience?

Cheers...........JJ        

[jensequitur]

Don't worry, I get that all the time!  It's especially irritating when I know the word quite well, but just can't think of it.

[supermum_ms]

ROFL!!

Wiring is definitely haywire that was suppose to read 'RAN' english translation from the latin 'Ranuth Awayuth Nouns'

Cheers.........JJ

[supermum_ms]

I know this stuff, lol its a noun and they are somewhat missing at the moment, gets a bit tricky. Why just nouns for god sake, why not verbs, adjectives etc too? Talk about selective memory lol taking it a little too specific in my books! I think i'll name it "NRA" short for the latin translation- Noun Runuth Awayuth!

Thanks Jen as soon as I read Myoclonic jerks the peices came back together, where is my electrician when my wiring goes haywire? ROFL

I've never experienced RLS, though I have had the urge to slap someone, hmmm not really the same thing lol

Cheers.........JJ  

[JSSL]

I had RLS during the pregnancy of my first child, and I believe it to be totally different than myoclonus jerks. I would agree, what you are talking about are myclonus jerks, as I have has a few of them myself and they do do not compare at all with RLS.

I just wanted to put in my 2 cents...take care :)

[ccorina]

I'm taking gabapentin but that doesn't seem to help this at all.

Corina

[jensequitur]

Nope, nope, RLS can happen anywhere.  The defining symptom with RLS is the 'urge' to move.  If you don't feel an urge, and it happens anyway, then it's a myoclonic jerk.

When I talked to my neurologist about mine, at first she wasn't too concerned.  Then I described my morning myoclonus, the fact that my legs got weak when this happened, and my knees being full of paresthesias and numb, then she decided it warranted a small dosage of Keppra.  

[ccorina]

I have the same thing.  I've read everything and still can't figure it out.  Someone on here (can't remember who) said if it happens only when in bed it's RLS.  I have mine 90 percent of the time when lying down, but also have had a few when sitting on the couch.  

But I don't feel the need to move, do you?  I do feel a painful kind of build-up sometimes, but still they just jerk (mightily!) and that's it.  No having to walk or move or anything.

So....if I ever figure it out I'll let you know lol!  If you figure it out first let me know :)

Corina

[jensequitur]

There are two kinds of involuntary movements - restless limb syndrome, and myoclonic jerks.  I have a problem with myoclonic jerks.  In the morning, I try to move and then stiffen up - my legs tense up, and I have to relax them before I can move.  I also get this jerking of my back and arms during the day.  It starts off with a tingling in the spine, and then I get a WHAM! and my back contracts or arches.  

RLS is an urge in the limb to move.  People with this problem say that there's a feeling that builds up in the limb, and they have to move it to get rid of the feeling.  Then it builds up again.

But it sounds to me more like myoclonic jerks.

Hey, take a look at wemove.org.  Especially the section on myoclonus.