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Frequently Asked Questions 

Question:

I experience body jerks, shakes, and spasms. They are very alarming. My Doctors says it is myoclonus. What is Myoclonus?

 

Answer:

 

Myoclonus refers to sudden, brief involuntary twitching or jerking of a muscle or group of muscles. It describes a clinical sign and is not itself a disease. The twitching cannot be stopped or controlled by the person experiencing it.

People with myoclonus often describe their signs and symptoms just as jerks (myoclonic jerks), shakes, or spasms that are: Sudden, brief, involuntary shock-like, variable in intensity and frequency, localized to one part of the body or all over the body, and sometimes severe enough to interfere with eating, speaking or walking.

Myoclonic twitches or jerks usually are caused by sudden muscle contractions (tightening), called positive myoclonus, or by muscle relaxation, called negative myoclonus. Myoclonic jerks may occur alone or in sequence, in a pattern of movement or without a pattern. They may occur infrequently or many times per minute. Myoclonus sometimes happens in response to an external event or when a person attempts to make a movement.

When myoclonus is more widespread, it may involve persistent, shock-like contractions in a group of muscles. In some cases, myoclonus begins in one region of the body and spreads to muscles in other areas. More severe cases of myoclonus can affect movement and severely limit a person’s ability to eat, talk, or walk. These types of myoclonus are called pathologic myoclonus and can be one of many signs indicating a wide variety of underlying disorders in the brain or nerves, secondary to certain medical conditions, or can be a reaction to certain types of medication.

Myoclonus can occur by itself or as one of several symptoms associated with a wide variety of nervous system disorders such as autoimmune encephalitis. Treating the underlying cause will help control your myoclonus symptoms.

Studies suggest that several locations in the brain are involved in myoclonus. The cerebral cortex is the most common origin for myoclonus. Another location is in the brain stem close to structures that are responsible for the startle response—an automatic reaction to an unexpected stimulus involving rapid muscle contraction.

The specific mechanisms underlying myoclonus are not yet fully understood.

Our website is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice. Nothing contained on our website is intended to be used as medical advice. No content is intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice. Although THE INTERNATIONAL AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS SOCIETY  provides a great deal of information about AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS, all content is provided for informational purposes only. The International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society  cannot provide medical advice.


International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society is a charitable non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2016 by Tabitha Andrews Orth, Gene Desotell and Anji Hogan-Fesler. Tax ID# 81-3752344. Donations raised directly supports research, patients, families and caregivers impacted by autoimmune encephalitis and to educating healthcare communities around the world. Financial statement will be made available upon request.

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