Twitching shoulder and I end up in the ER

[sjconner]

For about 3 weeks, I have had some occasional twitching in my left shoulder. I also had a few days where I was lightheaded and felt like i was on a pitching and rolling boat.

Yesterday was horrible!!!!

Yesterday morning at about 5:30 my shoulder twitched for about 30 minutes. It would twitch and stop; twitch about ten times and stop, etc. There was several seconds between sets. I was off while I was teaching my morning classes - dropping things, minor lapses in ability to come up with the right word, etc.

Later yesterday morning, for awhile my shoulder twitched a few times off and on. Then about 11:00ish the lights started to flash on and off (not really fast). We had a a storm and finally lost power. During this time my shoulder really started to twitch at a very rapid pace. My left arm started to get in on the action. It was turning and shaking rather violently. My arm did this off and on. The contractions in my shoulder got so strong that they really hurt and pulled my whole chest to the right and down. I couldn't get in touch with my PCP - at lunch. A friend took me to the ER. They looked at me ... I told them I had TLE. I was taken into a room ... small town nothing going on. After a while they inserted an IV and gave me atavin. That slowed things down but didn't stop it. They gave me more atavin. That worked and eventually they let me go home.

Today I am still groggy, lightheaded, and walking around like a drunk sailor that just got off a pitching rolling boat. Off to call the nuero.

 

[JeffD]

Wow that sucks. Sorry, I don't really have anything to add to your story... but I've never really associated "muscle spasms" with seizures but I have those on and off too. Usually it's in my thigh or side of my stomach. I wonder if those sort of things will go away now that I'm back on AED's.

Getting used to Tegretol now, I've certainly got that drunk sailor thing going on. I made the mistake of agreeing with my wife on something last night and felt like I was still agreeing with her 10 minutes later. That'll teach me to not put up a fight.

 

[sjconner]

I wrote that when I was really groggy. The convulsions/twitches were probably more like jerks. They were very strong and lasted for a really long time. A lot of the contractions/convulsions in my shoulder/chest area were really painful. My arm was dancing all over place ... at one point I was hitting my thigh over and over again. My hubby and I work at the same residential school (different shifts), someone must have told him I was at the ER but I have no idea when he got there. I am not sure how long I was there. Ativan must be pretty strong stuff.

The neuro wasn't in today. I talked with his nurse. My PCP called me today to talk about it. I had had blood work done the day before (Wednesday) and that came out normal. I guess we'll see what the Great and Powerful OZ has to say on Tuesday.

 

[sjconner]

The doc in the ER increased my Lamotrigine to 125mg three times a day (from twice a day) and increased my gabapentin at night.

 

[Nakamova]

Has the medication increase helped, or are you still suffering from muscle spasms?

 

[sjconner]

I had some Sunday morning. I have a raging headache ... higher does of lamotrigine does that to me. I have an appointment with the neuro tomorrow. The appointment was set up because of the twitching ... before the ER trip. We'll see what he says. I have also had a ton of simple partials - suddenly feeling light headed, like I was on a rollling boat, weakness and really tired after. At least I hope they were simple partials. I also have complex partials. I don't think I lost time but I am not sure.