Infantile spasms?!

[peanutpending]

FTM here and HUGE worrier

I'm really hoping someone can help. My 8 month old daughter for the last couple of months has been present with these jerky/twitchy movements only really when she's sat in her high chair and eating. Very occasionally when she's been picked up. It's almost like she's got a little shiver and she shudders. She's not moving her arms or legs, it's almost like a twitch in her upper body.

We went to A and E in February and were discharged as they were quite happy with her...fast forward a week and we found out she'd had an ear infection which could have caused these movements. I was so relieved because I thought we'd got an answer. However it has started again BUT it's only when she is unwell (at the moment she's got really bad flu and she had this really bizarre movement). I've been to the doctors a number of times and a paediatric neurologist has seen the videos and has said it's not infantile spasms but I'm just at a complete loss! I'm so worried about it as I don't want to miss anything! The neurologist said it seems to be a response to an infection but I've never seen this before!

I just can't stop thinking about it and I think the doctor is getting sick of me

Is she teething?

I ask because my daughter (at around the same age) was making these jerky/twitchy movements with her head and shoulders. I googled and discovered infantile spasms and went into instant panic mode - took her to A&E, she got referred instantly to pediatric neurology who checked her over and thought it was highly unlikely given how otherwise well she was and that she was developing perfectly normally. But they did an EEG to rule it out.

Anyway it stopped, but I noticed that every so often she would make similar movements and a day or two later a new tooth would pop up! It's complete speculation on my part because the neurologist dismissed it as behavioural but I'm convinced it was a teething thing, like a sort of shudder in reaction to a jolt of pain or to shake the pain away.

Can you request an EEG to set your mind at rest?

@SparklyRainbowDinosaur thank you so much for getting back to me. I really appreciate it! Your response has given me so much reassurance.

She is teething at the moment yes so it would make sense if she's having pain in her jaw and ears because of that!

That's exactly like my little one, her head and shoulders just do a really jerky movement! I did exactly the same and googled and we ended up in a and e as well They said exactly the same to me. She hadn't had an EEG yet as they were convinced it's not IS, however I have booked a doctors appointment for her because it just makes me worry so much! Like you say it probably is just teething! Her response to pain or discomfort maybe!

She does it every so often as well but especially when she's poorly or has been. So strange! The amount of videos I've got as well is ridiculous! I can't seem to find any other videos like it either which makes me think I'm probably over reacting!