Conditions That Cause Secondary Myoclonus

Myoclonus is the medical term for a quick and involuntary jerk of the muscles. One of the most common forms of myoclonus is hiccups. Secondary myoclonus is myoclonus that exists because of an underlying condition. The other two types of myoclonus are essential myoclonus, which exists on its own, and epileptic myoclonus, which is related to an epileptic condition.

Multiple conditions can cause secondary myoclonus. People may experience muscle jerks when they have a head injury, infection, reaction to medications, metabolic disorder, or prolonged oxygen deprivation. There are also a number of nervous system conditions that can cause secondary myoclonus.