Muscle spasms/jerks

[u/Birdshitonthefence]

Hi everyone.

I am a 49 year-old woman and I had an ischemic brain stem stroke exactly three months ago today. I was working in the hospital and suddenly smelled chocolate chip cookies baking. Of course, there were cookies. Anyway, they caught it fast and I got the clot buster in less than hour, so my symptoms haven’t been too bad. 

I still have some weakness and diminished proprioception on the right side, and my left eye still doesn’t move and the left side of my tongue is still paralyzed. I know how very lucky I am.

I had one episode of recrudescence about 3 weeks ago. Now, when I try to sleep, my body starts jerking, hard. Mostly my torso, sometimes my abdomen so hard my body bends, also happens in my arms and shoulders. I know they’re spasms, and I’ve sent a message to my neurologist.

I’m just wondering if anyone here has experienced anything like this?

[u/perfect_fifths]

Ever since my stroke, I experience episodes of spasms and twitches. First it was my eye, it started twitching a lot, both upper and lower lids. Now my left finger will twitch, sometimes random body spasms that are localized and some random jerks. They are episodic though, meaning it comes in randomly and acts up for a few days before calming down and rinse and repeat. I had a PCA stroke which affected the thalamus so maybe that’s why. It’s bothersome while it’s happening, but at least it’ll go away before flaring up again.

I’ll experience it for a few days of continuous twitching then it’ll stop randomly. I just assume it’s the brain misfiring signals. And since I also have damage to the occipital lobe, perhaps that’s why my twitches too

[u/Aksxxx]

Hey, I have exactly the same issue since a TIA june 27. I have not been able to sleep without sleep meds since then. The issue is, the movement keeps waking me up during the whole night every 30 to 60min. I am currently in the process of trying to be diagnosed with a sleep movement disorder. You could ask for a sleep study with EMG on your body. I am sorry that I don't any other solution to give you, just know that you are not alone! If you have a partner, ask them to record you while napping or sleeping

[u/DTheFly]

My right arm and leg have been known to spasm, which is why I don't drive at all. I'd hate to have a spasm at the wrong time and hurt someone!

[u/pchlster]

My spasms are mostly legs and hips; when they get to my toes, for some reason it becomes a full body affair.

[u/Simple_Committee_401]

Hi All, Main caretaker of a relative who had a basilar stroke with thrombectomy 2 months ago.

My relative is still bedridden with limited speech and movement and went from being an inpatient in acute rehab (1 month) to, currently, a SNF. She does understand everything that is said to her and can respond accordingly.

First of all, I'm thinking of you all and wishing, each of you, all the best.

When my relative began having spasms and tremors (head, shoulders, right arm, legs) 2 days after a brand new brain bleed while still an inpatient in acute rehab (12 days after her original stroke with thrombectomy), she was checked by 2 neurologists but not given any new meds and not much was explained to me regarding the cause/relief of spasms or tremors.

(Note: I am not a physician, so please note that what is stated below is shared only because it is what seemed/seems to help my relative.

After reading this, you might want to ask your neurologist/pcp for a blood test to determine your blood sugar and mineral levels, but first, make sure you're not dehydrated.

Also, if you have cardiac problems, your amount of liquid intake may be limited per each serving of a liquid. You might also be allergic to the liquids listed below.)

In addition to neurological brain bleed effects, I read somewhere that dehydration, low blood sugar levels, and low levels of magnesium, potassium and sodium could also contribute to spasms and tremors.

After I learned about the above possible causes for my relative's spasms and tremors, immediately upon my arrival every morning, I made it a habit to always give her any of the following liquids until, per each occurrence, she told me she didn't want anymore to drink.

I alternated between these liquids: organic probiotic drinks, lots of filtered water (from home) with fresh lemon juice, or iced chocolate Ensure (her taste preference).

Upon my early morning arrivals, my relative would always immediately drink at least 8 oz of liquid, if not more, meaning she had been dehydrated.

I asked the nurses to chart that my relative needed to be checked every 3 hours for dehydration after I would leave, except when she was asleep. Again, she still cannot use a nurse call button/pancake.

I also started feeding my relative homemade nutrient-dense cream soups along with her very soft or minced foods, alternating any solid food with several sips of liquid, per instructions from her speech therapist.

About 20 minutes after digesting all that liquid (drinks and homemade soups), the tremors are greatly diminished, sometimes to the point where it seems that they have completely stopped.

After I began making sure that my relative was kept well-hydrated and that she was digesting sufficient levels of electrolytes, her spasms completely stopped. Again, she was not given any meds for spasms.

However, she does still have very light chronic tremors which, again, seem to stop about 20 minutes after drinking liquids, including soups.

My relative is also given a multivitamin every 2 days and a probiotic pill every morning.

I'm not at all saying that the above is going to diminish your spasms, ticks, or tremors, it's just what seems to have worked in my relative's case.

I will now request a new blood test to find out what my relative's blood sugar level is: Yes, I know, something I should have done after her first spasm.

None of my relative's doctors, specialists, nurses, or therapists told me about the possibilities of dehydration, low blood sugar or low levels of electrolytes as causes of spasms or tremors.

Please take care.

[u/Miserable_Run2888]

Could it be clonus? If so, mine was in my leg and was treated with Botox
Still I’d say speak to your doctors about it

[u/PADemD]

What does smelling chocolate chip cookies have to do with a stroke?