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Myoclonic Seizures

© Lina Jo Gilliland

Myoclonic seizures occur in a variety of different seizure types. Chances of control vary according to type. Myoclonic seizures are short jerks of a single muscle or group of muscles. In these types of seizures, the arms, legs, neck and shoulders my be involved in abnormal jerking movements. Usually it occurs on both sides of the body and is during waking hours. They can be mistaken for clumsiness in children.

Juvenile myoclonic seizures, as its name suggest, starts in adolescence. These seizures usually occur in the early morning hours after just waking. The neck, shoulders and upper arms are the parts typically involved. On occasion the jerking will progress in to a generalized tonic-clonic seizure or an absence seizure. This type responds well to medications and is usually easily controled provided medication is taken as directed. Myoclonic seizures are also a part of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. This is one of the most severe types of childhood epilepsy. It can cause frequent seizures of varying types which are difficult to control and may cause injuries. When myoclonic seizures occur with this syndrome it may affect muscles in the face as well as other parts of the body. This seizure type will usually develope between the ages of one to eight.

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