If muscles twitch or jerk repeatedly, this is known as 'clonus', for example when a foot taps repetitively on the floor. Some people with MS experience other spasms - sudden involuntary movements that can make the arms or legs move in different ways. These can occur even without the muscle being stretched.
Many people with multiple sclerosis have stiff muscles and spasms, a condition called spasticity. It happens mostly in the muscles of the legs and arms, and it may keep you from moving your limbs freely.
Spasticity. Spasticity describes muscle tightness and stiffness, as well as spasms that can be constant or sudden; some people describe these as a twitch. Spasticity is a common symptom in MS and often affects one or both of the legs.
These spasms usually last 60 to 90 seconds.
Muscle twitches (or fasciculations) are a common symptom in other neurodegenerative diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It seems that many people living with MS also experience the same twitches from time to time in various parts of the body.
Numbness of the face, body, or extremities (arms and legs) is often the first symptom experienced by those eventually diagnosed as having MS.
People should consider the diagnosis of MS if they have one or more of these symptoms: vision loss in one or both eyes. acute paralysis in the legs or along one side of the body. acute numbness and tingling in a limb.
Muscle spasms or stiffness can affect between 40% and 80% of people with MS at some time. For most people, these are occasional symptoms. Drugs and therapies (including physiotherapy and occupational therapy) can help you manage these symptoms. We also update when we know about important changes.
MS affects everyone differently, but you'll probably find that it limits movement in at least one part of your body. You may find you have pain in a certain area, balance problems, trouble walking, dizziness, fatigue, or bladder issues. For all these problems, physical therapy can help by building up your strength.
MS symptoms can come and go and change over time. They can be mild, or more severe. The symptoms of MS are caused by your immune system attacking the nerves in your brain or spinal cord by mistake.
What causes tremor? MS tremors are usually caused by damage to myelin in an area of the brain known as the 'cerebellum', and the nerves leading to and from it. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls your balance and coordination. It 'smoothes out' the movement of your limbs, eyes and speech.
Muscle twitching typically isn't an emergency, but a serious medical condition may be causing it. Make an appointment with your doctor if your twitching becomes a chronic or persistent issue.
Active movements, stretching, physiotherapy, and managing good posture are some of the strategies that may relieve muscle spasms. Guidelines from the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggest a number of medications that may be used to treat spasticity in MS.
A muscle twitch and a muscle spasm are both involuntary contractions of a muscle, although they are not quite the same. A muscle twitch is a short contraction that may happen repeatedly. It can cause discomfort but is not typically painful. A muscle spasm is a prolonged contraction that may cause pain.
"Fasciculations occur when innervation from the peripheral nervous system to the muscle is not working correctly and a muscle is triggered involuntarily, causing it to twitch," says Dr. Ondo. "This is very common and these fasciculations usually go unnoticed, but in some cases, people do feel the muscle twitch."
Nervous system conditions that can cause muscle twitching include: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also sometimes called Lou Gehrig disease or motor neuron disease. Neuropathy or damage to the nerve that leads to a muscle.
Neurological examination
Your neurologist will look for abnormalities, changes or weakness in your vision, eye movements, hand or leg strength, balance and co-ordination, speech and reflexes. These may show whether your nerves are damaged in a way that might suggest MS.
Early signs and symptoms of MS
tingling and numbness. pains and spasms. weakness or fatigue. balance problems or dizziness.
Benign MS is a variation of relapsing-remitting MS. This is a form of the condition in which new or worsening symptoms are very mild or don't flare up for a long period of time. That's why doctors wait so long to diagnose it.
Steppage gait (also known as neuropathic gait) is characterized by drop foot — an MS symptom in which the front part of the foot drops and does not lift up correctly with the rest of the leg while walking. In a person with drop foot, the toes point downward and may drag or scrape on the ground while walking.
While there is no definitive blood test for MS, blood tests can rule out other conditions that cause symptoms similar to those of MS, including lupus erythematosis, Sjogren's, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, some infections, and rare hereditary diseases.
It is one of the more common symptoms of MS. Spasticity may be as mild as the feeling of tightness of muscles or may be so severe as to produce painful, uncontrollable spasms of extremities, usually of the legs. Spasticity may also produce feelings of pain or tightness in and around joints, and can cause low back pain.
The health care provider will examine you and ask about your medical history and symptoms. The physical exam may show: Weakness, often beginning in one area. Muscle tremors, spasms, twitching, or loss of muscle tissue.
Muscle spasms (also called cramps or fasciculations) are a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). Spasticity, which causes muscle stiffness and tightness, affects about 20 percent of people with MS.