Hypnic Jerks

[shamrock]

I have been treated at CCF for hypnic jerks for about 4 years now.  After about 8 years with this condition I have done extensive research and can never seem to find out the cause.  Any new discoveries about this and why?  

Thank you.

Shamrock

[Lele Bug]

Hi Shamrock,

Thanks for the reply. I did see my internist when this first started and he felt it was definately stress related. I was under enormous stress and he put me on prozac which did help and definately eliminated all my peri female symptonms like monster PMS. I weaned myself off after a few months and things were ok (mostly ok nights with a few bad ones, particularly right before my period)until recently when again, I was under extreme stress, and it really flared.

When it first started I had just had some surgery which I have heard can make this start.

When I have bad nights I manage them mostly with benadryl and the occassional valium if they are really bad. I always have a couple of glasses of wine at night because it really helps me get to sleep with no jerks. Not the best solution I'm sure but it works.

I definately think the hormonal thing is a connection. I know men can have this but they have hormones too! Not sure if it is the root cause but may be a trigger, among other things, of the disorder. I'm definately going to pursue the natural hormone thing. I'll let you know how it goes.

Also, about the vitamins. I also found that tropicana orange juice with calcium helps. I looked at the label and it has lots of potassium, calcium and other minerals so I started looking into electrolyte imbalances and the sypmtoms. Jerking is definately one of them. This morning I woke up a 4AM and couldn't get back to sleep because and got up and drank some juice...was back to sleep in less than an hour. Not bad

Anyway, worth a try!

Talk to you soon.

Lele Bug

[shamrock]

Thanks for your info Lele Bug.  I'm going to purchase the Tropicana.

Good luck to you.

Shamrock

[shamrock]

Hi Terri,

Yes I did have fasiculations start in my calves at that time.  I stll have them although I don't pay much attention to them anymore because I've learned to live with them.  Once in awhile other parts of my body will twitch.  For some reason that has never doesn't bother me at night.

Good luck.

Shamrock

[timebomb]

Hi,

  I am new to forum.  I am 48 year old female.  You mentioned you had symptoms start perimenopause.  Would any of your symptoms be generalized, widespread muscle twitching (fasiculations).  Mine started about 3 months ago, I cant attribute them to anything.  Of course, worried about ALS.  Any help or information is appreciated.

Terri

[shamrock]

Thanks for the info Lele Bug.  

I am a woman and this started at peri-menopause and now I'm in menopause.  I don't think this has anything to do with it for I know a few men that have this.

Yes,I do find that this flares up under stress.  I also find that the more fatigued I become the worse it gets.

Interesting about Gatorade, vitimans and fibromyalgia.

Do you see a doctor, take any medications?  How did your's start?  

Hopefully the doctor here can shed some light on this.

Thanks again....Shamrock

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

Benign Hypnic jerks or sleep myoclonus is quite common in the general population and is not associated with seizures or epilepsy.

There is not much new in terms of causes - because it is recognised to be so benign, nobody is really doing any research into it - especially nowadays when money to do research is hard to come by and has to be shown to benefit the population.

Sorry!