9 replies to this topic

[Wobbly]

I get lots of these below injury site (c5/6), these are not painful like the spasms which thankfully I only get infrequently. I'm now so used to these twitches that I quite like lying in bed trying to guess where one will hit next. I probably get about 10 a minute when I'm relaxing, and find them mildy comforting. My Hoffmans,babinski reflexes are all shot. I wondered though, does any one else get these, should I be concerned about them? I mentioned them to the ortho but he was quite dismissive about them.

[Iain]

Fasiculation is classically a symptom of a lower motor neurone lesion ie of a problem between the cord and the muscle, and not usually of an upper motor neurone lesion which is what you get with cord transection.

[Wobbly]

I do have l5 and s1 too but as i get these all o er assumed they were fom my neck ?

Oh hang on you mean its not attributed to my spinal cord damage, not sure i follow, is it a mucular issue then?

[Iain]

It's less likely to be related directly to the spinal lesions. It can be perfectly harmless and of no significance but can imply problems with the peripheral nerves. Some drugs such as anticholinergics that those of us with SCI often take can be a factor.

[knightrider]

Lots of things can cause fasciculations like meds or caffeine, stress etc. I get them a lot too, like in my cheeks, eye lids, arms legs and chest, they can be very annoying, when i've been under a lot of stress they would be flickering all day long. I don't think it's anything to do with SCI but just what i said above, they are harmless but just annoying haha.

[Wobbly]

Hhm, but these twitches make my whole leg jump, or shoulder forward, or send myfoot kicking out,

Edited by Wobbly, 07 April 2012 - 09:03 AM.

[Wobbly]

And since I've had pneumonia in January, I get one in my throat that,just for a few seconds, makes me choke and stops my breathing.

Edited by Wobbly, 07 April 2012 - 09:32 AM.

[Iain]

I have to say that if your limb is being thrown as you describe then these may well not be fasiculations. Have a look at for what they usually look like

[Wobbly]

Thanks Iain, there some of that, but you set me off searching and it looks more like the myoclonic jerks. Back to the docs me thinks, oh cr@p

[Iain]

Remember that one of the functions of the higher parts of the nervous system is to damp down things like stretch reflexes - so as that damping down mechanism is either wholly or partly reduced in SCI all the reflex actions are more pronounced. I get jerks of my lower limb, usually when something is happening that would be painful normally eg an in growing toenail. Its more likely that this is the mechanism of your symptoms rather than some more significant pathology but, as you say, it probably needs thinking about a little.