Hypnic jerk

[TooNice]

Has anyone else experienced it? I've experienced it a few times this year. Didn't even know it was even a thing, I thought that maybe I was just missing on adrenaline filled activities that involves the sensation of falling (bungee jumps, roller coasters, snowboard jumps etc.) and my brain decided to simulate the sensation for free. Never thought to Googled it up as it never bothered me, and it was by pure chance that I noticed an "advert" link about it while browsing another website earlier today.

[watercooled]

Yeah I get them occasionally. As far as I know they're extremely common and just one of those random involuntary things like hiccuping humans still do.

Stressors can increase their likelihood, for example I had a couple of nights' sleep disturbed after a particular rock climbing fall took me by surprise - I re-lived the fall when I was falling asleep, waking me up.

[stevie lee]

so that's what its called.

I've had quite a few of those, enough for me to remember that I've had a lot. Keep thinking I'm falling out of bed, then suddenly jerk awake and get all cold sweaty.
anxiety, not sleeping properly, I suffer from them. past year or so keep waking up every hour, the jerk happens the first time I wake up.

I did develop a strong fear of heights after abseiling down a dam back in 2004. seemed to have started after that I think.

[Allen]

Several times a week for me, almost a daily occurrence. Heck, it happened three times earlier this afternoon, I was up very late last night working (on call) and was woken up early by a customer so was extremely tired and started falling asleep in my chair. The 3rd time it happened was quite amusing and shocking at the same time, I hit my chair, my desk and then my head when my arm flailed about after suffering the "hypnic jerk". I've never known it's real name until now though, so thanks for that.

But I have pretty horrible sleeping issues including sleep apnoea, palpitations when lying on my left side, acid reflux long after eating and sometimes insomnia. So hypnic jerks are the least of my worries!

[Allen]

Oh, and I forgot the absolute worst one of them all... restless leg syndrome! Try sleeping when you have that, it's horrible!!

[g8ina]

Allen, those symptoms when added together do, sound rather like Fibromyalgia

Its a lifestyle for me

[MaddAussie]

After my hip replacement and 2 inch leg stretching (right leg was considerably shorter then left) I suffer from restless legs, sometimes it's like I am possessed by Michael Flatley Not fun

[TooNice]

Wow, some of you have it bad Never heard of restless leg syndrome, and having Googled up I don't want to encounter it either.

So far I have never had much trouble falling back to sleep pretty quickly, and the fact that I don't dislike the sensation of falling (as long as I know that it isn't an accident!) mean that I don't dislike hypnic jerks. Depending on what I am doing the next day (e.g. it is week-end and I can sleep in) I sometime even like it (kinda like a bungee jump without having to pay for it). Of course it would be a different story if it increases in frequency or happens when I am particularly busy the next day and am trying to get as much sleep as I can.

[abaxas]

Man up you lot. Nothing compares to a bad case of itchy scrot.

[Allen]

Man up you lot. Nothing compares to a bad case of itchy scrot.

I have to really stop Googling things I don't know...

I think that trumps them all sir, can't imagine itchy balls like that!

P.S. Don't Google it if your squeamish!

[kalniel]

They're pretty much a nightly occurrence for me

Man up you lot. Nothing compares to a bad case of itchy scrot.

Cleanliness is next to godliness.

[virtuo]

I get the hypnic jerk most nights as I'm drifting off to sleep. Think I recall reading it's linked to a primal instinct millions of years ago when our ancestors used to sleep in trees, the Jerk would make you grab on to the nearest branch to stop you falling.

[scaryjim]

so that's what its called.

I'd previously heard them called "myoclonic jerks", but a quick google informs me that that's a more generic terms for any kind of involuntary muscle twitch.

I get them from time to time, sometimes quite dramatically, but usually just in the "fall off a kerb" level rather than "fall off a cliff" - perhaps because I've never fallen more than a few feet whilst climbing (I've got very grippy fingers so even when I do fall it tends to be slow and controlled). I did have a really weird episode a couple of nights ago where (in my dream) I was trying to jump into a river and *couldn't* fall: I just floated along several feet above the surface of the water....

OTOH, my calf muscles twitch constantly - not enough for me to feel, but it looks weird as anything.

[Macman]

So thats what it is. I always thought that jerk was related to my Epilepsy.

As since I was diagnosed, the jerks sort of happened then onwards or I was more aware of it? Not sure.

But oh my.. I've had one or two where the falling sensation makes me think I'm about to hit the tarmac only to wake up.

[TheAnimus]

So thats what it is. I always thought that jerk was related to my Epilepsy.

I am not a Dr, but isn't that a Myoclonic Jerk? (As Scaryjim mentions).

I get them when I'm in a warm place and have done a lot of exercise or walking far. Used to drive my ex mad, as I'd still continue onwards to sleep.

[Macman]

I am not a Dr, but isn't that a Myoclonic Jerk? (As Scaryjim mentions).

Would make more sense that it would come under a Myoclonic Jerk. I get that head nod from time to time.

Theres been times I fall asleep on the bus. Then woken up only to head butt the window.