It's likely that you don't know if you have spasms while you sleep. Just like a person who talks in their sleep and swears they weren't saying anything, or like the innocent snorer who doesn't know about their disruptive sleep patterns, you probably don't know unless your partner tells you. If that's the case, however, and these spasms are keeping your partner up all night, you'll probably want to find out what's causing the spasms and the proper method to stop them.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, myoclonus is a symptom, not a disease, and "refers to sudden, involuntary twitching of a muscle or muscle group." It is the general clinical term for a sudden muscle twitch or spasm. Sleep myoclonus is a spasm that occurs during sleep. It is possible to have sleep myoclonus so mild that neither you nor your partner notices it. However, these spasms can also be severe enough that you wake up and wake up the person you share a bed with.
Researchers have not been able to determine for sure what causes myoclonus, but they believe it may be an overreaction in the part of the brain that controls muscle movement, likely exaggerated by light, sound or other stimuli while you sleep.
Involuntary contractions and muscle spasms can be related to many conditions, so it is often difficult to determine the source of your nighttime disturbances. However, these common sleep-related problems are often the cause of sleep myoclonus.
Examples Of Myoclonus
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Restless legs syndrome is one of the most serious neurological disorders that can cause nighttime spasms. It can cause an unpleasant crawling, tingling or pins and needles sensation in the legs and feet during rest, which is often relieved only by moving the legs. RLS can affect you when you are awake and sitting, but the symptoms are more severe when you try to fall asleep.
Periodic Nocturnal Limb Movements (PNM)
Although PNM is not considered a serious health problem, it could potentially be a sign of an underlying condition such as anemia or diabetes. It involves frequent episodes of shaking of the legs, feet, ankles, toes and hips during sleep, and is often a symptom of RLS.
Nervous System Condition
If you are experiencing muscle twitching due to a pre-diagnosed nervous system condition, you probably know the cause. However, it is still important to be aware of nervous system conditions that can cause myoclonus, such as head or spinal cord injury, epilepsy, stroke, brain tumors, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Hypnotic Shocks
Most of us have experienced this feeling just before falling asleep, that moment when we are awakened by the sensation of falling or being hit. This phenomenon is known as a "hypnic jolt" or "sleep jolt" and occurs when your muscles start to relax and then suddenly contract. It is completely harmless, although usually surprising.
Some Ways To Prevent Sleep Myoclonus:
Medication
If you can't sleep or wake up several times during the night because of RLS or MPNM, you can see your doctor. He or she will most likely prescribe medications such as dopaminergic agents or benzodiazepines such as diazepam. However, these medications are usually only helpful in the short term and do not cure sleep disorders.
Avoid Caffeine
This may seem impossible, especially if your sleep quality has been disrupted by myoclonus. But that extra cup of coffee you drank to keep you going all day could be fueling a vicious cycle and increasing the severity and frequency of your muscle contractions. Try cutting out caffeine for a few days and see the results.
Get Some Exercise
The idea is to tire your body out enough so that you can fall asleep immediately without any restlessness. Try taking several walks throughout the day or doing a series of strenuous exercises.
A Regular Sleep Routine
Not only will this reduce your sleep myoclonus, but it's also a good habit to get into in general. Going to bed and getting up at the same time each day helps your body relax and realize that it's time to sleep.
