Myoclonus history and symptoms
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
|
Myoclonus Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Myoclonus history and symptoms On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Myoclonus history and symptoms |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Myoclonus history and symptoms |
Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It's easy! Click here to learn about editing.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Saumya Easaw, M.B.B.S.[3]
History and Symptoms
- Myoclonic seizures can be described as 'jumps'. They are caused by rapid contraction and relaxation of the muscles. People without epilepsy can suffer small but similar jerks in the form of hiccups or brief twitches; these are perfectly normal.
- In someone with epilepsy, myoclonic seizures cause abnormal movements on both sides of the body at the same time. In reflex epilepsies, myoclonic seizures can be brought on by flashing lights or other environmental triggers. (See photosensitive epilepsy.)
- Familiar examples of normal myoclonus include hiccups and hypnic jerks that some people experience while drifting off to sleep. A similar but distinguishable type of jerk is often experienced during meditation. Severe cases of pathologic myoclonus can distort movement and severely limit a person's ability to sleep, eat, talk, and walk. Myoclonic jerks commonly occur in individuals with epilepsy. The most common types of myoclonus include action, cortical reflex, essential, palatal, progressive myoclonus epilepsy, reticular reflex, sleep, and stimulus-sensitive.