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Question about symptoms
geromer

1 post
13-May-2008
7:37 AM
I have a question for the group. Any guidance you can provide would be appreciated. In Feb I begin having a strange feeling after using my computer mouse for an extended period of time. That feeling then progressed to numbness in my right arm. That lasted a few days and then I had a pain in my right arm on the inside of my elbow. Again, that lasted a few days and went away then the same pain appeared in my left elbow. That went away and I started getting a pain in my left shoulder, sort of under the shoulder muscle. That went away, and I started getting pain in my neck, but it was different all the time… sometimes left side, sometimes right side and sometimes right in the middle.

In the mean time, my left thumb started bothering me and will tremor when I hold it up to my index finger. The right one does it too but not as much.

Last night, my left leg felt like there were internal tremors (I think) but it never actually showed any movement.

I have been to my PCP and a neurologist. They both have run tests and state that I am going through a lot of anxiety. I have been horribly anxious lately, but I am still concerned.

Is this a normal progression for Parkinson’s? Would it truly progress this quickly? Should I try to find a different Dr?

Any thoughts would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Sparkin50

3 post s
18-May-2008
1:38 PM
At the end of my "honey moon period" in 02 I wasted 3 years at the VA. Not diagnosed, thier test was to give PD meds and see if it would help. I didn't want meds. I wanted it to go away. If you can handle the pain don't worry. If its unbearable and they won't give you anything change doctors. I couldn't take lyrica. so I take a low dose opiat. If you take high doses the effect will go away quickly. I hope I'm giving the wright advise, this is my first shot at it.
IndyMama

145 post s
21-May-2008
8:53 AM
Hello! :)

So your main symptoms are on your left side? It's not uncommon to have what I call "intermittent" symptoms for anywhere from a few days to a few years before they become constant, especially when you are early in your disease. That was definitely my experience. This includes internal tremors, odd stiffness in muscles, etc. It takes a while for any symptom to stay and never go away.

I don't know about pain/numbness in PD so much - but I have a nerve in my right elbow that doesn't go away - perhaps this is related? Usually symptoms stay on your affected side at first, although it can be felt in both.

If you are early in your disease, you may notice more "moving around" of your stiffness than you will later in your disease. (For the first year and half I still felt things on my left side even though it's obvious now that my right side is the affected side.) I don't know how common numbness, is, though. Sometimes my internal tremors (such as in my lips) feel like numbness. But numbness can signal something else, too, than PD.

I am probably not helping much, sorry.... If your doctor is constantly resorting to anxiety as the cause of your problems, FIND A NEW DOCTOR! A good neurologist will take you seriously. Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of neurologists (esp. if they are not movement disorder specialists) like to say your problems are psychiatric or anxiety-related instead of something more serious that just needs to be monitored for a while. It may take time for your symptoms to become more constant. When they do, the doctor will be better able to help, I imagine. At least that's how it has been for me. Perhaps you can record your symptoms (ALL of them, including the internal tremors) and let the doctor know when they become constant - i.e., they don't go away, or come back at similar times (i.e., when you are tired or stressed), rather than randomly. This will help them.

What tests have they run on you?

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IndyMama
http://www.refusedefeat.com