Sleeping Disorders (Home) > Sleepings Basics > Nocturnal Myoclonus
Nocturnal Myoclonus: Unusual Movement during Sleep
Just before some people fall asleep, they experience an uncomfortable, but not always painful, sensation deep in the thigh, calf, or feet. They usually find that vigorous movement eases the discomfort enough to fall asleep, but they complain of sleepiness and fatigue during the day. These people are generally not aware that such episodes of repetitive leg muscle jerks or muscle twitches--nocturnal myoclonus--are followed throughout the night by hundreds of related awakenings. People with nocturnal myoclonus may have involuntary movement in their legs, in addition to twitches, while trying to relax. This condition, known as "restless leg syndrome," usually occurs in people who also have nocturnal myoclonus.
Like many other sleep disorders, nocturnal myoclonus often goes unrecognized by the person who has it. It is most common in middle-aged and older people. And, it may be inherited. Often a bed partner or roommate must call attention to the characteristic twitches--repeated muscle jerks in which the big toe extends, while the ankle, knee, and, occasionally, the hip flex. Upon awakening, some people with nocturnal myoclonus complain of an itching-crawling sensation in their legs, like "current going through them."
In some cases, these disorders have been associated with too little vitamin E, iron, or calcium, and vitamin and mineral supplements have been used as treatment. In other cases, drugs have been found effective, and, in still other, less-severe cases, relief has come from leg exercises
Bookmark This Page: Add to Favorites | Add to Del.icio.us | Send to a Friend
VISITOR COMMENTS on "Nocturnal Myoclonus: Unusual Movement during Sleep":
 |
More Articles |
 |
| 1. How Narcolepsy is Diagnosed How Narcolepsy is Diagnosed Developer of Narcolepsy Narcolepsy can occur in people of both sexes. Symptoms-particularly sleepiness-usually begin in late childhood, the teen years [...] |
||
| 2. Sleep and Aging: Problems Sleep and Aging: Problems Sleep patterns change as people age. Newborn babies sleep about 16 hours per day and spend about 50% of that time in REM sleep. Older people (50-85 [...] |
||
| 3. Sleep Apnea Treatment Sleep Apnea Treatment The specific therapy for sleep apnea is tailored to the individual patient based on medical history, physical examination, and the results [...] |
||
| 4. Pre-School Children Problem Pre-School Children Problem Preschool age children may have sleep problems, including trouble getting to sleep, frequent night waking in the middle of the night and having irregular sleep [...] |
||
|
Recent Searches increased |
Recent
Newborns and Infants
Sleep Problems of Children
Problems for Seniors Causes
Excessive Sleepiness Causes
Sleep and Aging Diery
Child Resists to Sleep
Nocturnal Myoclonus
Night Waking
Narcolepsy Diagnosis
Know about How Babies Sleep
Random
Excessive Sleepiness Causes
Hard to Get in Morning
How Long to Sleep
Narcolepsy Diagnosis
Dreams Psychology
Idiopathic Hypersomnia
Ideal Sleep Time
Nocturnal Myoclonus
Sleep and Aging Diery
Sleep Problems of Children
Teach Child Good Sleep Habits
Insomnia
Happens During Sleep
Child Resists to Sleep
Know about How Babies Sleep
Newborns and Infants
Night Waking
Parasomnia Tests
Sleep Apnea
ALL
