Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome

While most episodes take place while one is asleep, nocturnal myoclonus syndrome can also suddenly enforce its impact on a person while they are awake. To shake off the uncomfortable feeling of how the muscle contracts and twitches, one has to move the body in a vigorous fashion to rid themselves of the random twitching. This condition is also known as periodic limb movement disorder. It takes place in either middle-aged or older men / women where one's limbs are in constant movement that involve either the calves, thighs or feet. The intensity of these jerks can escalate and then drop in severity over a series of nights, where one has really no control over what his / her limb is undergoing.

It can awaken sleepers during the nighttime, causing them to feel tired and drained the following morning. Muscles are constantly in a state of being wound up, and not relaxed. This can occur at two times in the day, one being in the night, which is known as periodic limb movements while you sleep, and the other during the day time or when you're awake just before you head to bed known as periodic limb movements while you are awake. The effects of this syndrome can last from a few minutes to up to an hour in some cases, where patients who have a severe case of sleep myoclonus condition, will often wake up feeling drowsy and tired.

Nocturnal Myoclonus Causes

The clonus causes that are most likely to be the problems that one is facing, suffering as a result from periodic limb movement, are what we will look into.

• Cataplexy
• Anemia
• Neuroleptic medication
• Sleep apnea
• Iron deficiency
• Sleep behavior disorder
• Diabetes
• Uremia
• Spinal cord injury
• Barbiturate withdrawal
• Sleep related eating disorder
• Narcolepsy
• Dopaminergic medication
• Drug dependency
• Benzodiazepine withdrawal
• Neurological disorder
• Restless leg syndrome

Nocturnal Myoclonus Symptoms

Another very similar condition that mimics the symptoms of nocturnal myoclonus is dystonia. To understand more about this syndrome, you can go to dystonia symptoms and find out how the two are very similar in nature. The signs that show forth when one is under the effects of this sleep disorder are as follows.

• Not able to fall asleep easily, awakening one as he / she falls asleep eventually.
• Twitching of a certain limb while the person is either awake, or fast asleep.
• Crawling sensation
• Itching
• While lying down / sleeping, the feet / toes seem to occasionally jerk.
• Moving the limb that started jerking, causes some kind of comfort when in movement like if he / she were to walk about or physically move the body part that is causing them to feel uncomfortable.
• Twitching gets worse at night or when the body is at rest.
• Feeling fatigued and worn out the next morning from lack of sleep and constant muscle spasms.

Nocturnal Myoclonus Treatment

This condition doesn't really have a cure to rid one completely of its effects, but there are nocturnal myoclonus treatment medications available to help patients cope with the twitching and muscle jerks.

Health Problems
Problems like rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes are given treatment options after one has been examined. A change in diet is made, by eliminating caffeine drinks like tea / coffee and sugary edibles like chocolate. Exercise is also incorporated into one's lifestyle that can significantly change sleep patterns that can help patients during the night. Anemic patients are given supplements of folic acid and iron.

Alternative Drugs
Drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease like dopamine, are given to patients to help with seizures. Other drugs given are narcotic pain killers or benzodiazepines, sleeping tablets or anticonvulsant medications.

Nocturnal myoclonus syndrome is a condition that can be controlled if not cured, where patients would do themselves good if they went in for an early examination before they hit the middle or older age mark. It is hereditary in some cases, so checking out one's past health record would help greatly as well. Have a safe tomorrow.