Myoclonus & Sandifers Syndrome

In correlation with the obsessive compulsive side of me, I couldn't stop thinking about Elisabeth's spastic jerking episode yesterday. So off to Google I went.  I did a search about baby jerking or spasming and found something called "benign infantile myoclonus".

One of the videos I watched was very, very similar to what Elisabeth was doing.

And I found this:

Benign Myoclonus of Early Infancy

Benign myoclonus of early infancy, also referred to as benign nonepileptic infantile spasms, is a syndrome in which infants have clinical events suggestive of infantile spasms but with a normal EEG and clinical development. The events, which begin between 3 and 8 months, resemble infantile spasms, with clusters of flexion or extension extremity movements. However, unlike spasms, both the interictal and ictal electrographic pattern are normal. Regardless of treatment, the events resolve spontaneously at 2 to 3 years of age. Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurologic examination are normal, as is the developmental outcome. No subsequent seizures of any type are noted on follow-up (17,18).

I can only guess this might be what she was doing. At luckily most of what I have found says it's harmless and should go away as they grow older. But I still don't like it. She did it twice this morning again after she was up "for the day", so to speak. Same time she did it yesterday. Although she did it once again yesterday afternoon.

If she keeps doing it, I will check with her doctor when we go in this month for her 4 month check up. 

Oh, I also want to note that at that feeding this morning, when she nursed on the second side, her legs were flailing and kicking all over the place. She has done that before, but this is the first time I really gave it any thought and wonder if it might be related.

I hope it goes away and doesn't turn into anything bigger. I'm sure it will be fine, but I always prefer to be more cautious when it comes to my kids. Plus, I do have a sister that had epilepsy as a child, so there is some family history, although she didn't do what Elisabeth is doing according to my mom.

I have also found THIS which is really interesting because we have thought that Elisabeth has had silent reflux. She also has torticollis of her neck, which we have been taking her to the chiropractor for.

Initially, when she has done this jerking thing I wondered if it was related to her having reflux. And it definitely always happens after a feeding.

We got a prescription for Zantac for her, but the first time I gave it to her she didn't tolerate it well and she seemed to be more uncomfortable for the next couple of days. I didn't want to give it to her again, so I haven't. Sometimes it's hard to know what the best thing to do is.