So.... what is the difference???

[Trinity]

Well, I apologise if i've asked this question before - I don't remember. What is the difference between myoclonic jerks/seizures and a simple partial seizure involving muscle jerks. I sometimes get these and they are just single jerks at a time although sometimes can come several in a period of say 10minutes (but not one right after another if you know what I mean). I tried to look information up on the internet and it said that myoclonic jerks can be single jerks or a repetitive pattern. So, if that's the case then what is the difference between it and a simple partial seizure?????

 

[Nakamova]

It's tricky because seizure disorders are categorized in different ways -- not only by where they originate in the brain and how they progress (i.e. Simple Partials), but also by symptoms (such as myoclonus). So the two terms can overlap.

Simple Partials = a kind localized seizure activity in the brain, with no loss of consciousness. As you know, there are MANY kinds of simple partials. One kind of simple partial seizure can be a motor seizure involving jerking or twitching. So you can have Simple Partials seizures that manifest as Myoclonic Jerks.

Keep in mind that ANY kind of jerking or twitching is called a myoclonic jerk, but not all myoclonic jerks are seizure-related. For instance some people jerk right as they are falling asleep. That's a myoclonic jerk, but not a seizure.

There are specific seizure disorders that tend to feature only jerking and not other kinds of auras or seizures. For instance, Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy has jerking, usually involving the neck, shoulders, and upper arms. They typically occur shortly after waking up, and normally onset is between puberty and early adulthood.