Leg Twitching
Original Post: For the last two nights, my polio leg has uncontrollable jerks and twitches. They wake me up from a sound sleep and so needless to say I am up until 4 in the morning! I've had them before, but they seem to be getting worse. Is this just part of PPS? Or is it something I need to go to the Post-Polio Clinic about?
2nd Post: Mine are generally connected to over use. That and the cramping (two different things). Also I don't have restless leg but I notice at times my feet jerk and twitch by themselves.
3rd Post: Twitching and jerking were my first identifiable symptoms of PPS. I had full body jerks that woke me up.
4th Post: It hits my left leg really badly if I have done too much and then lay down. I put a hot water bottle under my knee and it sure helps calm the leg down.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: Twitching happening all of a sudden is a sign of overuse. Of course, polio survivors have mastered the art of all muscles twitching all night long, which is knocked out by a low dose of alprazolam right before bed. (Alprazolam is the generic for Xanax). It's not addictive when its taken before bed because you're asleep when it works. (We’ve never had a polio survivor addicted to alprazolam even up to 2 mg before going to bed.)
This article can help you talk to your physician: Abnormal Movements in Sleep as Post-Polio Sequelae. For more information, go to the Index of the Encyclopedia of Polio and PPS and look for the topic: Leg Movements in Sleep.
5th Post: I have switched from Ambien to Alprazolam and have found that I only need to take half of a 1mg tablet to help me relax enough to fall asleep. I had a stronger than normal episode the other evening with my leg twitching but after taking Alprazolam it calmed it right down enough for me to fall back to sleep.