Body Jerks?
 

I noticed tonight when I was trying to lay down and go to sleep, my body is certain parts started to jerk really bad. It would happen a couple minutes a part, then there was once were my entire body jerked really hard. When I'm walking around or sitting, it doesn't happen though. Any ideas how to get it to stop?

I do several things to deal with this. The most important is to take at least 1000 mg of magnesium a day as advised by neuro. Then, stretching everything is important, legs low back, and strengthening them too. Klonopin helps some but I'd have to take a knock out dose to really get results with this.

The "Jerk" is a regular bed fellow for me.

Like Mariel said, stretching and exercise is really improtant and that helps a lot; especially doing some stretching of the legs before bed.

More than 500mg of oral magnesium bothers my GI, but I take tepid/slightly warm Epsom salt baths (4 cups/bath), before bed in addition to 500 mg of magnesium when I've had a lot of spacticity during the day; which usually means I'm in for a tough night. The bath allows for some additional absorption of magnesium through the skin and that does seem to help with the spasticity and the jerks.

I also take 20-40 mg of Baclofen before bed and sometimes another 20 mg during the night when the jerks or spasms are severe.

making sure that you are well hydrated also has a positive effect.

With love, Erika

Mrs D has recommended the Slow Mag at Walmart, it's a good price. She's spoken of a magnesium lotion, but I'm not sure what it's called. I've done the Epsom salt bath, but then you have the hot water to deal with (if hot is a trigger for you).

I may try this. When I am rest, I have "spasms" on one side of my body only. Tests show nothing wrong. Sleep is hard. Dr gave me something to help sleep, but looks like I may be having side effects. Waiting, and waiting for a call back.

I get these too and, like Erika, I take a warm (not hot as heat exacerbates my symptoms) Epsom salt bath. It works wonders for me and relaxes the nerves and muscles so I can get a better night sleep. I also take gabapentin before bed and if I seem to be having more jerks and/or restless legs, I'll take lorazepam.

BTW - If you can't get in the tub, soaking your feet in Epsom salt will help as well. You absorb the magnesium through your skin, which for me is an added bonus since I have tummy troubles.

I still get an occasional jerk-like movement. To me, it's like, if
someone kicks you in the back of your knee and your body loses
control for awhile. What makes me mad, is when it happens,
my foot usually jerks up and hits the coffee table.....OUCHY!:mad:

I think that's pretty much the reason that Willy the dog doesn't sleep on the bed with me. He snuggles for a while but as I drift off, he gets down and onto his own bed. Must have given him the "kick" in the night somewhere along the line :(. He steers pretty clear of my feet and legs when I'm up and around or sitting as well.
Smart doggie :).

With love, Erika

I experience restless leg syndrome, where I HAVE to move or go crazy. I also experience what's called periodic limb movement, which can occur in any part of the body. I'm on meds for RLS, which helps greatly.

I've had RLS all my life.:eek:. I use it to help me get to sleep.:). Like,
I can move my RLs and yet soothe myself to sleep. I read online,
somewhere, that moving your legs, back and forth, towards each
other, untill the toes touch in the middle, is a relaxation technique.
It works for me.:D