Myoclonus , or muscle twitching, is known as a symptom of many different medical conditions. It refers to a sudden and short-term involuntary twitching of a muscle or muscle group. Many conditions can cause muscle twitching. When muscle spasms or twitches occur, people cannot control or prevent them. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can begin in childhood or adulthood.
Muscle twitches can also occur in healthy individuals. Hiccups are a mild form of this condition. However, if the twitching is caused by a disease or other condition, the underlying cause needs to be identified. Some diseases can affect the nervous system. People with epilepsy or Parkinson's disease may often experience this. The treatment differs depending on the underlying cause of muscle twitching.
What Causes Myoclonus (Muscle Twitching)?
Myoclonus can be caused by many different diseases or disorders. Because muscle twitches can often occur as a symptom of a condition, it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint what is causing the problem.
Here are some of the health problems and conditions that can cause muscle twitching:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Infection
- Kidney or liver failure
- Lack of oxygen to the brain (cerebral hypoxia)
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Alzheimer's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Stroke
- Brain tumor
What are the Types of Myoclonus?
Types of myoclonus are classified depending on the underlying causes of muscle twitches. The types can be described as follows:
Action: Moving or just thinking about moving causes muscle twitches. Muscle spasms can affect a person's face, arms and legs.
Epileptic: Patients with epilepsy are more prone to muscle twitches.
Basic: It does not occur due to any disease, it occurs on its own. It is thought to be an inherited disorder. It tends to progress slowly.
Sleep: Muscle twitches that occur during sleep and sleep transitions, usually when the person is falling asleep.
Risk Factors for Myoclonus (Muscle Twitching)
In some situations, the likelihood of muscle twitching increases in individuals. The presence of diseases that are seen as risk factors in this regard increases the susceptibility to muscle twitching, while the risk of occurrence is higher than in different people. These diseases and conditions are as follows:
- Autoimmune diseases (such as multiple sclerosis)
- Head injuries and cerebral hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain)
- Organ failure; kidney and liver failure
- Neurological diseases; Alzheimer's, mad cow disease (Creutzfeldt-Jakob) or Parkinson's disease
- Seizures (such as epilepsy)
How is myoclonus (muscle twitching) diagnosed?
Forthe diagnosis of myoclonus , the underlying causes of this condition should be determined and some tests should be performed. The tests usually requested by experts are as follows:
- Urine or blood tests to check for symptoms of infection or disease
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) to trigger muscle twitches and observe electrical (seizure) impulses in the brain
- Electromyography (EMG), which measures electrical impulses of muscles and nerves
- Monitoring electrical activity in the brain and spinal cord evoked by specific stimuli (e.g. tactile, auditory, visual stimulation)
- Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect tumors or other abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord, nerves and other tissues
Myoclonus (Muscle Twitching) Treatment
Treatment for myoclonus may differ depending on the underlying cause and the type of muscle twitches. There is no complete cure for the disease. Treatment is usually aimed at reducing and controlling the frequency and severity of muscle twitches.
Medication can be used to reduce the symptoms. Medications that doctors usually prescribe for these conditions may include symptom-calming drugs and anticonvulsants to control seizures.
Botulinum toxin injections may be used for facial spasms. For stimulus-sensitive muscle twitching, the patient should stay away from electronic screens and avoid flickering lights.
How common is myoclonus (muscle twitching)?
It is a condition that every person can experience. Conditions such as hiccups, jumping or jerking of the body during falling asleep are known as muscle twitching. Commonly known as startles or jumps during sleep or falling asleep.
Known as a reaction of the body, this condition can occur in everyone. However, if they are prolonged and recurrent, it means that there is a problem. Long-term recurrent muscle twitching or muscle spasms can occur due to any disease.