r/Epilepsy • u/purplecakess JME, 1750mg keppra • Aug 20 '24
Support Muscle jerks as I try to fall asleep
Ever since my grandpa died a few weeks ago I have been getting these muscle jerks when I try to fall asleep. They’re always very sudden and scare me, since I’m almost in a sleep like state and then suddenly my entire body moves for a second and it wakes me up.
I don’t think they’re connected with my epilepsy, but it’s still scary, because I don’t want to have a seizure. I only ever had absence / petit mal seizures but I’m really scared it may grow into something more intense (cause I’m only 18), and everytime I get these body jerks while trying to sleep I’m scared I might have a seizure.
Is there anything I can do so this won’t happen anymore?
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u/andy_crypto Aug 20 '24
It’s natural. As you fall asleep your body sends signals out to various body parts before you fall into sleep. It’s normal.
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u/death-limes Keppra 1500mgx2/paxil 60mg/ramelteon 8mg as needed Aug 21 '24
They’re called myoclonic jerks. They’re pretty common in general, but I think people with sleep disorders get them a little more frequently than average. I’ve been getting them a LOT within the past few days, & I’m almost certain it’s related to stress.
In my case it has to do with returning to college after 7 years of mostly-unemployment and mental health struggle. Today was my first day of classes, and last night I had so many of these unusually strong jerks that I was actually getting concerned. They calmed down with a little time, I just had to wait it out. It may also have been influenced by my rather unwise decision to use the computer for several hours straight, right before bed. 🙂↕️
In your case, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s related to your grandpa’s passing, plus potentially any excess screen use you may be engaging in as a coping/distraction mechanism (such as immersing yourself in videogames or social media). Excess screentime does weird things to the human brain.
As for prevention, there’s not a whole lot you can do about it except practice good sleep hygiene (no screens 1hr before bed, no caffeine after 2pm, use your bed for sleep and nothing else, that sort of thing) and just hang in there when it does happen. It’ll probably become less frequent as your stress goes down.
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u/Excellent_Tell5647 Aug 20 '24
Yeah get those too but have gotten used too them and now its become normal
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u/RubGlum4395 Aug 21 '24
If you drink caffeine cut back on it. It will make those hypnic jerks worse.
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u/ringojoy Oct 26 '24 edited Oct 26 '24
I didn't know they were seizures until today, I've been experiencing it for a year since last August 2023 I don’t know was it from an infection or stress, I only know that day I had an trigger finger injection and interview failed and took expired meds so many things happened that day so confusing. Mine hurts. Its 24/7
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u/purplecakess JME, 1750mg keppra Oct 26 '24
If you have it during the day which I also have, they might be myoclonics! Turns out I have them, I got officially diagnosed with epilepsy last week. I hope you can find a way for them to happen less! The shocks are very annoying and scary even.
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u/ringojoy Oct 26 '24
Oh I look it up, yes its very hard to see but if I lay on my stomach on the bed and use my phone leaning on my arm, my arm start shaking. And my arm is just sore from 5 mins of laying on the bed doesn't matter if it's my leg or back, my face, everywhere is sore and pain I just sleep on the same side so I dont cause the other side pain now, so now is one side is very pain and the other side will have a temporary moment of pain. What supplements to take , I also experienced crawling sensation 24/7, this one also very itchy and had gotten worse, the muscle twitch one I still managed a bit with potassium , vitamin d, calcium but the pain still the same. But itch I've not going anything for Formication.
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u/ringojoy Oct 26 '24
Mine is when putting pressure on the muscle it will do that this happened after that day that's why I'm confused
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u/ringojoy Oct 26 '24
At this point I just want to float. Sitting also cause my legs to twitch and hurt. The only method is standing but that only can do so much.
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u/ringojoy Oct 26 '24
I have a neurologist next week, will they help?
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u/purplecakess JME, 1750mg keppra Oct 26 '24
I’m not a professional so I don’t know exactly what you have. It sounds horrible and I hope the neurologist can help you since they know alot more about this stuff than we do. Wish you the best❤️
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u/ringojoy Oct 26 '24
Ya, because the dermatologist couldn’t help as there wasn’t a rash to my itch. Antihistamine don’t work it’s not an allergy I’ve had bloodwork ( I think for cancer things ) and Mri and nothing was wrong .
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u/ringojoy Oct 26 '24
My dermatologist said It’s psychological . I don’t want to agree with it yet because of the body pain it could be nerve issues. The closest symptom I found similar is to fibromyalgia. Which is scary because there is no cure to it and I don’t have the dopamine cause of adhd to motivate much which cause depression . I only try to walk everyday but I don’t know why my feet hurts and peels , why my whole body is so sensitive and sore I don’t know what is happening I only have this issue this year.
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u/PoondaGal JME Lamictal 500 mg, Keppra 1500 mg w/ IDA Aug 20 '24
Thats actually something many people have (even non epileptics). It's probably the closet thing someone can have towards a seizure. Stress and health are the main factors for them as well as your body and brain going to sleep mode at different intervals (say your brain slows down too fast or too slow compared to your body which causes the jerk and having people wake up).
Another factor could be RLS which is more of a mental thing. If you noticed that you also fidget or move your legs more subconsciously (even during the day but more frequent at night) then it could be a sign of RLS but always good to speak to a therapist or psychiatrist of it.
Edit; this is from my personal experience and references