Our hectic lives are continuously centered on work, home, and family responsibilities.
We often overlook minor health issues because we are too preoccupied to stop, observe, or think about them. After all, we are constantly juggling a thousand and one tasks.
A sudden twitch or tic, a migraine, muscle or joint pains somewhere, a little sniff, a little cough. We tend to dismiss the “little” issues, believing that we can simply take a pill, rest, and it will go away.
Our inquiring minds have never asked how a medical condition developed until we know of someone who is presently suffering from it, usually a family member or relative. Then, when it hits close to home, we finally pay attention.
Take the case of a myoclonic seizure. One sudden twitch, a jerk when we have the hiccups or one that can awaken us as we are just falling asleep. These are considered normal, but questions persist if this is indeed a medical condition that we should be worried about.
What is a Myoclonic Seizure?
Myoclonic seizures are jerks of a muscle or group of muscles that are brief and resemble a shock. It doesn’t last more than a second or two, but sometimes, many will occur for a short period of time.
Myoclonic seizures occur when your muscles contract suddenly, generating rapid twitching motions. The neck, shoulders, and upper arms are commonly affected on one side of the body. It has the potential to affect the entire body as well.
Even people without epilepsy can experience some seizures. It is more common than we think, as hiccups and an abrupt jerk when falling asleep are examples of these seizures. They are so short that they can be mistaken for tics, nervousness, and clumsiness.
Causes of Myoclonic Seizure
It’s crucial to understand that some types of myoclonic seizures are caused by more difficult types of epilepsy. As a result, it is critical that these seizures are detected early on.
Epilepsy is frequently caused by unknown factors. Epilepsy in the family might occasionally be a factor. Experts are unsure, however, how the sickness is handed on from parent to child.
Seizures can be caused by:
- Serious head injuries
- Brain tumor
- Unusual brain development
- Stroke
- Lack of oxygen in the brain
- Brain infections like encephalitis or meningitis
Myoclonic epilepsy in children frequently progresses to more severe seizures when they become adults.
Symptoms of Myoclonic Seizure
Myoclonic seizures occur so quickly that they may go unnoticed and could be mistaken for tics or clumsiness.
They can also occur in clusters, resulting in a series of brief jerks that generally affect the following parts of the body:
- Shoulders
- Neck
- Upper arms
Common symptoms of these seizures also include:
- Quick, uncontrolled jerking after waking up
- Rhythmic or jerky movements
- Feelings of electric shock
- Unusual clumsiness
If you think that you or a loved one is suspected of having myoclonic seizures, a specialist should be consulted as soon as possible. They’ll take a case history to understand more about the seizures, including how they look and when they occur.
The seizures will be diagnosed using a variety of approaches using the following:
1) EEG machine – it can pick up specific brain patterns in people suffering from myoclonic seizures
2) MRI scan – it can detect damage in the brain which might be causing the seizures
Treatment for Myoclonic Seizure
Myoclonic seizures can be efficiently managed with medication and lifestyle changes depending on the type of epilepsy one has. Correct treatment can reduce or eliminate seizures in many patients. Anti-seizure drugs are the most common treatment. Other therapeutic alternatives are also available.
The following are the basis for the type of treatment given to the patient:
- Type of seizure
- How often it occurs
- How severe the seizure attacks are
- Patient’s age and overall health
- Patient’s medical history
Based on Power epilepsy clinical trials, anti-seizure (or anti-epileptic) drugs are extremely helpful. Finding the proper medicine and dosage may take a few tries, though. To choose the appropriate drug, the doctor will look for adverse effects.
If medication fails to manage the seizures, surgery may be a possibility. To reduce seizures, a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) is implanted and combined with anti-epileptic drugs. The VNS is a device that is inserted beneath the skin of the chest. It delivers electrical energy into the neck and up to the brain via the vagus nerve to regulate electrical activity.
Certain lifestyle modifications should be followed:
- A special low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (ketogenic diet)
- Getting enough sleep
- Avoiding stress and alcohol
- Staying away from specific triggers like flickering lights
While myoclonic seizures are more common than we realize, this doesn’t mean we should be complacent. As with any other medical condition, symptoms should be taken seriously. If we have doubts about seizure episodes, it is wise to contact our doctor or an epilepsy specialist immediately to seek a proper diagnosis.
Corresponding treatment is readily available and so with answers to all our questions once we have consulted our healthcare provider.
