Whether mild or severe, dealing with the sudden twitches and jerks from myoclonus is difficult and impacts your daily life. You can't control them and you want them to stop.
Myoclonus Treatment at UVA Health
At UVA Health, our neurologists are experts in helping people with myoclonus. We're well-versed in treating myoclonus caused by:
- A lack of oxygen or nutrients
- Certain medications or toxins
- Nervous system disorders, such as:
- Head or spinal cord trauma or injury
- Tumors of the brain or spinal cord
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Alzheimer's disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other prion diseases
- Huntington's disease
- Encephalitis
- Stroke
- Epilepsy
- Coma
- Paraneoplastic syndromes
- Metabolic disorders, such as:
- Lipid storage disease
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Respiratory failure
- Liver failure
- Kidney failure
Diagnosis
We may do tests and imaging to better understand what's causing your symptoms:
Medications
There are several medicines to treat myoclonus. We'll find the best one for you.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist can teach you exercises to improve muscle control and coordination. They may also suggest relaxation strategies to manage stress, which can sometimes trigger or worsen myoclonus.
Avoiding Triggers
Sometimes it helps to find and avoid things that trigger myoclonus, like caffeine, medicines, and activities.
Assistive Devices
We can help you figure out what devices, like a cane or brace, can make your movements more stable.
Emotional Support
Living with myoclonus can be hard mentally as well as physically. We have social workers who can help.