Myoclonus vs. dystonia..

[Meeshkabear]

I found the MS Tracker and am starting to put a tracker together but can anyone out there help me with the difference between myoclonus and dystonia and spasticity?

I have Googled to death - looked at videos, etc. - but still don't have a clear picture in my mind - especially since there is a form of ?mycoclonus-dysonia?...

I have episodes throughout the day my limbs jerk out or up, as well as my head jerking to the right side and up. But they quickly go back to their usual position. Then - I also have prolonged spasms where the limb starts out like a big tremor but progresses to a complete muscle lockup that can last as long as 15 minutes.

When these happen, they are very painful and sometimes it feels like the muscles are going to break the bones. My husband (a very strong guy) can't get my fingers unclamped or my toes straightened out when these happen. When I feel one coming, I have learned to try and get into a position that stops the limb from being able to curl up totally - but when it hits all 4 at the same time - I'm pretty much hosed.

I had an episode of the muscles cramping up when the neuro was doing my EMG and he reported it as spasticity. I thought spasticity was when the muscle was tight (like the MS hug tight - don't get me wrong - that is miserable too!).

Anybody have a way to help me understand these different terms - speak slowly - my specialty is computers - not symptoms :-)

[jensequitur]

Yup... dystonia is caused by damage to the basal ganglia - the gray stuff.  Myoclonus can be caused by damage to the cortex, or damage to the spine.

I have myoclonus and spasticity.  Spasticity is 'unwanted muscle tone.'  Essentially as nerves get damaged, they aren't making a perfect connection with the muscle.  When the muscle isn't getting its constant signal from the brain to stay relaxed, it contracts.  So spastic muscles are staying just a little contracted,. and the spasticity can turn into a spasm - total contraction of the muscle.

Myoclonus seems to be involuntary jerks of the body.  Sometimes they can make your body tense up, and sometimes it's just a movement.  I get both!  The tense-making ones happen in the mornings, when I start to get up.  My legs will completely tense up and try to bend, and usually I end up pulling my feet up as well.  The involuntary jerks can start up about mid-morning, and keep going for a few hours.  Usually I'm so tired that I call in sick and go to bed, and after I've woken up, they've gone away.

[Meeshkabear]

Thanks - that helps.

[COBOB]

My understanding is myoclonus is more the intermittent jerks and twitches. Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder, in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures.  Dystonia is more of a continuous vs, intermittent condition.

Bob