Treatment for Myoclonus in LA
Myoclonus causes sudden muscle spasms. It’s involuntary so it can’t be controlled or stopped. There is no fixed pattern to the movements and it may affect more than one muscle.
Myoclonus is indicative of an underlying disorder and is not considered a condition in and of itself. Hiccups are a form of myoclonus and are completely harmless. However, other forms may include intense, recurring spasms that interfere with the ability to walk, talk, or eat properly.
According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, myoclonus affects 1.3 per 100,000 people. The condition is of several types and common ones include:
- Cortical reflex myoclonus
- Action myoclonus
- Palatal myoclonus
- Essential myoclonus
- Progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME)
- Physiological myoclonus
- Sleep myoclonus
- Stimulus-sensitive myoclonus
- Symptomatic myoclonus
- Reticular reflex myoclonus
Till date, a family history of the condition is the only risk factor that’s been identified. However, a clear genetic link is yet to be established. Myoclonus affects males and females at the same rate and common causes include liver and kidney failure, stroke, infection, hypoxia, metabolic disorders, and more..
Myoclonus is also identified as a symptom of several neurological disorders including epilepsy, coma, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and more..
There is no known way to prevent myoclonus but you can take precautionary steps to reduce its risk. These include protecting yourself against head injury by wearing headgear and contacting the physician if you begin to experience twitching.
Sadly, there isn’t any known cure for Huntington’s disease. There is also no known way of reversing or slowing down its progression. There are, however, ways to manage the symptoms.
Dr.Farzin Pedouim is a board certified neurologist based in Huntington Beach and Los Angeles. He has years of experience dealing with Huntington’s disease patients and utilizes the latest medical treatments to make the symptoms manageable.