Do the muscles in the body twitch for no reason? (Myoclonus / Muscle Twitch) Let's find out exactly about this.

Sometimes, when we are just sitting still, a muscle in our body suddenly twitches, right? Maybe we are about to fall asleep and wake up with a jerk. Things like this usually happen to everyone. But if this muscle twitch continues, if it interferes with daily activities, it can be a symptom of some medical condition. So today, let's talk about what this 'Myoclonus' is, what causes it, and when we should be concerned about it.

What is Myoclonus?

Simply put, Myoclonus is a sudden, involuntary, and brief jerk or spasm of one or more muscles. It can be like an electric shock and last for a fraction of a second. It can affect just one muscle in the arm, leg, shoulder, waist, back, or face, or it can affect several muscles at once.

Even a healthy person can experience this at some point in their life. However, sometimes, it can also be a symptom of several serious medical conditions.

Myoclonus can occur in two main ways:

• Positive myoclonus: This is when the muscles suddenly contract.
• Negative myoclonus: This is a sudden muscle relaxation. Medically, it is also called ``Asterixis''. It is characterized by a hand-flapping tremor.

What are the main causes of Myoclonus?

There are many causes of myoclonus. Some are very common and expected. But others can be caused by medical conditions that affect different systems in our body. Experts divide these causes into four main categories.

Normal, physiological causes (Physiological Myoclonus)

These are harmless types of myoclonus that are caused by normal processes in our bodies. There is no reason to be afraid of this.

• Hiccups: This is also a type of Myoclonus. However, if it persists for more than two days, it is best to see a doctor.
• Sleep myoclonus/Hypnic jerks: Sudden jerking of the body, either when you are about to fall asleep or when you are about to wake up. This is common for many people.
• Startle reflexes: When we are suddenly frightened or surprised, our body jerks uncontrollably.

Myoclonus caused by epilepsy

These muscle twitches can occur with some epilepsy conditions. This condition is especially common with `(myoclonic seizures)`. It can also be associated with conditions such as `(Lennox-Gastaut syndrome)` and `(juvenile myoclonic epilepsy)`.

As a symptom of another medical condition (Secondary Myoclonus)

If myoclonus occurs as a symptom of another disease, it is called 'Secondary Myoclonus'. There are many factors that can cause this. Let's learn more about it from the table below.

Essential Myoclonus

This is a genetic condition that is passed down from generation to generation. It usually does not cause any harm and does not get worse over time. However, drinking alcohol can make these muscle twitches a little more noticeable.

Can this situation be prevented?

Myoclonus is something that happens suddenly, without any warning. So the types of myoclonus we talked about earlier, called physiological and essential myoclonus, cannot be prevented.

However, we can control myoclonus conditions caused by other diseases (secondary) and epilepsy (epileptic) to some extent.

• Avoid drug use: Avoid using drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor. Also, if you experience these symptoms after taking a drug prescribed by a doctor, inform your doctor immediately. They are there to help you, not to judge you. Therefore, it is essential for your safety and proper treatment to tell them about everything you have used.
• Protect your nervous system: Using safety equipment like helmets and seat belts can prevent injuries to your brain and spinal cord.
• Manage chronic conditions: If you have chronic conditions like epilepsy or thyroid disease, following your doctor's instructions exactly can help prevent or reduce the occurrence of myoclonus.

When should we see a doctor?

A common spasticity does not require treatment. However, if these muscle spasms persist, especially if they interfere with your daily activities or sleep, you should definitely see a doctor.

If you suspect that you have ingested a poison, go to a hospital Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately. You can also call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.

Other specific forms of myoclonus

There are several other specific forms of myoclonus, which only occur in certain age groups or in specific ways.

Benign neonatal sleep myoclonus

This is a condition that affects newborns. These babies have sudden jerks of their limbs or bodies while they are sleeping. Although this may seem like epilepsy at first glance, an electroencephalogram (EEG) does not show any epileptic activity. This does not harm the baby and usually disappears completely by the age of 6 months.

Middle ear myoclonus

This is when a muscle called the tensor tympani inside your ear contracts uncontrollably. Normally, this muscle contracts when we talk, eat, or laugh to protect the inner ear. But in this case, this muscle contracts at the wrong time, causing a constant clicking or popping sound inside the ear. This is annoying, but not dangerous. It can be treated with surgery or other methods.

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS)

Opsoclonus is an involuntary movement of the muscles that control the direction of the eyes. OMS is a rare condition in which both eye twitching and body muscle twitching occur together. Sometimes it occurs when our immune system mistakenly attacks our own nervous system. In children, this immune response can be caused by a type of brain cancer called neuroblastoma. In adults, the condition can be associated with lung, breast, or ovarian cancer.

Palatal myoclonus

This is a type of myoclonus that affects the muscles of the soft palate inside our mouth. This can cause an unusual 'clicking' sound in the ear. This can be hereditary or a sign of some kind of brain damage. This condition can often be controlled with medication.

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