I'm sure many of you have experienced this. A Hypnic jerk is where you're about to go to sleep and then you jerk awake, maybe feel like your falling.
My problem is I effectively have hypnic jerks 10-20 times before I go to bed. I also get them when I'm just plain tired, so for example at work I start twitching in my desk chair. It's so frustraiting and I have no way to soothe it. I think it's less when I am not stressed but even then I still have it. Has anyone else experienced this?
I am often tired due to other health problems and I am very embarressed when this happens at work. I'm just glad no one has noticed thus far. It also keeps me from sleeping well if I get it too much, but from what my fiance says it stops once I fall asleep and I haven't kicked him in the family jewels yet. :)
Re Loving M: I had several visits to a neurologist this past summer for a different reason. I had extensive blood work (which found my current health issue I'm working on, connective tissue disease of some kind), an MRI, an EEG, EKG when I ended up in the ER - and the only thing they found was I have a deviated septum!
The neuro was aware of my jerking and highly suggested a sleep study. I will likely get one in the future but I'm currently not willing to spend more money on medical stuff when I'm not sure what medical fees will crop up with my CTD.
Oddly enough, Fiance says I twitch less after I drink. I think it relaxes me, or at least knocks me out.
I twitch a lot when I have a lot on my mind. I also did it a lot while I was pregnant. I worked too, so again, could have been nerves. I haven't done it in a long time.
My good friend's husband does this too. They say it is restless leg syndrome. For health reasons they both went totally off gluten and they were surprised that it totally stopped his twitching legs at night. Maybe you are gluten intolerant? It is worth a try.
I thought i was so weird for doing this, sorry you are experiencing this, but i'm glad to know i'm not the only one.
I don't have this, but one of my children has seizures. The neurologist asked me about this once as it can be a small seizure.
Have you tried going to be an hour earlier? It may make a big difference. I was told they are caused by sleep deprivation.
I never knew what they were called, but I get them nightly when I'm about to fall asleep or I'm extremely tired. But I usually only have 1 or 2.
I have no fix for ya...but YES, I have this, too, just not as badly as you! I do have a twitch or two every night, just as I fall asleep! I attribute it to the fact that I had a broken neck for 11 yrs and we didn't know it and my C1/C2 were pushing on my spinal cord and brain stem, so I just figured maybe it maybe me a lil quirky! haha!
If you find a fix for it, I'd love to hear it!
Have you spoken to your doctor? It may be a symptom of something else, although probably not since there seem to be clear precursors (being tired) or that they stop when you are sleeping. They may not be Hypnic Jerks if they are happening during the day too.
Your Dr. may be able to give you some advise on soothing your muscles. In the meantime, try a hot bath (so there are beads of sweat on your brow) before bed. This may soothe your muscles. I've spoken to a Neurologist about similar muscle spasms and that is what he suggested.
Good luck, but I'd see a doctor for sure - any progression of neurological issues can often be prevented or slowed significantly with the right treatment, but nerves do not typically regenerate or improve over time. It's not a muscle problem, it's a problem with the nerves that control the muscle - misfires from your brain.
Also, start taking a B12 supplement (you can't get enough) and if you drink alcohol stop (even if it's minimal). When I did these two things my issue stopped altogether. Turns out alcohol can be very hard on your nerves.
