abdominal muscle spasms during paralysis episode

Someone posted this video on their blog. Click through to read what they had to say about it:

http://periodicparalysis.blogspot.com/2011/11/videos-of-muscle-spasm-similar-...

I was having a lot of muscle cramping and spasms last night and today, and my abdominal muscles in particular were spasming today. In the video, I'm having a paralysis attack and I'm beginning to get over it, so I manage to reach up to turn on the light and the exertion triggers a series of spasms in my abdominal muscles. Later, the exertion of trying to get out of bed triggers another spasm, which bends me over.

For some background to the circumstances of this video, watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNhKrVnJJRk

Other videos of my abdominal spasms:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZkmXzWgRiQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY4lf8XbMJE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLXLci_JE5M

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• paralysis
• channelopathy
• ion channel
• neurological
• mutation
• neuromuscular
• cell membrane
• medical
• membrane potential
• myotonia
• periodic paralysis
• sodium
• potassium
• calcium
• magnesium
• chloride
• calcium chloride
• potassium chloride
• sodium chloride
• magnesium oxide
• ion
• anion
• muscle spasms
• muscle fibre
• spasm
• twitch
• hypokalemia
• hypokalemic
• hyperkalemia
• hyperkalemic
• paramyotonia
• congenita
• paramyotonia congenita
• sodium channel

[MyNewPlay]

Good shot of those spasms, Peter. I asked the experts at the 2011 PPA conference in Florida about these spasms. The experts understand that it happens, but do not have an explanation. I get them just like yours--in the abs--usually at the beginning of a nasty attacks. For me, one seizure test came back negative, but the spasms do feel like partial seizures. For the record, you can have partial seizures that cause involuntary movement without loss of consciousness.

[Peter5930]

@MyNewPlay My psychiatrist was strongly hinting at conversion disorder on my last visit, so it's good to hear that I'm not alone in my weird and as-yet-unexplained symptoms.

Sometimes my muscles seem to be on a hair-trigger. I can feel the tension gently building, and it's like there's a threshold where once enough muscle fibres are active, it causes a sudden contraction in the whole muscle, and even in other muscles that are in a similar hair-trigger state.

[Peter5930]

@MyNewPlay My muscles were in a twitchy, primed state when I was having my SFEMG, nerve conduction and CMAP tests, and when I had electric shocks administered to my right arm, it would often cause muscles in my left arm and leg to spasm in unison, a fraction of a second after the shock to my right arm. My left arm is the most prone to having those spasms, and my left side in general is more prone to them than my right side.

[Peter5930]

@MyNewPlay I had a video-EEG study a while back, and the neurologist who reviewed the results was quite sure that I wasn't having seizures, although I did set off the alarm on the EEG monitor at various times while I was having attacks. After the first time it happened, one of the nurses came to tell me in a grave tone that I'd maybe had a mild seizure or something, and the nurses checked in on me a lot more frequently after that.

[JustMeJordyn]

I hope you feel better soon! Be strong and carry on. Life can be rough sometimes but just remember that your amazing and that you can do anything! I believe in you! I hope one day you will feel as amazing as you really are! Ya know things happen for a reason so keep being strong!

[Peter5930]

@MrTiagoSkater I wish me luck too. I don't know how treatable it will be; ion channels can't be fixed, but there are drugs and diet/lifestyle factors that can potentially help and reduce the symptoms. It's a hereditary disorder that can cause death through cardiac arrhythmias, and a lot of people in my family tree have had sudden cardiac deaths at fairly young ages, so I'd like to avoid that if possible.

[MrTiagoSkater]

@Peter5930 thats weird, i wish you luck , but the doctors can resolve that?

[Peter5930]

@MrTiagoSkater I'm still waiting for a diagnosis, but I think things are pointing towards periodic paralysis; a group of disorders caused by mutations that affect the function of ion channels in muscle cell membranes.

[MrTiagoSkater]

why is that happenig?