body spasms(painless) during sleep (forehead, restless leg syndrome, arms, doctor)

[Bartleby9]

I'm not sure if the correct term is spasm but for the last few years I've been experiencing these jolts of energy when I'm either about to fall asleep or already asleep.

I'll be about to fall asleep and my body will get a jolt of energy. Most of the times it's pretty mild. My body will just shake. My friend said it could be restless leg syndrome but it mostly occurs in my upper body. Sometimes my whole body.

Last night though I got a really big jolt. I was either about to fall asleep or already asleep when i felt it start. It jolted me so hard it lifted me off the bed. I was like a fish out of water flopping around.

This ever happen to anyone? Anything to worry about?

[russlancea]

I think I know what you're describing. My jolts are very, very rare and I think occurs when I am dead tired. My body shakes or jolts like I've been startled in my dream. I never pay attention to them, because they don't happen often and don't seem like a health concern to me. I think it happens when I am asleep, but still somewhat aware of my surroundings--so not that deep sleeping stage.

Restless leg is something else. I'm not concerned about my jolts.

[LibraGirl123]

Hypnic jerks...nothing to worry about.

BBC - Future - Why your body jerks before you fall asleep

[Zelva]

I have this periodically (I think) - where my jaw will 'slam' shut just as I'm falling asleep. It's weird, and luckily, only periodic. It 'wakes' me up - but then I fall asleep.

If it were frequent, I would try magnesium. I admit - I'm a magnesium 'fan'. It 'relaxes' - and sometimes we're short on it.

Anyway, sweet dreams!

[Miss Hepburn]

I'm not telling anyone what to do...if it were me I would be taking a small
amt of magnesium before bed on an empty stomach...500mg powder in an
inch of water. Capsules is what most people have...never tablets, tho...unless ya
smash them and turn them into a powder...I would see what would happen for a week.
Plus, drink the correct amt of water. Probably buy a few quarts of Recharge for
electrolytes.
Then, I would notice if there was a change with coffee and alcohol intake.
For starters, that is....me.

[R. Crusoe]

Originally Posted by Bartleby9

I'll be about to fall asleep and my body will get a jolt of energy. Most of the times it's pretty mild. My body will just shake......but it mostly occurs in my upper body. Sometimes my whole body.....Last night though I got a really big jolt. I was either about to fall asleep or already asleep when i felt it start.

This ever happen to anyone? Anything to worry about?

Similar thing had happened to me last night or the night before. I can't remember it now. Anyway, a short moment after I went to bed just as I was about to fall asleep my left shoulder was suddenly "pull back" hard as if someone was physically pushing it from the front or shaking it. I was sleeping on my right shoulder with my back facing out at the time. It wasn't the first time to be sure. It happened way more than a few times before in the long history of my sleep disorder. It happened to my arms and legs a few times as well, always at the moment I was about to fall asleep or sleeping already.

I'm not sure what you mean by "a jolt of energy" or how it feels to you, but I get physical interruptions during sleep quite a lot. The sensations range from needle-pricking-liked to stick-poking-liked to rubbing-liked and their intensity varies. They wake me up at night numerous times. And when I was up I got this popping in my ears for a while that kept me from falling back to sleep again.

How long you've been having this problem of yours? I've been having mine for more than a decade. It's absolute nightmare. It gives me serious chronic fatigue. Sometimes I get so tired that I can't even speak properly or lift my eyes. Basic things like talking can become a physically demanding act. It's really awful. I don't know how I can survive any longer.

God bless and hope you get well soon.

[Miss Hepburn]

Hi, R. Crusoe,
What have you tried in the last decade?
Who have you consulted? (That obviously didn't work...)
Thanks

[Billy_J]

I've been told by people sleeping with me that my heart will stop at times, then suddenly start again. And I also get that jolt sometimes. Note I'm in my 50's and have been doing this since at least my early 20's - and am still alive!

I was thinking that sometimes my heart stops, then that jolt gets the heart started again if it does not do so on its own? That is just a theory of mine - I have no scientific testing to back that up...

However if you could get or borrow a heart monitoring gizmo from your doctor, maybe you could monitor what is going on and see if you have a similar problem? (Note the exact time you get the jolt.)

[tiredfemale]

This happens to me, every night for the past 15 years, 12 doctors, 5 "top" specialists, 2 sleep studies, countless mri's and cat scans,thousands upon thousands of dollars later and still nobody can figure it out.
The "spasms" are horrendous, (not hyponic), and at times my heart will start to race and pound so hard you can hear it across the room (well maybe not across the room, but you get my drift) I have been jolted so hard I have literally wound up on the floor, and it all starts when I start to fall asleep. Never fails.
The only thing I can think of is 15 years ago I got slammed in the head when a careless tree trimmer slung a branch off a roof as I was passing by, I did suffer a heamorraghe in the left ear, large goose egg bump on my forehead, black eye and a pinched sciatic nerve (after being slanted to the ground from the impact). I often wonder if there is scar tissue in my brain that could be causing this that the docs are missing.
I've tried countless meds to the point where I won't take them anymore since nothing worked. One day I'll be on the show "medical mystery" and maybe they'll find the root cause and finally put an end to my misery. 5 hours of sleep a night is not good, but since my spasms go on for hours, 5 hours is all I get most of the time, there are plenty nights when I get only 2.
So if anyone has a diagnosis and cure i would love to hear it.
Thanks