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Nocturnal Myoclonus: Unusual Movement during Sleep

Just before some people fall asleep, they experience an uncomfortable, but not always painful, sensation deep in the thigh, calf, or feet. They usually find that vigorous movement eases the discomfort enough to fall asleep, but they complain of sleepiness and fatigue during the day. These people are generally not aware that such episodes of repetitive leg muscle jerks or muscle twitches--nocturnal myoclonus--are followed throughout the night by hundreds of related awakenings. People with nocturnal myoclonus may have involuntary movement in their legs, in addition to twitches, while trying to relax. This condition, known as "restless leg syndrome," usually occurs in people who also have nocturnal myoclonus.

Like many other sleep disorders, nocturnal myoclonus often goes unrecognized by the person who has it. It is most common in middle-aged and older people. And, it may be inherited. Often a bed partner or roommate must call attention to the characteristic twitches--repeated muscle jerks in which the big toe extends, while the ankle, knee, and, occasionally, the hip flex. Upon awakening, some people with nocturnal myoclonus complain of an itching-crawling sensation in their legs, like "current going through them."

In some cases, these disorders have been associated with too little vitamin E, iron, or calcium, and vitamin and mineral supplements have been used as treatment. In other cases, drugs have been found effective, and, in still other, less-severe cases, relief has come from leg exercises