Talk:Myoclonus

Note: The first version of this article was adapted from the public domain NINDS Myoclonus Information Page

If myoclonic seizure is merged into this page, please be clear that only a subset of all myoclonus originates owing to rhythmic cerebral cortical discharges (i.e., epilepsy.) Myoclonus can also originate in the cerebellum, brainstem, spinal cord, nerve, and muscle; and probably from the diencephalon as well. - Ikkyu2 09:20, 28 August 2005 (UTC)

Yes, merge
Clearly, the article on myoclonic seizure is less substantial than this one, yet has a few pieces of useful information that should be included here. Halcatalyst 22:43, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

Could someone add the etymology?
Muscle-branch? (Does not really make sense.) 188.100.201.34 (talk) 02:06, 15 November 2009 (UTC)


 * The etymological meaning is muscle chaos. Norvo (talk) 02:21, 20 November 2009 (UTC)

Contradictory phrasing?
In the intro we see this line:

''Most often, myoclonus is one of several signs in a wide variety of nervous system disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and some forms of epilepsy. Some researchers indicate that jerks persistently may even cause early tremors.''

Then later under "Causes" we see this line:

Rarely does myoclonus indicate anything other than arbitrary'' muscle contraction. Myoclonus may develop in response to infection, head or spinal cord injury, stroke, brain tumors, kidney or liver failure, lipid storage disease, chemical or drug poisoning, as a side effect of certain drugs (such as tramadol[2] and quinolones), or other disorders.''

These two lines seem to contradict one another. Can someone with more knowledge of the condition clarify this? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.250.143.122 (talk) 15:17, 2 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I think "Rarely does myoclonus indicate anything other than arbitrary muscle contraction" implies that myoclonus is not an objective criterion in diagnosis (i.e. in the diagnosis of epilepsy, doctors prefer to use EEG), and so it shouldn't be relied on. That, or there are just too many attributable causes that myoclonus is hardly worth noting. MichaelExe (talk) 15:52, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

The first sentence under "Causes" as discussed above was: "Rarely does myoclonus indicate anything other than arbitrary muscle contraction." It has now been changed to: "Benign myoclonus can occur in healthy individuals and is most commonly caused by nothing other than arbitrary muscle contractions."

This change is considerably worse, since it is essentially saying: "Arbitrary muscle contractions can occur in healthy individuals and are most commonly caused by nothing other than arbitrary muscle contractions." Arghhh! I have changed it back to something much like it originally was, and modified the next sentence to remove the apparent contradictions. My purpose is to avoid any statement of relative probabilities of the various causes (arbitrary muscle contractions versus various medical disorders). VictoriaWordNerd (talk) 06:20, 24 October 2020 (UTC)

I'll re-use this bit of the talk page; it seems appropriate. The article mentions "Shuddering attacks in babies", with 'shuddering' as a URL link, and the redirection to 'shivering' finds a statement that babies cannot shiver to produce heat, so lose heat easily and that to compensate they rely on non-shivering thermogenesis, i.e. brown adipose fat to make heat. I'm not arguing any medical matter here, I'm just asking, can babies shiver, or can't they?! :) And if they can't, what exactly is a baby's 'shuddering attack'? When something like that is so grossly unresolved, I have to wonder at Wikipedia as any kind of a reference for anything. Style seems to be winning over substance. 86.157.51.149 (talk) 17:52, 15 September 2016 (UTC)

Poor writing, please clarify.
Some researchers indicate that jerks persistently may even cause early tremors.

Does this mean that persistent jerks may cause early tremors, or that some theorise that jerks often cause early tremors? 64.60.100.162 (talk) 10:07, 12 August 2011 (UTC)


 * Judging by the upheavals on forums various, caused by internet trolls, I have to assume they do. :) Sorry, couldn't resist the joke. Normal service may now be resumed...

86.157.51.149 (talk) 17:58, 15 September 2016 (UTC)

Seconded. It reads like a badly-translated instruction manual for a crappy generic toy. Tj1916 (talk) 23:32, 22 September 2011 (UTC)

Terrible article with repeated information, contradictions, etc. A real mess. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 100.36.196.216 (talk) 13:09, 12 December 2015 (UTC)

When a spasm is caused by another person it is known as a provoked spasm

WTF does this mean and how is it relevant to the topic??? — Preceding unsigned comment added by GTMulg (talk • contribs) 20:15, 5 April 2022 (UTC)

Pronunciation
I have never heard the word pronounced with stress on the second syllable. How common is this?

adoarns (talk) 02:57, 13 October 2011 (UTC)

addition to article?
Can inner-ear Myoclonus be included to this article (Stapedial or Tensor Tympani)? I have no experience other than my diagnosis and info from the Dr.

Thanks Kim — Preceding unsigned comment added by 1KLiK (talk • contribs) 18:37, 4 November 2012 (UTC)

Moved for possible incorporation here
The sourcing isn't the best, but I have moved this here from myoclonic epilepsy in the event some of this text can be rewritten and incorporated here where it belongs: Sandy Georgia (Talk) 14:56, 3 December 2012 (UTC)

Types
There are many types of myoclonus, yet it is important to note that correctly diagnosing these types is difficult due to their various biological origins, behavioral effects, and their overall reaction to therapies Listed below are some of the most common forms of myoclonus:

Action
This is the most disabiling form of myoclonus and is usually caused by brain damage resulting from oxygen and blood deprivation when breathing or heartbeat is temporarily halted. The associated jerks of this syndrome can be made worse if the individual attempts precise, coordinated movements.

Cortical reflex
This originates from the cerebral cortex. The jerks may involved few or many muscles. The associated jerks can be intensified when precise movement is attempted or a particular sensation is perceived.

Essential
This can occur without epilepsy or brain abnormalities. Essential myoclonus often has no known cause, and can occur in people with no family history of jerks. However, there is some indication of it being a possible inhereited disorder.

Palatal
This affects mainly the face, throat, and diaphram. Palatal myoclonus creates rapid contractions that persist even in sleep. This condition usually appears in adulthood. Some complain of it as only a minor problem while others claim it causes severe discomfort and pain.

Stimulus-senstive
Symptoms are often triggered by external events, often associated with surprise. Some of the common triggering events can be flashing lights, movement from televisions or video games, or loud noises.

Sleep
These jerks often occur in the initial phrases of sleep. Many do not seek treatment for these symptoms. This form of myoclonus can be a symptom of an associated sleep disorder yet to be diagnosed. Some forms of this myoclonus can be stimulus-sensitive, whereby jerks are caused by external events.

The video doesn't work?
Does the video work in your phone? Because it doesn't work in my phone.--SharabSalam (talk) 17:50, 30 June 2019 (UTC)