Myoclonus, General

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Myoclonus, General is not the name you expected.

Disorder Subdivisions

Infantile Myoclonic Encephalopathy and Polymyoclonia
Segmental Myoclonus
Stimulus-Sensitive Myoclonus
Paramyoclonus Multiple
Intention Myoclonus
Palatal Myoclonus
Progressive Myoclonic Epilepsy
Pathological Myoclonus
Dyssynergia Cerebellaris Myoclonica
Rhythmical Myoclonus
Respiratory Myoclonus
Arrhythmic Myoclonus
Familial Arrhythmic Myoclonus
Nocturnal Myoclonus
Hereditary Essential Myoclonus
Opsoclonus
Action Myoclonus
Postencephalitic Intention Myoclonus
Postanoxic Intention Myoclonus
Cortical Myoclonus
Lance-Adams Syndrome
Myoclonic Epilepsy

General Discussion

Myoclonus is the term used to describe the sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles caused by muscle contractions (positive myoclonus) or muscle relaxation (negative myoclonus). The twitching or jerking of muscles cannot be controlled by the person experiencing it. Myoclonic jerks may occur infrequently or many times a minute. They sometimes occur in response to an external event or when a person attempts to make a movement. By itself, myoclonus may be seen as a symptom rather than a disease. To some degree, it may occur occasionally to otherwise healthy people. (For instance, hiccups may be considered a type of myoclonus.) In severe cases, it can interfere with movement control and balance, and limit various everyday activities such as eating or talking.

Resources

WE MOVE (Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders)
204 West 84th Street
New York, NY 10024
USA
Tel: (212)875-8312
Fax: (212)875-8389
Email: wemove@wemove.org
Internet: http://www.wemove.org

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Tel: (914)997-4488
Fax: (914)997-4763
Tel: (888)663-4637
Email: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Internet: http://www.marchofdimes.com

National Sleep Foundation
1522 K Street
Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel: (202)347-3471
Fax: (202)347-3472
Email: nsf@sleepfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.sleepfoundation.org

Epilepsy Foundation
8301 Professional Place
Landover, MD 20785
Tel: (301)459-3700
Fax: (301)577-2684
Tel: (800)332-1000
TDD: (800)332-2070
Email: info@efa.org
Internet: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org

Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Support Network, Inc.
2116 Casa Linda Dr.
West Covina, CA 91791
USA
Tel: (626)315-8125
Email: sandragreenberg@hotmail.com
Internet: http://www.omsupportnetwork.org

Moving Forward
2934 Glenmore Avenue
Kettering, OH 45409
Tel: (937)293-0409

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
TDD: (301)468-5981
Email: me20t@nih.gov
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

National Pediatric Myoclonus Center
SIU School of Medicine
Dept. of Neurology, Div. of Ped. Neurology
PO Box 19643
Springfield, IL 62794-9643
USA
Tel: (217)545-7635
Fax: (217)545-1903
Email: oms@siumed.edu
Internet: http://www.omsusa.org

Epilepsy Canada
2255B Queen St E, Suite 336
Toronto
Ontario, M4E 1G3
Canada
Tel: (877) 734-0873
Fax: (905) 764-1231
Tel: 8777340873
Email: epilepsy@epilepsy.ca
Internet: http://www.epilepsy.ca

MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
Tel: (877)336-5333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Email: ordr@od.nih.gov
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx

Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (310)264-0826
Fax: (310)264-4766
Email: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 1/14/2009
Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2007, 2009 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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