Contents:
- Medical Video: Is Muscle Twitching a Symptom of MS
- Why can muscles twitch?
- Is twitch muscle a symptom of multiple sclerosis?
- Different kinds of causes of twitching, which are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
Medical Video: Is Muscle Twitching a Symptom of MS
Almost everyone has experienced twitching, whether they realize it or not. Twitching can be caused by nervousness, anxiety, or stress. Twitch muscles can also indicate you are tired or dehydrated. In most cases, the twitch muscle can disappear by itself. However, twitching muscles can be a symptom of a neurological disease. Is muscle twitching a symptom of multiple sclerosis?
Why can muscles twitch?
The central nervous system acts as a command center for communication in the human body, including controlling muscle movements and contractions. When there is excessive damage or stimulation in motor neuron cells, the brain can order the nerves in the limbs (fingers, arms, or calves) to contract repeatedly and uncontrollably. This is what is called a twitch. Twitching can also occur in the facial muscles and eyelids.
Is twitch muscle a symptom of multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is an immune system disease that affects nerve cells of the brain and spine. Inflammation causes the work of myelin (the fibers that protect the nerves) to be disrupted and eventually disrupt nerve signals. One symptom of multiple sclerosis is stiff muscles and spasms, especially in the leg muscles.
But to answer the question above, everything will depend on the type of twitch itself. Twitch muscle has three types, namely fasciculation, spasm, and clonus. Fasciculation is a type of twitch that is not related to multiple sclerosis, while spasm and clonus may be associated with the disease. Then, what is the difference between the three?
Different kinds of causes of twitching, which are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
Fasciculation is uncontrolled muscle movement due to a disturbance in the lower motor neuron cells that sends nerve signals from the spinal cord to the muscles. Lower motor neuron movements control the arms, legs, chest, face, throat and tongue.
Fasciculation is a symptom of neurodegenerative diseases (diseases caused by aging that attack the central nervous system) such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, fasciculation is also a symptom of post-portfolio syndrome, spinal muscular atrophy, and progressive muscle atrophy.
Multiple sclerosis rarely affects lower motor neurons. That is why fasciculation is not one of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. However, advanced stage multiple sclerosis can sometimes affect lower motor neurons, causing muscle twitching - although this is rare.
Meanwhile, spasm (spasmitis) and clonus are common symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Spasms occur when there is a signal disturbance between the upper and lower motor neurons, so that the leg muscles become stiff. Legs or hands become more difficult to move, their movements slow down. Spasticity also causes a knee and ankle jerk response that becomes overactive. Over time, the ability to control movement can be lost.
Similar to spasticity, clonus also causes jerky muscle movements. For example, when a doctor knocks your knee to observe the knee's response to stimulation, the knee will be able to show a rapid response. In some cases the more severe clonus can cause the muscles to become more hyperactive, namely by vibrating rhythmically and out of control.
