I know it's common when falling asleep (myoclonus) but I've had it in the car or just sitting on my bed. It can be my leg, arm, head, or whole upper torso. Read things from myoclonus to low potassium, low mag. I'm on mag glycinate, about 400 mg. Is there anything I Could do to try to calm this? Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
I have myoclonus and when I first got it I had it so bad I would jerk while standing up and fall down.
I found that being tired and being around lots of noises or stimuli (big screen movie) made it worse. So, I was falling down while teaching junior high.
I ended up on clonazepam. I have slowly decreased it by 75% and take only a small amount, but it does help.
I also tried Keppra which helped for awhile as did Depakote, but clonazepam has really made a difference. Very few "jerks" now.
Mag glycinate also helps me as does zinc.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- 400 mg of magnesium is a very, very low dose. And, if that's likely in one tablet or once a day, it's even lower as magnesium must be taken 3 x a day (at least), spread out.
Many Rx can also deplete magnesium and other nutrients.
Be mindful of your ergonomics - your body position, etc. as to if your spine / neck are good alignment as you move about your day and as you rest.
Many with lyme require about 2,000 mg a day. More detail here:
As for other minerals, electrolytes, if you can: eat one organic avocado a day for a good amount of potassium. The fat is also good for the brain and nerve tissues. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Good to hear that Rx can help some.
At first, for you, it may be best not to reach for any Rx to lessen this symptom rather, look to an array of nutrients (in foods and key supplements) to give your body what it needs. Give that a chance.
Also look through all Rx you take to see if any have this as a side-effect -- or if they lower magnesium or other nutrients. Many do.
If you are taking statins, that could also have some effect.
Rx may still be helpful, or even needed yet first see about mineral / other nutrient deficiency issues.
And, with lyme, often lyme itself can cause myoclonus. Talk to your LLMD about this regarding the specifics.
Two other key supplements that supply a wide range of nutrients include CHLORELLA & SPIRULINA.
Regarding possible fat deficiency: be sure to read the book by Nina Teizcholtz: The Big Fat Surprise -- and see her more recent presentations at YouTube.
The brain really needs fat. Our nerve tissues really need fat. And you may be surprised to hear that includes animal fat, olive oil (of course, coconut oil, too) but that many common vegetable oils such as canola oil, corn oil and others can cause nerve & brain disease / damage. She explains better than I can.
Gentle YOGA, too, can really help the nerve pathways and nerve tissue / muscle tissue work out some of the kinks in the "highway" within our bodies. -
[ 09-19-2018, 04:30 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
I do agree if myoclonus can be managed without prescription drugs that is wonderful.
However, sometimes the myoclonus is so bad, as in my case, where prescription drugs become necessary.
I would walk down the hallway at work and just fall down or I would sit in a chair in a classroom and jerk so hard I would fall out of the chair.
So, please don't be quick to dismiss prescription drugs if that is the only thing that helps.
Would I love to be off clonazepam? Absolutely. But I would rather take it, then fall down and injure myself.
And I felt keppra was a safer drug, but it did not work after a time.
We need to keep in mind that each individual is different and what works in one case may not work in another.
Posted by 6Hypnone (Member # 47629) on :
Chlorella and spirulina have iodine correct? I'm not sure what my Iodine level is so I don't want to Overdo it. Unfortunately the 500 mg I do take is already 4 pills.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- You can assess your iodine intake. If I recall correctly, it should be 125 mg or 12.5 mcg a day for top dose / therapeutic level.
500 mg may be far too much and could trigger the kinds of muscle jerks you describe. Sure has done so for me in the past. Iodine is very neuro-stimulating if it goes over what the body needs per day. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- hiker53,
Excellent points. I've edited my previous post. -
Posted by foxy loxy (Member # 47053) on :
I get these too. myclonic jerks... super creepy and annoying. I only get them when I am relaxed.
Posted by MissVictoria (Member # 45232) on :
Take a magnesium malate supplement
Posted by 6Hypnone (Member # 47629) on :
Sorry. I mrant I take about 500 mg of magnesium. Assessing my iodine unfortunately wouid cost quite a bit.
Other things I cant afford on my plate are the 5k for my root canal removal, 300 for mold, 250 for allergy test.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Assessing your iodine intake is free. You just pay attention, you know if it's in any supplements and what foods you eat. And you add that up.
500 mg. of magnesium is likely not nearly enough. A RBC - intracellular test is best but still, most with lyme require 1,000 - 2,000 mg a day and that must - must - be taken at least 3 x day in divided doses so that it does not all just run right through your system.
Taking it all at once can be hard on kidneys and also will leave you without coverage for 2/3 of the day.
It's important to read the full articles in the Magnesium thread to understand how to best employ this for your particular body / needs.
Magnesium deficiency is the number one thing to consider with any spasms or myoclonus. Start there.
But also assess your intake of excitatory agents / foods / beverages / environment (including if you might have some kind of gas leak from appliances, etc. or if you are around any chemicals).
And back to iodine - no more than 12.5 mg / 125 mcg a day from all sources. Be sure to get about that amount but not more.
You may require more attention than this yet it's the place to begin. You cannot bypass these steps of assessing your nutrient intake at home (and absorption if tests can be done for some things). Consider all the nutrients that affect the nervous system as well as all the variables.
Could be that a proper cranial sacral series of treatments or even Tai Chi or Qi Gong - or even yoga - might serve to undo any nerve impingement.
Shoes with proper support also matter as does your pillow and chairs. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
See post: Caution: Aspartate; Glutamine; and Phenylalanine (3 excitatory amino acids that can be wrong for us when added as supplements, beyond a normal dietary level)
Seaweed has its own natural MSG and can be very excitatory -
Posted by terv (Member # 29410) on :
Wow.. This is what my dog has. Finally I have diagnosed him! My vet stares at me blankly when I describe this to him.
Is it painful? I am trying to determine what my dog is experiencing. Besides being terrified when his legs jerk from under him. Or when they jerk when he is laying down.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)