Myoclonus

Myoclonus is a sudden, involuntary jerking movement. You can't stop it happening. Common examples include hiccups and those sudden twitches you sometimes feel just before falling asleep. These types of myoclonus are very common in healthy people and usually aren't a cause for concern.

However, myoclonus can also be a symptom of an underlying medical issue. This could be a problem with the nervous system, like epilepsy, or a metabolic disorder. Sometimes, a medication can also trigger myoclonus.

If myoclonus is caused by an underlying condition, treating that condition can often help control the jerking movements. For example, if epilepsy is causing the myoclonus, treating the epilepsy will likely reduce the myoclonus. But sometimes, the cause of the myoclonus is never discovered, or there isn't a treatment for the cause. In these situations, the focus of treatment is on making the myoclonus less bothersome and improving the person's overall quality of life. This might involve medications to ease the symptoms or other strategies to help manage the impact of the involuntary movements.

Myoclonus is a condition where people experience sudden, brief, involuntary muscle movements. These movements are sometimes described as jerks, shakes, or spasms. They can feel like a sudden shock and vary in how strong they are and how often they happen. These muscle twitches might affect just one part of the body or your whole body. Sometimes, the myoclonus is so strong that it can make it hard to eat, talk, or walk. If you're experiencing frequent and persistent myoclonus, it's important to see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis and discuss treatment options.

If you're experiencing myoclonus that happens often and lasts a long time, it's important to see your doctor. They can help determine what's causing it and discuss possible treatments.

Myoclonus, which are sudden muscle jerks or spasms, can have many different causes. Doctors often categorize them based on the underlying reason, as knowing the cause helps them choose the best treatment.

Some types of myoclonus are common and usually not serious enough to need treatment. These include:

• Normal hiccups: Most people experience hiccups occasionally, and they typically go away on their own.
• Sleep starts: These are sudden muscle jerks that happen when you're falling asleep or waking up. They're also usually harmless.
• Muscle spasms from anxiety or exercise: Stress or intense physical activity can sometimes cause brief muscle spasms.
• Infant muscle twitching: It's normal for babies to have little muscle twitches during sleep or after feeding. These usually resolve as the baby grows.

Essential myoclonus is a type of myoclonus that happens on its own, without any other noticeable symptoms or underlying health problems. Often, the exact cause of essential myoclonus isn't known. In some cases, it might be inherited from family members.

Epileptic myoclonus is when myoclonus is part of a seizure disorder, meaning it's connected to epilepsy.

Symptomatic (or secondary) myoclonus happens because of an existing medical condition. This means there's something else wrong with the body that's causing the muscle jerking. Here are some examples:

• Physical injuries: Head or spinal cord injuries can lead to myoclonus.
• Infections: Some infections can trigger myoclonus.
• Organ failure: Problems with the kidneys or liver can sometimes cause these muscle spasms.
• Genetic conditions: Certain genetic disorders, like lipid storage diseases, can be associated with myoclonus.
• Poisoning: Exposure to toxins or certain drugs can also cause myoclonus.
• Lack of oxygen: Prolonged periods without enough oxygen can damage the nervous system and lead to myoclonus.
• Medication side effects: Some medications can have myoclonus as a side effect.
• Immune system problems: Autoimmune conditions can sometimes affect the nervous system and cause myoclonus.
• Metabolic problems: Issues with how the body processes nutrients can lead to myoclonus.
• Viral infections: Conditions like COVID-19 have been linked to myoclonus in some cases.

Sometimes, the underlying cause of myoclonus is a problem with the nervous system itself. These conditions can also lead to myoclonus:

• Strokes: A stroke can damage brain tissue and cause myoclonus.
• Brain tumors: Tumors growing in the brain can put pressure on the nervous system and trigger myoclonus.
• Neurodegenerative diseases: Conditions like Huntington's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, corticobasal degeneration, and frontotemporal dementia can cause myoclonus.
• Multiple system atrophy: This condition affects multiple parts of the nervous system, sometimes resulting in myoclonus.

It's important to remember that this list is not exhaustive, and other conditions can also cause myoclonus. If you experience myoclonus, it's crucial to see a doctor to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.

To figure out what's causing your myoclonus (sudden muscle jerks), your doctor will first ask about your medical history and symptoms, and give you a physical exam.

They might also order some tests to find the cause and rule out other possibilities. These tests can often pinpoint where the problem is in your body. Sometimes, imaging tests or nerve tests are needed.

Here are some common tests:

• Electroencephalography (EEG): This test records the brain's electrical activity. Small sensors are attached to your scalp. You might be asked to breathe deeply, look at bright lights, or listen to sounds. These actions can help show if there are any unusual patterns in the brain's electrical signals, which could be a sign of the myoclonus.

• Electromyography (EMG): Small sensors are placed on the muscles that are jerking. A machine records the electrical activity in these muscles when they're still and when they're moving, like when you bend your arm. This helps determine the pattern and location of the problem causing the jerking.

• Evoked potential studies: These tests measure the brain's electrical response to different stimuli, like touch, sound, or light. They help check if the problem is in the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of your brain and spinal cord. This can help look for physical problems like tumors or other structural issues that might be causing the myoclonus.

• Laboratory tests: Your doctor might suggest genetic testing to see if there's a genetic link to your myoclonus. They may also order blood or urine tests to check for metabolic problems, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, or exposure to drugs or toxins.

These tests help your doctor find the cause of your myoclonus and create a treatment plan.